6 Reasons Why Proper Drainage Is Crucial to the Longevity of Your Pleasant Valley NY Patio
Landscape renovations are typically focused on adding function and beauty to a home and outdoor living space. However, there are some landscape projects that are necessary to protect these places from the destructive forces of nature. In particular, water can wreak havoc on a landscape and threaten structures. Both surface water and erosion are big concerns but you can protect your landscape with some improvements in drainage. Here are six reasons why proper drainage is crucial to the longevity of your Pleasant Valley, NY patio.
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What Happens If You Do Nothing
If water isn’t properly directed into the groundwater supply or downstream, the soil underneath your patio can quickly become oversaturated. This can cause a mess of problems that can threaten the plant life, your patio, or even your home over time.
1. Standing Surface Water
When the water collects and the soil becomes oversaturated, one of the first signs is the collection of mud and puddles in any depression without drainage. At best, the presence of water in the topsoil or patio can be a nuisance. At worst, this presence can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, drown plant life, and even damage paved surfaces.
2. The Spread of Pests and Disease
Without proper drainage, mosquitoes and other insects will take the opportunity to breed in standing water: the last thing you want anywhere near your patio. Too much water can also be detrimental to many plants, especially those that require well-drained soil. This can allow disease and rot to take hold.
3. Debris On the Landscaping
A heavy rain can cascade across your landscape, bringing with it all kinds of debris like mud, rocks, sticks, and much more. This debris not only looks ugly, it can damage your landscaping. If the current slope of the land brings debris to your patio, this debris can back up against the patio or even overflow onto the patio itself.
4. Damaged Gutters and Drains
The gutter and drain system of your home can also affect your patio if it isn’t properly designed or maintained. If a drain pipe does not extend far enough away from the home or your gutters are clogged, excess water that pools around the patio can cause severe damage over time.
5. Damage to the Patio
Water can seep into the joints between your patio pavers, especially standing water. Once it has seeped into the patio surface, the freeze-thaw cycle can cause jointing compounds to degrade and allow pavers to move. This will damage the structure of the patio itself as well as the individual pavers or stones which could crack or degrade.
6. Damage to the Home’s Foundation
The patio and the home are often directly adjacent. When a patio is damaged by improper drainage, you can bet that before long the foundation of the home will be damaged as well. The presence of excess standing water or water-saturated soil can expand and contract through the freeze-thaw cycles, causing soil movement. Soil is heavy enough without the presence of standing water, which increases its weight exponentially and causes incredible pressure on the home’s foundation. If you notice standing water on your patio or nearby, it’s time to act!
A Little Diversion Goes a Long Way
We can’t stop Nature from delivering rain, but we can manage where the rainwater (or snowmelt) goes. Grading, retaining walls, French drains, catchment basins, and more are ways we can prevent water from damaging your patio. Even one method can have amazing results.
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