Understand the ground around your home.
Slopes, low areas, paving and drainage features influence how surface water moves. Measurements add context to the inspector’s observations.
Slopes near the home Relative measurements help document where ground falls toward the structure or lacks a clear surface-drainage path.
Low areas and runoff Recorded elevations put depressions and drainage routes in context. Rainfall, soil and visible conditions also matter.
A useful starting point Use the report to discuss concerns with a qualified professional who can determine whether design or corrective work is needed.
Key drainage factors to investigate.
A yard can look flat while still directing water toward the home. Slopes, low spots, paving and downspouts all affect where surface water flows.
Ground sloping toward the home
Ground sloping toward the home can direct runoff toward the foundation.
Low areas that may collect water
Low spots may collect water, depending on the soil and available drainage paths.
Connected drainage conditions
Downspouts, paving and landscape barriers can redirect surface water.
Simulated field examples—these do not represent specific MVI client data.
THE GRADING AND DRAINAGE REPORT
Your yard, measured and explained.
See selected measurements in a property-specific Grading and Drainage Report.
The report connects the reference point, measured areas and relative elevations with visible site conditions.
Measured area, not a legal property boundary. The sample retains its original metric units: 1 metre is about 3 feet 3 inches; 0.10 metre is about 4 inches. These are unit conversions, not drainage thresholds. Colors show relative elevation differences, not a drainage pass-or-fail result. Surfaces between recorded points are interpolated from the measurements.
1. Measured-area layout — Where measurements were collected and how those areas relate to the site.
2. Reference point — The starting point used to compare relative elevations.
3. Relative elevation information — Which recorded locations are higher or lower than the selected reference.
4. Slope and grade information — The direction and rate of elevation change between particular measured points.
Inspector-reviewed context — How the measurement pattern relates to visible grading and drainage conditions.
HOW THE MEASUREMENTS WORK
How we document the yard.
Yard measurements record relative elevations at selected accessible exterior locations. Read the measured layout alongside visible grading and drainage conditions.
Readings are relative to a selected reference point, not automatically elevations above sea level.
Step 1
Establish the reference
Set a starting reference so the readings can be compared.
Step 2
Measure the agreed areas
Collect readings along selected accessible paths and locations.
Step 3
Review site conditions
Compare the measurements with visible slopes, low areas and drainage paths.
Step 4
Build the report
Organize the measured layout, relative elevations and observations into the report.
Data Entry
Site Plotting
Report Creation
Conceptual measurement sequence. Surfaces between recorded points are interpolated from the measurements; they are not independently measured at every location.
What the diagram can tell you.
No. Measured slopes help explain potential surface-drainage directions, but actual water movement also depends on rainfall intensity, soil saturation, surface materials, obstructions, and drainage features. The report is not a stormwater model or a simulation of a particular rainfall event.
No. Its location, purpose, surrounding grades, and observed performance matter. Some landscape features intentionally collect or slow runoff. The inspector considers the measurements alongside the visible conditions rather than treating every low point as a deficiency.
No. A completely level yard is not the goal. Appropriate slopes and drainage features help manage runoff away from the home. The suitable arrangement depends on the site and the surfaces involved.
No. The Foundation Elevation Measurements service documents relative floor elevations inside accessible areas of the home. Yard topography and grading measurements document selected exterior ground and surface elevations. They answer different questions and should be considered alongside the relevant inspection observations.
No. It does not establish legal boundaries, certified elevations, drainage-system capacity, or a repair design. It is supplementary observational documentation of the measured areas.
No. A low area in a yard does not, by itself, determine the property’s flood-zone designation or insurance requirements. Those questions involve official flood information and applicable lending requirements, not this relative-elevation diagram.
About this documentation
This supplementary report records selected accessible locations at the time of measurement. It does not replace a boundary survey, elevation certificate, soil investigation or civil engineering evaluation, certify drainage performance, predict flooding, or provide construction-ready repair plans.
The measurements do not certify drainage performance, predict flooding, or provide construction-ready grading or repair plans.
A home inspection already includes evaluation of accessible grading and drainage conditions under the applicable TREC standards. The measured diagram adds documentation to those observations.
Questions about your yard?
Serving the Permian Basin.