An efficient drainage system is essential for any property. It prevents soil erosion, flooding, mold growth, and pest infestations like mosquitoes. Natural and artificial drainage work together to keep water from your land.
At Drainage Masters LLC, we are landscape drainage specialists who will help you understand the drainage solutions available and what will work best for your property.
To gain a complete understanding of what your drainage needs are, consider the following factors:
There are a few natural and artificial types of drains you should consider once you understand your land’s drainage needs.
Reshaping the land through grading and sloping provides effective surface drainage. It encourages water to drain away from buildings and foundations instead of pooling. Swales — broad, shallow, vegetated depressions — are another option to catch and redirect water to a safe discharge point, with plants helping filter pollutants.
A subsurface system will lie beneath the ground and complement the surface drainage. A common system people use is dry wells. The purpose of these underground structures is to store runoff water temporarily. You can direct your surface systems into the dry well, slowly soaking into the surrounding soil, recharging the groundwater and reducing surface pooling. You can also opt for a French drain, which is a gravel-filled trench sloped toward a drainage location. It has a perforated pipe running through it through which water runs, and it’s wrapped in a water-permeable cloth to prevent clogging.
While surface and subsurface systems are vital for drainage, redirecting the water that falls directly on your home or business into these other systems is the final piece to an effective system. Gutters and downspouts will do this. A professional will know the local rain conditions to size them properly, and with a downspout extension, you can ensure that water is directed away from the foundation.
A rain barrel connected to your downspout is an excellent idea for conserving this rainwater for watering your lawn.
To further mitigate flooding risks, you can install a catch basin, which is an underground drainage structure with a grate on top, installed at a low point on the property. Drainage Masters LLC offers a patent-pending steel sediment-trapping catch basin that will effectively filter out debris and pipe the water away safely.
The right system depends on where water comes from, its severity, frequency, and your soil type. For clay, use a combination like French drains and dry wells. For sandy or loamy soil and large areas without extreme rain, surface drainage solution applications like swales and grading are often enough.
Drainage Masters LLC is here to help you pick the best residential or commercial outdoor drainage solutions for your property. Contact us today for a free estimate and a consultation on the best system.
