How to Control Heavy Runoff

12/11/2017 (Permalink)

All homes are designed to deal with runoff. After all, it’s why gutters were invented. Some houses and properties get heavier runoff than others, either through local weather patterns or the layout of the property itself.

In order to keep your house and property in good condition, that runoff needs to be controlled.

Why Does Runoff Need to be Controlled?

The most obvious problems caused by uncontrolled runoff is erosion. Heavy amounts of run off can quickly erode huge sections of your landscaping, stripping away the soil and plants. That same erosion can damage driveways, walks, and more.

The other danger is to the structural integrity of your house, and it’s a much bigger problem. If a high amount of water gets near your foundation, it can get absorbed into the soil and push against your foundation enough to break. Water running down the side of the house in large quantities can wear away siding, walls, and even your foundation. Eventually, that water could easily get into your foundation and flood it.

Well-Planned Gutter Systems

Gutters are your first line of defense against runoff. Instead of letting the water gather under the roof and flow down the walls, gutters capture the water and direct it safely away from you house. The key here is to make sure that your gutters are well-planned. A good gutter system will minimize water damage, be big enough to avoid clogging, and direct the water several feet from the house.

Landscaping Solutions

Landscaping solutions are all about capturing and redirecting excess water, including the water that comes from your gutters. One of the most common ways to do this is with gravel and underground drain pipes. The gravel has enough structural capability to holdup the ground, while the space between it allows the water to flow into the pipe. The pipe then directs the water to a safe drain field far from the house. These setups can be installed under a variety of locations, including under bushes, grass, soil, or even paths.

Foundation Drainage

If you find that a lot of water ends up near your foundation, then one of the best things you can do is to install a drainage system right next to your foundation. Like other drainage systems, this will consist of layers of gravel and a drain pipe.

Unlike landscaping solutions, the drainage systems near foundations are buried all the way down at the bottom of the foundation wall. The idea is to capture and redirect as much water as possible away from the entire foundation.

Foundation Waterproofing

For extra protection from heavy runoff, you may want to consider getting a waterproofing membrane applied to the exterior of your foundation. This involves excavation next to your foundation to ensure that the application covers the whole foundation sides. Once cured, the membrane forms a seamless waterproof barrier on your foundation.