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The Building Insider: October 2025
Lance Luke
September 28, 2025
Drainage issues don’t just cause puddles—they can undermine the safety and stability of entire buildings. Poor grading leads to water intrusion, foundation damage, and costly repairs. In this month’s newsletter, we highlight Lance’s latest book, Lot Grade & Drainage – The Correct Flow, which explains lot types, drainage systems, and simple solutions to fix bad conditions. This essential guide provides practical strategies to protect your investment and ensure lasting building safety.
Happy Halloween
Observed every October 31st, Halloween brings families and neighbors together for pumpkins, costumes, and festive traditions. In that spirit, our featured book, Lot Grade & Drainage – The Correct Flow, offers practical guidance to prevent costly drainage and grading issues that can threaten homes and buildings. Here’s to a safe, spirited, and well-prepared Halloween celebration! 🎃
Featured Book
Lot Grade & Drainage – The Correct Flow arms homeowners, property managers, and condo associations with the knowledge to understand how grading and drainage affect building safety. Learn how different types of lots and soils impact water flow, discover drainage systems like swales, French drains, and sump pits, and explore practical solutions to fix bad drainage conditions.
A must-read guide filled with real-world insights, expert recommendations, and proven strategies to protect properties from costly foundation damage and water intrusion, ensuring buildings remain safe, stable, and resilient
Download available for 30 days only.
Understanding Soil Conditions: A Key to Strong and Lasting Foundation
 | When it comes to building a structure that stands the test of time, your foundation is everything—and the strength of that foundation depends heavily on the soil it’s built on. As a building expert, I’ve seen projects succeed or fail simply based on the understanding (or misunderstanding) of soil conditions. |
Building Codes: Your First Line of Defense in Construction Safety
 | Building codes aren’t just red tape or a set of inconvenient rules—they’re a safety net designed to protect lives, property, and investments. Over my 40 years in the construction and inspection industry, I’ve seen how following codes can prevent disasters—and how ignoring them can lead to costly and dangerous consequences. |
National Building  Introducing the | Webinars  Explore our | Expert  Enhance your building's safety with Lance Luke's |
Q&A: Ask the Building Expert
Question: During heavy rain, water keeps pooling near the foundation of our townhouse. We’ve added extra soil around the yard, but it hasn’t solved the problem. Could this be a grading issue, and what’s the best way to fix it before it damages the building?
Answer: Yes, this is most likely a grading and drainage issue. Adding soil alone often makes the problem worse if it directs more water toward the foundation. The best step is to evaluate the slope of your lot and ensure it directs water away from the building. Installing proper drainage systems—such as swales, French drains, or sump pits—can help divert water safely. In some cases, professional regrading of the yard may be necessary. As explained in Lot Grade & Drainage – The Correct Flow, the key principle is simple: water should always flow away from the building, not toward it. Correcting the problem early prevents foundation damage, mold, and costly structural repairs later.
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