Backyard Facelift
We moved into this house in August 2022. Since then, we have repaired the exterior stucco, added walls and wallpaper, installed double-pane windows on the east and south sides, and added blinds, curtains, and carpets. Now, in our fourth year at this address, we are planning to give the backyard a facelift. The birds won’t mind.
Drainage issues…
In 2022, the north end of the backyard flooded because the corrugated pipes leading to the street were filled with dirt. The pipes were replaced, but years later, even after some soil was added, the area continued to flood. The addition of three catch basins and the connection of the pipe network to a sump pump corrected most of the flooding.
largely resolved
The south end of the backyard had no drainage toward the street and flooded badly after heavy rains. There was a small sump pump, but it was not connected to any pipes. In 2023, a drainage system was installed with several catch basins and pipes connecting to a larger sump pump. The area still floods after heavy rain, but all water is pumped to the street in a reasonable time.
Overview of backyard, June 2026
Views toward the home
After fixing numerous leaks in the lines over the past four years, the pool itself is in good condition, as is the coping (the border between the pool and the deck). The deck has numerous cracks that have widened each year. Several boards of the wooden deck next to the home had to be replaced. Once we saw rats feeding at the bird feeder, we discovered that the space below the deck was their home. Also, due to a leak in the pool’s fill line beneath the wooden deck, we removed a large section of the boards. Both decks will be replaced with Travertine pavers, and a new path will be added toward the master bedroom door.
