What Are the Different Types of Lawn Drainage?
With all the common areas that many HOAs have, drainage issues can arise. Addressing drainage issues within a HOA can be challenging because of the unpredictable nature of water flow.
When homes are located in low-lying or flat areas, a drainage system may need to be installed to prevent flooding, standing water and damage to the home’s foundation. There are many types of lawn drainage systems, and many homes already have built-in systems. If the lawn does not have a natural method of removing water, such as drainage slopes or drainage ditches, installing French drains, channel drains or an underground drainage system maybe the answer.
Many homes already have lawn drainage features such as slopes and ditches. Drainage slopes can be paved or landscaped. For paved slopes, the ideal minimum slope is 1 percent. Slopes that are landscaped or turfed should have a minimum of a 2 percent slope. These slopes naturally move excess rainwater and drainage away from the home and out of the yard. Drainage ditches are known to play a major role in agricultural systems worldwide and basically are trenches that gather excess water.
French drains typically are perforated drainpipes wrapped in landscaping material. They can be covered with grass or rocks, and they usually blend in with the yard. Some prefer this type of lawn drainage when there are raised flowerbeds or large planters in the yard. One of the benefits of this type of drainage system is that the pipe is protected and separated from soil and roots. This helps prevent damage to the pipe and helps block water from saturating the grass and planting roots.
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