OT: concrete driveway advise Options

[thomasotten]

I have a problem. My house and driveway is lower than the street level. Usually, when this is the case, they will build a slight rise or berm into the driveway near the street, to keep the street water out. Unfortunately, there is no berm, and when there are heavy rains, I get a lot of street water. I have determined that if I built a berm only 3" high, it would prevent the majority of the street water from entering. So my question is this: Can I build a berm out of concrete directly over my existing driveway? Would it stick, would it break off? Any tips on how to do this so that it lasts? It would very much resemble a speed bump, same proportions.

Thanks,

Thomas

[charliew]

In 72 my first new house was like yours. A bunch of homes built on a hill by different builders long gone. For the first and second july 4th I was pulling my front bedroom carpet up and drying out the front wall edge. The water was actually coming in my neighbors driveway and across the small strip of grass between us and setting in my front yard. I had to cut the yard down and make a small gradual ditch to drain around my house. With a shovel and a wheelbarrow. I also built a nice raised curb on his driveway side with two 14 inch pieces of pipe for planters and planted him two small hedges. I did the washed rock look. He thought it looked great. I actually lived on the side of a big gulley that all the water from the top of the hill drained into after coming down the street.

where does the water go in your neighbor behind your yard? The city should be able to help you figgure out a solution. Flood ins.?

I don't know if this is feasable but what if you got someone to cut a groove in the concrete and put a very thick piece of rubber on edge in the groove that would actually flex if you scraped a low car on it. Maybe you could just bolt it down. I'm sure it would be way cheaper than the trench but of course the trench would look the best. You could alway drill a 12inch forty foot hole and say you are helping to refill the aquifer.

Maybe the city needs to put a drain in the street since you are not the only one this affects.