🌿Landscaping & Hardscape
Landscape Contractor Grade Verification — Drainage Documentation Software
Document positive drainage slopes, verify patio and flatwork grades, and generate professional grade reports that protect you from disputes and callbacks.
The Problem
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Drainage disputes with homeowners are costly
A patio or driveway that drains toward the house creates a homeowner dispute that's almost impossible to win without field documentation taken at project completion.
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Building departments require drainage documentation
Commercial landscape projects increasingly require drainage verification submittals. No documentation means no certificate of occupancy.
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Hard to prove what you installed without records
Without field measurements taken at the time of installation, proving your work was correct is nearly impossible — especially years later when problems emerge.
How Sitemark Solves It
Built for Landscaping & Hardscape Contractors
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Patio and Flatwork Grade Verification
Log elevation shots across patio, walkway, and driveway surfaces — verify positive drainage away from structures.
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Retaining Wall Elevation Documentation
Log top-of-wall and toe-of-wall elevations — verify against design and document for permit closeout.
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Drainage Swale Grade Logging
Verify swale grades ensure flow toward intended outlet — minimum 2% slope for positive drainage.
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Lawn and Planting Area Grades
Document finish grade across turf and planting areas — verify drainage away from building pads and foundations.
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Client-Facing Report
Professional grade report suitable for client closeout package or HOA submittal — not a raw field data dump.
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Photo Documentation
Attach photos to each grade check — document finished surfaces and drainage conditions at project completion.
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Standards & Compliance
Compliance Sitemark Helps You Document
IBC Section 1804
IBC requires minimum 2% slope for first 10 feet from building foundations on landscaped areas — verified during finish grading.
Local Drainage Ordinance
Most municipalities have stormwater drainage ordinances requiring positive drainage away from structures and to approved discharge points.
ADA Accessibility
ADA requirements limit accessible route cross-slopes to 2% maximum — applies to walkways, patios, and parking areas.
HOA Requirements
Many HOAs require grade documentation at project completion to confirm drainage compliance with CC&R provisions.
FAQ
What is the minimum drainage slope for a patio?
IBC Section 1804 requires a minimum 2% slope (approximately 1/4 inch per foot) away from building foundations for the first 10 feet on landscaped areas. For hardscape surfaces like concrete and pavers, a minimum 1% slope is generally sufficient for drainage, though local codes may require more. Check your jurisdiction's requirements.
How does grade documentation protect landscape contractors?
Field documentation taken at project completion — before the client takes ownership — creates a timestamped record of what grades were installed. If a drainage problem is reported months later, you have evidence showing your grades were correct at installation. Without documentation, you have no defense against callback claims.
What format do building departments want for commercial landscape grade documentation?
Commercial landscape grade documentation varies by municipality. Most want a simple table or plan showing design grade vs actual grade at key points (building foundation, drainage outfall, catch basins) with pass/fail notation. Sitemark generates a clean professional report that can be submitted with your certificate of completion application.
Do I need a survey-grade instrument for landscape work?
Not usually. For residential and light commercial landscape work, a self-leveling rotary laser level (Spectra HV302G at $2,200, Leica Rugby 680 at $3,499) provides more than sufficient accuracy. Survey-grade GPS or total stations are overkill for most landscape grade verification work.
Can Sitemark document both the grading and the irrigation as-built?
Yes. Use the shot logger for grade verification and the notes/photo fields to document irrigation system installation. You can log pipe grades for drip main lines, note valve locations, and attach photos of buried components before backfill. All documentation is in the same job record.
Ready to modernize your landscaping & hardscape documentation?
Join contractors using Sitemark to replace paper logs, pass inspections faster, and generate professional as-built reports in seconds.
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