There’s nothing quite like a beautiful hardscape to accentuate and elevate an outdoor space. Whether you’re installing a new walkway, driveway, front porch, back patio or more, this installation can be one of the best additions you ever make to your house.
However, if the right drainage system isn’t installed, it’s possible that you could have a flooded hardscape, even when there’s not a lot of rain. Drainage systems are essential for all paver patios in Michigan weather, and we’ll discuss why below.
Understanding Drainage Systems
Drainage systems are crucial to any hardscape system. If proper drainage isn’t incorporated, problems can arise quickly.
Importance of Drainage in Michigan Hardscapes
Without proper drainage, it’s easy for water to pool on top of the hardscape. Not only is this annoying — since it prevents you from using the patio as you want and forces you to clear it off — it also can cause significant damage.
In Michigan’s rainy climate, proper drainage isn’t just crucial to protect the hardscape, but to protect your home and yard from natural hazards as well. By redirecting excess water away from the hardscape and your home, it will help to protect your home’s foundation.
Common Drainage Issues in Michigan
There are a number of problems that standing water can cause. First, it can lead to issues such as erosion of the hardscape itself, as well as the materials that hold it together.
In addition, if there is standing water in your yard, it can attract many pests, as well as lead to disease to plants and grass, and result in weeds growing in your lawn.
Types of Drainage Systems
There are a few different types of drainage systems that can be installed to prevent these problems. Which one will be the best for your home will depend on a number of factors.
Surface Drainage System
A surface drainage system will utilize ditches or channels to collect and remove water from an area. Sometimes, the surface of the ground will be either graded or shaped so that water can run off and be directed naturally toward these channels.
Surface drains are particularly useful for addressing issues such as surface runoff, water pooling and standing water.
Subsurface Drainage Systems
A subsurface drainage system, by contrast, will be installed underground. It will be installed under the soil’s top layer.
You’ll sometimes see this type of drainage system referred to as a French drain. With this system, pipes are installed underground so that water can be collected at the root level from areas prone to flooding and then redirected to another part of the yard, where it can properly drain.
Slope Drainage Systems
Water naturally flows downward, and slope drainage systems take advantage of this fact. They are designed so that water is allowed to flow downward from a structure.
Pipes are installed as part of this system, allowing water to move down through the slop away from your structure.
Trench and Slot Drains
Sometimes, the drainage systems above simply don’t cut it for your yard. In this case, you might opt for trend drains, which can be used in a variety of different applications to help solve water issues.
Trench Drains
Trends drains are basically a surface drainage system that intercepts the flow of water runoff over vast expanses of ground. They are designed to carry water from the ground’s surface through a channel, where it eventually reaches a final drainage point.
An advantage of this type of drainage system is that it can be used in a number of different configurations and for even large yards. You can even create a custom trench drain to solve whatever needs you have at your home.
Slot Drains
Slot drains are essentially French drains that don’t have grates on them. Because of this, they are more durable, cost effective and sanitary that some other type of drainage systems.
This system is newer and a more innovative type of trench drain. They come as a single piece of surface drainage, and are pre-sloped and pre-assembled. This eliminates the need for the grate covering, as mentioned, that are required in French drains.
Other Drainage Systems
There many other types of drainage systems that can help solve water issues for Michigan homeowners. Some of those are described below.
Drainage System Options
One option for your hardscape is a channel drain. It’s a type of linear or trench drain that removes water from the surface of an area to prevent water from pooling on impervious surfaces.
Channel drains are used a lot in areas where there is either a lot of heavy rain or other places where water might be susceptible to pooling, such as in a parking lot, patio, around pools and driveways.
Also known as catch basins, yard drains will “catch” any excess surface water and then redirect it somewhere else. It basically operates the same way a sewer drain does, piping the water through pipes that slope away from the system’s basin.
Another underground option is a dry well. In this system, excess water is collected by the well until it’s naturally able to percolate into the ground. In other words, it slowly releases the water into the surrounding soil so that it doesn’t all flood at once.
Other Drainage Systems Considerations
Whatever type of drainage system you are considering for your home, keep in mind that the first defense against oversaturation from storm water are your home’s downspouts and gutter system.
It’s important that this system is in good working condition, and that downspouts are pointed in the right direction so that water goes both away from your home’s foundation and from other hardscape structures. In addition, make sure that your gutters and downspouts are consistently kept free of leaves, dirt and other debris.
If your gutter and downspout system isn’t cutting it, you might also consider rain barrels. These systems can collect rainwater and redirect it elsewhere. Some systems will also allow you to hook a hose to them so that you can use the rainwater when you need it, rather than using water from your home’s well or municipal water system.
Choosing the Right Drainage System
With so many different types of drainage systems, how do you choose the right one?
Factors to Consider
What type of drainage system will work best for you depends on the specific needs of your property. Some of these factors include the lay of the land and the amount of water runoff that you anticipate.
Consulting a Professional
While you will have direct knowledge of what happens on your property when it rains, you might not have the expertise or know-how to determine which specific drainage system will solve your problems best. That’s why it’s important that you consult with a professional who is experienced in the field.
Professionals can help you determine which drainage system is the right one for your property, based on your specific needs. Not only that, but they’ll ensure that your drainage system is installed correctly so that it works efficiently and effectively.
Conclusion
All Michigan homeowners need to consider how water drains on their properties. This becomes especially important when you’re dealing with hardscapes, which can be prone to water pooling and draining issues.
Having an effective drainage system installed is crucial to protecting your home and yard from the natural hazards that occur in Michigan’s rainy climate. By understanding the different types of drainage systems laid out above, you can make an informed decision about which one would be best for your property.
