Recordkeeping
drainage photo documentation guide
A practical guide for drainage photo documentation guide.
Short answer
Good drainage photos show location, direction of flow, rainfall context, distance from the home, recurring patterns, and before/after repair evidence.
Checklist
- Take wide, medium, and close-up photos.
- Include dates and rainfall context.
- Photograph outlets and downstream impacts.
- Store photos by event or repair project.
Decision framework
Use this page as a planning checkpoint. The goal is to turn a vague concern into a clear next action, record trail, and professional question list.
Common homeowner questions
What evidence separates routine dampness from a drainage problem in drainage photo documentation?
Good drainage photos show location, direction of flow, rainfall context, distance from the home, recurring patterns, and before/after repair evidence. Compare timing, location, photos, rain amount, duration, and whether water appears near foundation walls, crawlspaces, sump discharge, grading, gutters, downspouts, or paved surfaces.
Which photos make drainage photo documentation easier for a contractor to diagnose?
Use one wide photo showing rooflines, slope, downspouts, paved areas, and the house wall, then close photos of stains, ponding, erosion, cracks, drains, or discharge points with the date and rain context.
How soon after rain should I document drainage photo documentation?
Take notes during the rain if safe, again within a few hours, and once the area dries. That sequence shows whether water is flowing through, pooling briefly, or staying long enough to suggest a grading, gutter, sump, or drainage defect.
What scope details matter before paying for drainage photo documentation work?
Ask the contractor to identify the observed cause, proposed water path, materials, discharge location, exclusions, access damage, and how the repair will be checked during the first meaningful rain.
Related guides
Recordkeeping
Rain Event Observation Log
A practical guide for rain event observation log.
Recordkeeping
Basement Humidity Tracking Log
A practical guide for basement humidity tracking log.
Recordkeeping
Drainage Repair Before-and-After Record
How homeowners can document drainage repairs for future maintenance and resale questions.