How can I raise this stormwater drain?

[adam21]

I have a small patch of garden at the front of my townhouse that is in desperate need of a refresh. I'd like to dig up the existing soil/weeds and add some new soil and turf. There is a stormwater drain in the corner (see photos) and the garden is sloped down to the drain (it's around 3-4 bricks below the higher section).

Is there a way to raise the drain without major structural changes? The drain cover is around 500x500mm (see exact measurements in the photos).

   

Cheers,

Adam

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @adam21. It's great to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about raising a drain grate.

I'd suggest that you enlist the services of a drainage expert to advise on the possibility of raising the drain. Your yard is suspiciously sloped down to that point, and I highly suspect that it was designed this way to funnel water to the drain. By raising the soil, you run the risk of the area flooding as the water can't drain to the lower point.

It could just be as easy as having a stormwater pit riser installed, but I believe it's important to assess the whole area to ensure you're not risking a major flooding event.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[Jason]

Hi @adam21,

Let me also extend a very warm welcome to the community.

I thought I'd also add that there might be an added complication with your plan to level the area - that the brick wall is not designed to bear a load. You would likely need to build a retaining wall in front of it or replace it.

Please let us know if you might like alternative ideas for a front yard makeover. I'm sure the community would be happy to help. You might also get some inspiration from our Top 10 most popular front yard projects.

Jason

[TheHandySqirrel]

Hi Adam,

further to what Mitchell and Jason already said, I would wait for the next big downpour and then head out to take photos of where the water is going. I did that once in our garden before committing to a major drainage project, and this advice has proven to be very helpful. You will then have much more "data" to make a good decision.

Good luck!

[adam21]

Thanks for the replies everyone! It seems leveling the area might be more complex than I thought. I'll try to find a drainage expert.

Does anyone have any alternative ideas for a yard refresh? Ideally I'd like it to include a patch of grass (even if it's sloped down to the drain), but I'm open to all ideas. More current photos in this post.

 

Adam

[EricL]

Hello @adam21 

I know you're very keen to improve your yard, but I suggest waiting for your drain specialist. The last thing you want to do is to uproot all the hard work you've put in because the new lawn or structure that you've built is in the way. Once you get a comprehensive report from the drain specialist, perhaps there is a chance that it can be moved outside, or it can be raised.   

Once you have your report, you'll then be able to put in more permanent changes to improve the look of your yard. In the meantime, I suggest thinking about what else can you ask the specialist regarding the yard drain.

Here are some links for ideas and inspiration:

• Top 10 most popular side yard projects 
   
• Top 10 most popular front yard projects
   
• Top 10 most popular landscaping projects

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric