The Dallas area can be subjected to strong storms with heavy rain, and if drainage issues aren’t addressed in a timely fashion, they can lead to large scale damage and thousands of dollars of unnecessary repair work. Ricochet Construction is highly experienced in diagnosing and solving all forms of drainage issues, and we pride ourselves in completely all of our work efficiently, on budget, and on schedule.

In the following article, we’re going to talk about the damage issues you should be aware of as a homeowner, rental property owner, or HOA official. We will briefly cover the major drainage issues we commonly see, and suggest how you know when you need to call a professional to deal with your issues.

Standing water at the foundation of a structure is often a clear sign that your foundation may not be high enough to allow water flow away from your building. If water pools consistently after rain, it can cause damage to walls, and even to the foundation itself.

Solutions for low-elevation of a foundation can include: (1) Grading around your building to create new channels for water to flow away from the foundation itself; (2) Installing a sub-surface system that allows water to drain away below the surface where it would normal pool.

Although it’s best to avoid drainage issues with proper construction, Ricochet can provide solutions that will deal with drainage even when the original construction may not have been done in an ideal fashion.

Over time, any landscaping can become damaged so that water stands in certain areas rather than flowing downhill to proper drainage areas. Standing water creates marshy conditions, damages grass, and can contribute to a consistent degradation of the landscaping in ways that can become a bigger problem if not addressed.

Re-grading the landscape can often allow standing water to flow more naturally downhill, thus relieving water traps. Channels can also be dug to allow water to run off to creek beds, where it flows away from your property. If none of these options are possible, it may be necessary to use a pump system to remove standing water before it becomes a larger problem.

Gutters are designed to allow intense rainwater to be flowed away from your foundation by redirecting it through the drain spout, so that it won’t cause erosion. Gutters that overflow can drip hundreds of gallons of water onto soil, causing serious indentations and leading to water pooling at or even below the foundation.

It’s a good idea to occasionally inspect all gutters to make sure they are working properly. Routine cleaning of gutters will also go a long way toward ensuring they are working in the way they were designed.

There are many way to deal with drainage issues, and we use all of them. The three most common forms of drainage improvements are:

Create an open ditch. The easiest and more efficient way to deal with surface water is to have an open ditch at the lowest point of your property so that water may flow naturally away from your buildings. Open ditches are the least likely solution to clog, and the most natural, effective way to remove water.
A gravel-filled trench. For people who prefer to not have an open ditch on their property, they also have to option to create a trench that will flow water away, but fill it with gravel so that it isn’t as open as a full ditch. This option works, but generally not quite as well as a fully open ditch, but is completely adequate for many situations.
Drainage pipes. For those who do not want a drainage solution that’s visible on the surface, it’s also very efficient to build a below ground pipe system that will drain water in an effective way. The cost of the piping, and installation, are often worth the outcome of knowing that your foundation is protected, but not having to see the drainage system itself.
Install a sump pump. A sump pump is a smaller pump that is installed wherever a building may collect water below its foundation. Often the pump is placed in a sump pit, in a basement or crawlspace, at a point where water naturally collects. The pump removes any water that would normally stand in that location, and redirects it away from the building, into a more conducive run-off, either a pipe or an external ditch. Sump pumps are common in all new construction, and can save thousands of dollars of damage by avoiding flooding issues before they ever happen.

Drainage issues can look daunting, because they show clear erosion and appear with every rainstorm. At Ricochet Construction, however, we know there is a smart solution to every drainage problem. We specialize in large scale repairs to apartment and condo communities, and are well-equipped and fully experienced in drainage repair. Contact us any time to find out more!