Drainage Solutions

Drainage:

Every spring, we hear from homeowners and businesses about the pools of water in their lawn or pools of water in their basement. In many cases, homeowners do not realize they have a drainage problem until it is too late. We have put together this information to help homeowners and businesses about the problems and solutions when it comes to drainage on their property.

Drainage Problems:

Downspouts are an essential part of your home’s drainage system. However, some homes and businesses have non-effective downspouts. The purpose of a downspout is to redirect storm water away from the home’s foundation. A downspout that is not effectively pushing water away from the house may cause water to flow against the foundation causing flooded basements and soil erosion.

The Grade of soil around your home’s foundation is an easily overlooked issue that can cause more harm to your property than good. Most builders install soil along the foundation to give a proper slope away from the house or business. Yet over the years, storm water, lawn maintenance, and foot traffic can undo a proper slope causing water to pool in low areas or flow into the foundation rather than away. As essential as water is to all living things, it is also incredibly destructive. When water does not have clear path and a good place to drain, it can eventually cause soil erosion and established turf to die.

Drainage Solutions: 

Drainage plans are a vital part of any landscape design. When working with LKM, our teams will formulate a solution to help eliminate any major water problems that your landscape and turf are dealing with. Our solutions begin by analyzing your downspouts, slope of the yard, and existing landscape.

For most homes in Central Illinois, downspouts when first installed are only run 3-4 feet away from the foundation. In many situations, these downspouts are non-effective and cannot move water away from the building’s foundation. LKM provides the solution of burying your downspouts with rigid 4” PVC terminating in a NDS pop-up-valve with a French drain underneath to direct water at least 15 feet away from your home’s foundation. This also allows for non-visible piping, giving your landscape beds more space and a cleaner look. Need your downspouts buried?

The most detrimental aspect of drainage on your property is the slope/grade of your property from your house. In many cases, homeowners can evaluate if they have low spots around their foundation or low spots that hold water in their yard.

Our teams can work with you to establish a proper grade to allow consistent and non-damaging water flow. We can solve these issues simply by re-grading your yard, however sometimes for existing fully developed yards and landscapes, other options are necessary. Dry Creek Beds are another drainage solution that can help areas that are perpetually wet and sections that experience erosion issues. Dry creek beds use large rocks to fill in a created swale or an existing low point where water flows to and floods during a storm. By installing rocks and a proper swale prevention of water creating erosion problems is quickly eliminated. Dry creek beds are favored

in situations because it requires the least uprooting of

existing turf and landscaping. In addition, it is a visually

pleasant drainage solution.

When standing water is in the center of your turf and a dry creek bed is not possible, French Drains are another perfect solution to most cases. The primary purpose of a French drain is to control, collect, direct, and distribute water. French drains are commonly used to relocate standing water and water that is flowing back into the home’s foundation. Due to being a subterranean drainage solution, this is favored to allow turf to be installed and fully developed on top.

For all drainage solutions there are limitations and conditions that give basis for what type of drainage solutions are needed. Do not hesitate to call our teams today to get a professional opinion!