Putting in a new driveway that is going to be 14” higher than existing yard.

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Neighbors are gonna' love you when it rains and they get all your runoff.

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Yeah. Changing the grade of your yard to the detriment of your neighbor’s is more than likely illegal depending on what jurisdiction you’re in.

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s much as I appreciate unsolicited advice or comments, we aren't pushing water onto our neighbors yard.

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Then that information could have gone into the original post to not warrant a comment about possible problems brought up by neighbors being affected by potential runoff.

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I'll try to do better next time. I'll include charts, graphs, 100 year & 500 year flood plain maps, maybe even some animation.

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You see, there is a better way.............the more info provided, the better the unsolicited advice.

It actually seems like you provided waaaay too much information for the request you’re actually asking. I’m still a little confused on WTF you’re doing and how it affects everything, etc.

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Front half of the yard is gumbo soil and I want to address this. I was thinking about some kind of soil remediation, possibly using a tiller to mix in sandy loam, topsoil, etc…

Looking for recommendations as to what to do. Should I skim coat and till? Till first?

Once soil remediation is done the yard is getting a topcoat 3-4” and then sodded. Sprinkler system going in. This is my one shot to address the gumbo.

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If this is what the point of your post is, my first question is what do you mean by “topcoat 3-4”? Adding some 3-4” of topsoil or silt for the final grade before sod?

Tilling in some sandy loam is great solution to remediate the soil. The tiller will get some depth and adequately mix in whatever amendments you want to add, including mixing the soil. I would suggest to skim coat and till so you mix in to some depth. If you tilled first you’re not really doing much. Since you’re going to be adding so much to the elevation, I’m not sure a whole lot is required. The added depth of proper material will effectively remediate most of your concerns.

I was thinking I need to remediate soil before doing a good topcoat. This is what grows very well in the front half of the lot closer to ditch.

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Also lots of cracks with 60-80 feet of ditch.

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This is why I think I need to remediate to 6 or so inches before we put good soil on top and sod. Obviously we have bad stuff in front that is really only good for weeds. Every summer the front of the lot cracks and weeds grow.

Maybe I am overdoing this.

OP is a stereotypical Aggie.

Smug Aggie engineer or medical doctor?

Yea, you are overdoing. Irrigation system will help with cracks. What type sod do you plan to install.

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As much as I appreciate unsolicited advice or comments, we aren't pushing water onto our neighbors yard.

First, both our house and neighbors house are at 78 ft elevations. Land on our side of the ditch in front of the house is 74 ft elevation. Water naturally runs east toward the ditches.

Second, we are in a neighborhood with 2 to 5 acre lots so it is impossible for me to push water with a project this small.

Third, neighbor has a 200 ft concrete with a driveway with a grade off each side. Their driveway will still be 8" higher than the edge of my yard after the re-grade.

Finally, if you can't provide some useful information as to what I am asking, then why bother jumping in with comments when you don't know jack shite about the property?

Good grief, comment from one and legal advice from another.

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I was going to congratulate you on an excellent subtle brag, but since you're being a dick... You get a dickish yet accurate response.

1) Awesome. I would advise filing the front entirely with buried proper drainage sized for essentially twice that required by a 500 year rain event. Why? Less maintenance.

2) Since I don't live in abject poverty, my yard is considerably larger than 2-5 acres. I assure you, a 75ft small rise can direct water in unintended ways if not properly accounted for.

3) Draw your yard and your neighbor's. Have his driveway and yours marked as elevation. Determine where the water will go. The height of his interacts with yours.

4) Hopefully this is the end as I'm losing interest. But... You did ask.



I typically kill the grass in the area I intend to cover. I then add in roughly 3inches of flex base. The guys then take an overloaded dump track and drive bwck and forth on it to pack. Add more flex base. Use a packer. Concrete or limestone goes on top of that.

Flexbase is a great material for under roadways. I believe Texas DOTD is now using it.

I've personally used it for driveways and farm tracks for 20 years.

tell us which rapper lives across the street from you