You can prevent water buildup in your yard by installing an underground drain system. Below we will go over a simple 4-step process.
Some yards have areas that will collect water creating problems for any patios or walking paths. Since water does not soak into a hard surface of a patio, it runs off and collects in a low lying area of the yard. A French Drain or swale will channel the water away from the site to another area where problems will not occur as likely. Just be sure not to divert the water to your neighbors yard! Keep it on your own property. If you cannot find a way to divert the water to a good area, then you will need to run the French drain to a dry well.
Dry wells collect the water and allows it to slowly seep into the surrounding soil. Be sure to look at the local codes required for a dry well size in your area. Sizes can be subject to conditions of your neighborhood. Even if you don’t have current drainage problems, it is a good idea to be proactive and install a gravel-lined trench around the patio area.
Be sure to check the location of any underground utility lines before you start.
Materials needed:
Gravel
Couplings
4 inch perforated drainpipe
Concrete patio blocks
Landscape fabric
Tools needed:
Spade
Round nose shovel
Scissors
Slope guage
First, Dig and line the trench.
Use the spade to slice the sod along your path line. Making it about two feet wide. Remove the sod, roll it up and save it. Dig the trench approximately 6 inches deep along the line. Use a slope guage to slope it one-quarter inch per foot. Dig a dry well at the low end of the trench. The well should be about 2-4 feet wide and 3 feet deep. Using the landscape fabric and gravel, line the trench. Lay the perforated drainpipe with the holes facing DOWN. Continue the pipe a few inches into the dry well. Then connect the sections of pipe with fittings, not glue!
Second Fill with Gravel
Make sure the well is lined well with the landscape fabric, leaving about 2 feet of surplus fabric on each side. This will keep the gravel from setting into the soil. Then fill your trench with the gravel, leaving enough clearance over the well for a 2-3 inch thick patio block cover.
Cover the Well
Fold the surplus fabric over the gravel and cover it with a patio block. Backfill the trench and the well, tamping the soil lightly.
Replace The Sod
Now cover the patio block with approximately 3 inches of the soil, tamp lightly with a rake. Replace sod.
You have easily created a water drainage system to help protect your patio area. Enjoy your outdoor living space by decorating with nice outdoor furniture and a gas fire pit with a Warming Trends fire pit burner or a patio heater or both!