sloped/angled driveway question (houses, buying, construction)

[4everbooks]

I saw a house that I would consider buying but it has a sloped driveway angled downward toward a garage. I know when I have seen houses like these, in the past, I always wondered if the basement floods.

Would you even consider a house that has a sloped angled driveway?

[streetsmart]

Our last house was like that - driveway on the side of the house down to the garage/basement (which opened up to the side of the house, not the front). You have to look at the land around the house. Our street was a gradual hill towards a house at the top and a dead end, and our driveway was on the lower side of the hill, which made sense and allowed our basement to have full windows, but the house next door was down hill from us, and the house behind was down hill also. So, we didn't flood because our house was mid-hill, if that makes sense.

Why would the basement of such a house flood any more than other houses???

[willow wind]

You would want to know if there are drains placed around the house . Any property built built below the road grade is likely to get street runoff . Make all due diligence and find out what you can. Also see if there is a drain in the pavement right in front of the garage to take the water away.

I would also be worried about snow in the winter. Such driveways can be a bear to handle during the snow months. Just as you clean the driveway, the town or city plow will come along and block you in from the road. Hard to get back up over that without clearing it from your end many times.

[mdm1]

Originally Posted by streetsmart

Why would the basement of such a house flood any more than other houses???

because driveways don't drain like grass/dirt does, which could lead to a pool of water at the base of the garage door

[streetsmart]

Our driveway had a drain at the bottom, and we never had a problem with snow either. I think it's all a matter of degree and construction. Is there a drain? How steep is the slope? Is it a low point of the entire area? Does the area tend to be wet? Are there drainage issues in the area? Is the house well-built?

Lots of factors could contribute.

[lan3]

We have a sloped driveway leading to a garage and we do not flood. We have a drain at the bottom.

[matlabmaster99]

Install drains between your paved driveway and the concrete of the garage. The water will go in to the drain and not in to your garage.

If you don't have these drains I would recommend installing them

[oberon_1]

As others said, effective drainage is key. If your drain is blocked or non existing, you may see serious flooding.
For me, it depends on how steep the slope is. With a longer driveway, you and your family may experience difficulties driving up or down when the driveway is covered with snow or frozen. I have seen some houses which I rejected for that reason.