Find your home's elevation and grade on your property abstract.
Discovering the grade of your yard helps you determine if water will run away from or toward your home's foundation. You can correct your grade with the addition or removal of dirt. Finding out the elevation for your property may take a bit of digging through records. This information is available through elevation certificates but not all communities have these certificates available. If your property is not in a flood zone, elevation certificates may or may not be available. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Grade
1. Insert stakes in your yard. Start at your home and place a stake every 10 feet until you reach the edge of your property.
2. Wrap twine around the stakes, creating a continuous line that extends from your house to the end of your property.
3. Adjust the twine so the line that goes from your home to the end of the property is perfectly level.
4. Measure the distance between the stakes and your lawn. Your lawn should grade away from your home at 6 inches for every 10 feet.
Elevation
5. Call the builder that constructed your home. If an elevation certificate has been done for your community, the builder should have a copy of that certificate.
6. Contact your local city hall. Often times when permits are obtained for properties, the elevation and grade is included with the permit application. Ask your city hall to review previous permits and provide you with the elevation of your property.
7. Go to your Planning and Zoning commission and request a copy of the elevation certificate for your community. If one has been completed, the commission should have a copy of it.
8. Check your local tax assessment agency. Often times the details on your home are available for you to view online and they may include grade, elevation and permit information.
9. Read your property abstract. The abstract is the history of your property, including legal descriptions and previous owners and improvements. Your grade and elevation is often included in this history.
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