This would be a highly unconventional solution to the problem and you will be thought poorly of by a future owner of the home. Embedding plastic sheeting under several inches of soil would be a real pain to undo later. Are you sure you have not corrected the problem just by regrading the soil so that it slopes away from the house? I would double check this first as you may have no need for plastic at all.

Hi Yardvaark, Perhaps I have solved the leak issue by already sloping and packing new soil directed away from the house. Also, I intend to bury a 4" dia drain for the gutter run-off and perhaps beside that drain pipe do you think a French drain would be a good idea? Put both drain pipes in the same ditch. I was thinking of burying it along side the concrete walk.

Lyle

It is better, if at all possible, to drain the water at the surface than to put it into a buried pipe--which will be additional maintenance and can cause problems later... as well as not protect you from flooding in a major rain. You haven't made a case for needing underground drainage. If you're adding it just because you're trying to throw money at a problem, it's not a good idea. In most cases, you should only use underground drainage if the water has no other possible way to escape and leave your property.

After considering what both you and Carl have posted, I think that I will now remove the tarp and add a couple more inches of soil increasing the slop away from the house even more than it is now. In the past the concrete side walk seems to have been a barrier helping trap water between it and the house. But, that was before I filled the old shrub holes and added additional slope. I will see how that works out and it would be great if nothing additional is needed. My water supply line is at the beginning of the picture approx. 2' below grade and in the past water has seeped in there. I may have to give that area additional attention after removing the tarp.

Good luck. It would be great if slope alone solves your problem.