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Drainage and Erosion Solutions
Landscape water drainage and erosion issues are common problems for many homeowners and commercial property owners here in Greensboro, High Point, Winston Salem and other surrounding Triad areas. Often these kinds of issues start out small. You may notice a puddle or two in your basement or standing water in your yard after a rainstorm. Water build-up may subtly get worse year after year until one day you see major damage somewhere in your house: uneven foundation settling, flooding in your basement, damage to your home’s siding or windows, or other structural problems. If your wood siding or shingle roof soaks up too much water, the wood can rot, which can promote termite infestation.
Standing water near plants or in your lawn can cause lawn disease and root disease in many common plants. Some plants and trees can even be killed by excess standing water. Most homeowners do not give water drainage problems much thought until a major problem occurs.
Common Signs of Drainage Problems
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Soil run-off: When soil doesn’t drain properly, rain runs off in sheets, carrying silt, gravel or mulch to sections of your yard or driveway where they don’t belong. Gullies may also form in the landscape.
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Cracks in the Foundation or Basement Walls: Over time, most foundations develop minuscule cracks due to geological shifting and the house settling on the land. However, more significant cracks—anything wider than a fourth of an inch—should be addressed, especially if they are cracks in masonry joints and the wall is bulging. That can indicate high moisture levels, which is putting pressure on the wall.
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Water marks in the basement: Stains from water that ran down basement walls means that water has seeped into the basement over the top of the foundation, probably because of exterior sources of infiltration or due to grading problems. Water lines on basement windows indicate water is being retained, and the window well drain is either badly clogged or missing.
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Mold or mildew in the attic: The attic may seem like an odd place to look for drainage problems. However, moisture from the basement or ground floor can rise to the top of a house and condense on the ceiling of the attic, leading to the growth of mold or mildew. This can be a tipoff that there is excess water at the ground level.
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Water being dumped from your downspouts onto your foundation: Water from your downspouts should be diverted at least five feet away from your foundation. Any distance less than that is too close. Water build-up on your foundation can seep into your basement, damaging personal belongings, home furnishings, and basement flooring and walls.
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Deposits and flaking on the basement walls: If you see a dull white or gray crust on your basement walls, that is a mineral deposit left behind when water evaporates. Patches of the wall’s outer surface coming off in flakes are due to condensation of moisture. Either may be an indication that water is getting inside the masonry.
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Clogged gutters: During rainfall if water spills over the edges of your gutters, sprays like a fountain at the elbow joints, or doesn’t flow out of the bottom of the downspout extensions, these are signs that your gutters may be clogged. Telltale signs when it’s not raining include: eroded soil directly below the gutter, moist or dirty siding beneath the gutter, and peeling paint on the siding. A clogged or defective gutter can cause water to form a pool near the foundation, and allow water to soak into the siding and windows.
If you see any of these signs around your home, it is important to determine the root cause of the problem so you can address the situation head-on. It may be an easy remedy.
Some Common Solutions for Drainage and Erosion Issues Are:
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French Drains
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Proper Grading
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Soil build up (along the foundation)
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Retaining walls
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Dry rock beds
Even though you might be concerned about water build-up in and around your house, a “landscape solution” might be what’s needed. For instance, a “berm” (a mound of soil) can be created in the part of your yard where you are having the drainage issue, or a “swale” (a wide, shallow ditch) may help redirect the flow of water away from your home. Grading, or putting in a dry well or retaining wall may also be warranted. We can easily take care of these things for you. Our service team at Ayers Hardscapes and Landscapes can assess your landscape drainage issues and offer solutions that are both functional, visually pleasing and will protect your property for a lifetime.
Our expertise goes beyond the common residential and commericial drainage problems such as flooding, standing water, storm water run-off, and soggy lawns. We also specialize in larger issues involving retention ponds, culverts, and negative grade problems.
If you are experiencing any drainage or erosion control problems contact Ayers Hardscapes and Landscapes, we have over 22 years of experiences in the Triad keeping landscapes healthy and beautiful all year round. We will turn your water nightmares into drainage solutions.