How to Fix a Driveway That Slopes Toward Your House

Why a Driveway That Slopes Toward the House Is a Problem

Every time it rains, water rushes down your driveway and pools against the garage, front steps, or foundation. Over months and years that constant moisture can:

• Seep into basement walls and cause mold
• Erode soil under the slab, leading to cracks and settlement
• Flood the garage and ruin stored items
• Create icy patches in winter that are a lawsuit waiting to happen

Fortunately, you don’t have to live with the slope. Below are the proven ways Drivewayz USA crews use to fix a driveway that slopes toward your house, plus ballpark costs, pros & cons, and DIY pointers.

Step 1: Diagnose the Exact Problem

Check the Existing Grade

Grab a 4-ft level and a straight 2×4. Lay the board on the driveway, place the level on top, and measure the gap at the downhill end. A 2 % slope (¼ in. per foot) away from the house is the building-code minimum. Anything that pitches back even 1 % can overwhelm your drain system in a heavy storm.

Look for Low Spots

Pour a bucket of water on the slab and watch where it goes. Puddles that sit longer than 48 h indicate micro-depressions that will only get worse.

Inspect the Foundation

Walk the perimeter: efflorescence (white powder), damp insulation, or rust on sill plates all spell chronic water entry.

Quick Wins: Cheap, Fast Water Deflection

These band-aids won’t reverse the slope but can buy you a year or two while you budget for a permanent fix.

Install a Rubber Threshold Ramp

A 2–4 in. tall neoprene guard glues to the garage floor and acts like a mini-dam. Cost: $80–$120. Downside: you must drive over a bump every day.

Add Downspout Extenders

Roof water often compounds driveway runoff. Extenders that dump water 6 ft away reduce volume by up to 30 %.

Seal Cracks & Joints

A $12 tube of polyurethane sealant stops water from disappearing under the slab and undermining soil.

Permanent Solutions to Reverse the Slope

Option 1: Mudjacking or Polyurethane Foam Leveling

Best for: Concrete driveways with isolated dips or tilted slabs that still have life left.

How it works: Technicians drill ⅝-in. holes and inject a slurry of lime-based grout (mudjacking) or expanding foam (polyjacking). The material lifts the slab until the pitch is 2 % away from the house.

Typical cost: $4–$8 per sq ft (mudjacking) or $6–$12 (poly). A 20×20 ft section runs $1,600–$4,800.

Pros: 1-day job, no demolition, you can drive on poly the same afternoon.

Cons: Cannot correct large elevation changes; new cracks may appear if soil keeps settling.

Option 2: Remove & Repour the Lower Section

Best for: Slabs younger than 15 years with rebar in good shape but wrong pitch.

Process: Saw-cut 3–4 ft out from the house, break out the bad section, re-compact the sub-base, add 4 in. of crushed stone, and repour with proper 2 % slope.

Cost: $10–$15 per sq ft. A 20×4 ft strip = $800–$1,200.

Pros: Seamless look, lasts 25+ years, lets you raise the height to match the garage floor.

Cons: Cold-joint seam may show; if the remaining driveway settles later you’re back to square one.

Option 3: Full Driveway Replacement

Best for: Alligator cracks, multiple patches, or asphalt driveways that also slope the wrong way.

Steps: Remove old material, re-grade sub-soil 4 in. below finished height, install geotextile fabric, add 6 in. of CA-6 limestone, pour 5 in. of 4,000 psi concrete with #4 rebar at 18 in. o.c.

Cost: $8–$18 per sq ft for concrete, $4–$8 for asphalt. A 24×40 ft concrete driveway averages $9,000.

Pros: Corrects any slope, adds curb appeal, 30-year lifespan.

Cons: Highest upfront cost; you’ll park on the street for 5–7 days while concrete cures.

Option 4: Install a Trench (Channel) Drain

Best for: Restrictions from HOA or city code that won’t let you raise the driveway height.

How it works: A 6-in.-wide galvanized or polymer trench is cut across the driveway 1–3 ft from the garage. Water drops into the grate, flows to a catch basin or daylight exit, and never touches the house.

Cost: $35–$60 per linear ft for polymer, $60–$90 for stainless. A 20-ft wide driveway = $700–$1,800.

Pros: No need to change existing slab grade, handles heavy rain, easy to retrofit.

Cons: Must clean leaves quarterly; in snow regions plows can snag the grate.

Option 5: Swale or French Drain in the Yard

Best for: Properties with enough fall toward the street or side lot.

Install a shallow grass swale (8–12 in. deep) or a buried perforated pipe wrapped in fabric and stone. Captures water before it hits the driveway and pipes it away.

Cost: $25–$40 per linear ft for French drain; $3–$5 per sq ft for swale grading & seed.

Pros: Invisible once grass grows, handles roof runoff too.

Cons: Needs 2–3 ft of yard width; may require city easement approval.

How Homeowners Decide: A 3-Minute Checklist

1. Measure slope: if ≥ 1 % toward house → move to step 2.
2. Slab age & condition: <10 years and no spider cracks → try mudjacking or sectional repour.
3. HOA rules: if height restrictions → choose trench drain.
4. Budget ceiling: under $2 k → trench or sectional; over $8 k → full replacement.
5. Future plans: selling within 5 years → mid-range fix that photographs well; “forever home” → invest in full replacement with decorative stamped border.

DIY vs. Pro: What You Can Realistically Handle

DIY-Friendly

• Seal cracks & joints
• Install rubber threshold
• Add gutter extenders
• Dig a small swale (call 811 first)

Hire a Pro

• Mudjacking or foam injection (requires $30 k pump rig)
• Concrete pours over 1/3 cu yd (order-ready mix truck)
• Channel drains across public sidewalk (city permit)
• Any work within 5 ft of foundation footer (structural risk)

Permits & Code Points

Most municipalities treat driveway reconstruction as “flat-work” and require:

• Plot plan showing new slope percentages
• Right-of-way permit if you cut the city apron (the section that crosses the sidewalk)
• Storm-water affidavit stating you’re not increasing runoff velocity onto neighbors

Expect 5–10 business days for approval and a $75–$200 fee. Drivewayz USA pulls all permits for clients; DIYers can apply online through the city portal.

2024 Cost Summary (National Averages)

Maintenance Tips to Keep Water Flowing Away

• Every spring, shoot a laser line across the driveway; if pitch drops below 1 %, schedule a foam touch-up before cracks appear.
• Clean trench drains with a shop-vac and flush with hose; install inexpensive leaf guards.
• Re-seal expansion joints every 3–5 years with self-leveling silicone.
• Keep gutter downspouts clear; a single clogged leader can dump 500 gal of water at the garage in a 1-in. storm.

Frequently Asked Questions