Solving Drainage Issues

Standing water or consistently wet, soft spots in your yard are a both a visual and sometimes costly problem. Grass will die if it's underwater for too long. You can't mow over wet areas, and everyone tracks mud into the house. If the soggy area is close to the foundation of your home, it can cause your basement to leak, or worse. Water damage to foundations, patios, decks, etc. can cost a lot of money to repair. It is important to nip these problems in the bud.

There are a number of techniques and tools that can be applied to various drainage issues. It is important to consult a professional when tackling these potentially costly problems. Your home and property need to be protected from damage by water, and Distinguished Landscapes is here to help. We have years of experience in the implementation of grading and drainage systems that won't harm the ascetic look of your home.  We can asses the drainage patterns of your property and install french drains, downspout extensions, drainage swales or grading solutions to protect your investment.  We are New York State Department of Environmental  Conservation Certified for Erosion and Sediment Control, and will help you plan and implement the necessary steps to solve all of your drainage issues.

In this blog post I would like to share a little information on the subject of drainage solutions with you. This won't take the place of a professional solution, but a little information can go a long way in helping you understand what your professional might suggest.

Gutter Downspout Tie Outs -

These can help elevate wet basement problems and continuous running of your sump pump . They can also stop problems like mulch wash out and standing water on the lawn. Gutter tie outs can often be tied into existing municipal storm water systems to completely remove water from your property. There are different options available when choosing the type of pipe to be used based on the site and function of the property-(i.e. you don’t want to use corrugated pipe if you have a lot of big trees as you may one day need to have a bucket truck come in and cut down one of the trees and it would crush corrugated pipe). The important this is to move the water away from the house and out into an area where it won't create problems.

French Drains -

These help to collect water in lawns and landscapes to move water from low spots where it sits, to areas where it can run off- drainage swales, municipal storm water systems or  (as a last resort) they can be installed into dry-well systems to slowly percolate water into the ground.

Box Drains -

These are installed into patios, hardscapes and lawns. Box drains are an exposed system in that you see top grate. The advantage is that they can handle a larger volume of water much faster than a French drain can. A disadvantage is that the water has to move to them, and as a result saturates everything along the way. Another advantage is that they have a "clean out" on the base which allows for servicing the system

Each drainage issue must be addressed on it's own merits and may require one or more of the solutions presented here. Often they are tied into an overall drainage plan that includes grading and swales to help alleviate pooling problems. If you have drainage issues, feel free to call us. We can come out to your property and asses the situation, offer you a solution and a free no obligation estimate to get you on your way to a problem free summer.

Why hire a landscape professional?

Many of us have had a great idea for our home outdoor landscaping project. Although some of us may have gone down to the local home center and purchased plants or mulch, it's likely that some type of professional will need to be consulted to help with certain aspects of the design and implementation of a project that is of any real consequence. While many of us have some DIY skills, we don't always have the time or access to materials and craftsmen that may be needed to complete the project right.

It's a smart idea to hire a professional to work with you on the planning and execution of the project. There are many factors that can come into play with a project of any real size. Drainage issues, material selection, excavation or grading, and a myriad of design options just to name a few. Hiring someone who is a professional with experience in backyards, landscapes, poolscapes, retaining walls and patios is an amazing resource when investing money into your home.

Another reason to consult an expert is that we don't know what we don't know. We can watch YouTube how-to videos and read magazine articles about home improvement, but nothing can replace proper training and years of experience. By hiring a professional you can avoid many time consuming and costly errors due to lack of knowledge and experience.

The best reason to hire a landscape professional is peace of mind. You want things done right for your home. You also want the peace of mind in knowing that the job was done professionally and that the work is backed up the company you hired. You can sit back, relax, and enjoy your beautiful new landscaping with the reassurance that the work was completed by professional who has the knowledge and experience to do it right the first time.