Bay Area Hardscape Designers Share Water Drainage Tips
Water does many things for us: It keeps us hydrated. It keeps us clean. In oceans, rivers, and lakes, it gives us places to swim, boat, and fish. But despite all of its wonderful benefits, water can be quite the uninvited guest when it intrudes unexpectedly from a patio or driveway. Luckily, Bay Area hardscape designers have figured out a number of building techniques that keep water at arm’s length.
Gullies
Gullies are one way that contractors ensure proper drainage. They are common in areas that are prone to pooling water. Just digging a ditch beside a driveway or leading away from a patio isn’t sufficient, though: The water needs a suitable place to drain to. One option is to have a gully direct water somewhere that it can naturally and slowly rejoin the water table. It’s also important to direct water away from certain areas; for instance, a gully that simply sends water toward your neighbor’s property will not make you popular with them.
Proper Slopes
Making sure driveways and other paved areas slope is another tactic that Bay Area paving contractors use to help water move along. A slope doesn’t have to be dramatic or jarring to be effective: A gradual one will do. Slopes are important because without them, water may pool up indefinitely. That, in turn, can lead to a flooded basement or even damage to your home’s foundation, which can be incredibly expensive to fix and disruptive to your day-to-day life. A lack of drainage can also lead to more minor but still displeasing issues, like weed growth.
Installing Sand
When it comes to concrete, there’s often more than meets the eye. For example, for drainage purposes, Bay Area paver experts often make sure that there is a layer of sand underneath the concrete. Sand may also go in between individual pavers (with mortared pavers being an exception.)
Sand allows water to gradually move through it, much like a coffee filter. There are specific types of sand that perform better than others for drainage purposes, per SFGate: Generally speaking, coarse sand outperforms fine sand, because in the latter, the grains are packed too tightly for proper drainage.
Catch Basins
Because they feature grates over a drainage area, catch basins may look like they belong on a city street. But they can be aesthetically installed on your property, too, supplementing its water-drainage capabilities. To prevent clogging, catch basins collect solid debris before they can pass further into the system and cause issues with the pipes. Water, however, passes through and off your property.
Build a Beautiful and Proper Draining Paver Patio or Driveway in the Bay Area
All of these solutions have situations in which they thrive, and your property may benefit from one of them or a combination of two or more. For advice on your property’s unique needs, talk to a company with experience with pavers and drainage systems like Viking Pavers. Call 800-941-1014 today to discuss your project or send us a free consultation request from our website.
