Turn a suitable part of the landscape into an assessed runoff-management feature with the overflow route understood.
Define the performance outcome
Ask the designer to review the contributing area, soils, infiltration, grades, buried services, planting and the relationship to the foundation and neighbouring property. Calgary’s rain-garden guidance describes planted areas receiving runoff; actual suitability and detailing depend on the site and applicable local requirements.
Design around the retained home
Do not redirect water into an unassessed low spot or assume every yard can accept infiltration. Contamination, poor drainage and unsuitable setbacks need specialist review. The proposal should define safe overflow, construction, establishment and future care separately from a promise to prevent every flood.
Coordinate the improvement sequence
Agree the assessment and design decisions before ordering products or opening finishes. The completion brief should address assessed layout and limits documented, runoff and overflow route reviewed, establishment and maintenance plan supplied. Identify the responsible specialist, preparation, fitting and reinstatement stages. Keep any defect repair separate from the intended improvement so the household can understand what the project changes and what remains.
What shapes the scope?
- Catchment and site conditions
- Soil and infiltration assessment
- Overflow and property interfaces
- Planting establishment and care
What should be checked?
- Assessed layout and limits documented
- Runoff and overflow route reviewed
- Establishment and maintenance plan supplied
Questions worth asking
What makes this an upgrade rather than ordinary renewal?
Adds a planted stormwater function rather than ordinary garden maintenance or irrigation installation. This brief is for an assessed improvement in capability or performance. Same-role renewal of a failed component belongs at Replacing; first fitting and routine care remain separate Installing and Maintaining stages.
What should the initial proposal explain?
Ask for the intended outcome, existing-condition assumptions and the evidence needed to select a suitable approach. Include catchment and site conditions and soil and infiltration assessment. The provider should identify design responsibilities, limitations and the checks that make the result assessable without guaranteeing a universal saving or outcome.
Bring the details together.
Add this service to My project. Tell HAUSE what you have, what you want to achieve and where the work is needed. A clearer brief makes it easier to discuss the right assessment, responsible trades and written scope.
Build my project brief ↗