How To Handle Problems With Landscape Drainage
No matter how well your basement or crawlspace has been sealed, when heavy rains fall that leave enough water to cause small lakes on your property, the liquid can find its way into the lower levels of your home. In a perfect world, the ground would quickly absorb the water and add it to the liquefier, but some soils resist absorption, and that can be a problem for the water-swamped homeowner. To help you keep the water out of your lower floors, here are a few ways you can handle landscape drainage.
- Positive Grade
The recommended slope is at least 10 inches. This positive grade will allow proper drainage away from the house before the water tries to enter the earth.
- Additional Soil
If your yard doesn’t have enough of an incline from your foundation down into the grass or gravel, the water will take the opportunity to seep into your home. If you do need to bring in soil to raise the incline, make sure the foundation still has at least 2 inches showing all the way around.
- Sump Pump
If your water source in your yard is a frequent problem due to your wet weather, you may want to consider a sump pump type box installed in your yard that the water can drain into. Once the water is in the box, an electrical motor will pump the liquid from the box and into the yard away from your home.
- Drainage Basins
Pea gravel and several drainage basins are the last and most extreme option for yards that turn into swamps during the wet weather every year. The 30-gallon basins are connected to drains positioned throughout your yard that allow the water to flow into the containers easily. The water then seeps out of the basin through the pea gravel packed around each unit.
Depending on the type of landscape drainage problem you have, one of these options will make sure your home stays dry during the wet months. Discuss your alternatives and property type with a qualified landscape company for the best results.