In a perfect world, landscapes would disperse excess water properly and there would be no consequences for the soil, plant life, structures, or home. However, improper drainage can damage or destroy all of the above and the signs of danger might not be apparent until it’s too late. Preparing yourself with the knowledge is the first step, but make sure that you call a drainage professional if you notice these problems. Here are four signs you need to hire a drainage professional in Peekskill and Yorktown, NY.
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Water Stains on the Foundation
Water stains on the interior of your home’s foundation indicate that water has seeped in. There are two huge consequences of this: foundational erosion and basement flooding. Either one of these problems would make for one of the most stressful situations any homeowner can have. If your home has any pooling water around the foundation or if the slope of the hill goes toward the home, this is a major problem that needs to be addressed quickly. Water always needs to be directed away from the home to prevent foundation damage.
Water Doesn’t Absorb Into the Ground
After rain or snowfall when water isn’t absorbed into the ground, it’s a sign that the ground is completely saturated and cannot absorb any more. Standing water can greatly damage the lawn or other plants. It can also soften the ground, making it dirtier and more dangerous for walking. This will destabilize the delicate environment on the surface of your landscape and cause considerable erosion.
One major place in your landscape to look for this problem is just underneath the downspouts from your gutter and roof drain system. The downspouts are angled away from the house to send water downhill away from the foundation. However, if the ground is too saturated with water, then some may pool back against the foundation and cause the problems mentioned above.
A drainage solution will help disperse water that’s collecting in low spots and direct that water to a more desirable catch basin or into the storm drain system if applicable.
Uneven Landscape Health
If you notice that grass is growing much faster in a certain area, it may tell you that there’s an underlying issue. You can also see signs of drainage problems when one area of your landscape is constantly dry, while another is waterlogged and an overabundance of moss and mildew is growing on the plants. Water should be diverted so that it either disperses evenly across the landscape or is directed to a catch basin.
Cracking or Bowing Retaining Walls
Retaining walls are designed to hold back soil. When the soil is dry, even small retaining walls have no trouble holding it back. However, water-saturated soil becomes extremely heavy and worse, it starts to slide. This can put a tremendous strain on a retaining wall. If the retaining wall features drains that help ease some of this pressure, the wall should last a long time. However, if no accommodations are made for the water that builds up behind a retaining wall (such as weep holes or other drainage solutions) then over time, the water will seep into the masonry where the freeze-thaw cycle will do serious damage to the structure. Cracks and bowing are the first signs of trouble. If not corrected, the wall could collapse.
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