Learn the Best Practices for Drainage Installation From Our Nashville Drainage Experts
In Nashville, TN, we get to enjoy the vibrant greenery that only comes with significant rainfall. But the downside can be yards that flood on a frequent basis and damage the foundation of your home. Fortunately, there are multiple drainage installation options available to prevent erosion, foundation damage, and stagnant water.
Plan Ahead
As any drainage expert will tell you, planning is critical to any project. If you take the time to think through the process and consider all the factors, from checking with the right authorities to understanding where the water is coming from and where it’s possible to divert it to, the better chance you have of a successful drainage installation project.
Plan ahead before digging with your drainage project
Call Before You Dig
It is a legal requirement in Tennessee that anyone planning an excavation project call 811 before breaking ground. Alerting the state to your plans gives the authorities the chance to check their records for what gas lines or other systems could be buried underground in your area. With that information in hand, you or your drainage expert will be able to determine the best place for your drainage installation without causing any expensive damage to underground utilities.
Request Permission from Your Homeowner’s Association
If you live in a neighborhood, you may have a homeowner’s association. Different HOAs have different rules regarding excavation projects. You could be fined or even required to undo your hard work and start over in a different location or with different materials depending on the bylaws of your community. Let your HOA know about your plans and seek their permission before proceeding.
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Choose the Flow Destination Carefully
Lastly, you’ll need to consider the natural shape of your yard as well as the surrounding properties. Where will your drain divert water flow? Take care to avoid sending unwanted water into your neighbor’s yard. Look for a street drain or an area where your excess water won’t cause problems for others.
Install the Right Drainage Solutions for Your Property
There are multiple drainage solution options to choose from. The best method to turn your flooding yard into a healthy lawn depends on the natural landscape features your yard already has. Slopes, hills, and past drainage attempts should all be factored into the decision.
Drainage solutions
French Drain
A French drain is a popular drainage solution in Nashville, TN, for directing water away from structures such as house foundations to prevent water-related damage. Geotextile fabric and perforated piping are laid within a gravel-lined, downward-sloping trench to quickly redirect water to a more desirable location.
While the drainage installation process of a French drain can harm existing landscaping, it is easy to hide after installation. Since it sits below the surface, sod or a softscape of plants and shrubs can be placed over the finished drain and gravel line to camouflage it.
Drainage Swale
This drainage solution is a little different than the narrow French drain that directs water flow. A drainage swale can be covered in gravel but is wide and shallow. It collects surface water and allows it to percolate into the ground.
A drainage swale can also be covered with sod or obscured with plants, but also offers an opportunity for visual appeal on its own. For example, lining the edges with large river rock can give the appearance of a dry creek bed. A drainage swale can fit right in with your other landscaping and add its own aesthetic interest.
Retaining Wall
As any fellow Nashville, TN, property owner could tell you, this area is as hilly as they come. A retaining wall is a drainage solution for three-dimensional yards that can be used on its own or in conjunction with a drainage swale or French drain. They are helpful in redirecting excess water and preventing erosion of your flooding yard.
Whether built with minimalistic concrete blocks or large, unique stones, retaining walls add visual interest to a property. They can also increase the amount of usable surface area. When a retaining wall is installed to hold dirt in place, the area on top of that dirt can be flattened and used for a garden, a seating area, or even a swing set.
Don’t Forget to Grade
Grading is a vital part of drainage installation. French drains and drainage swales must be graded with a 2% slope downward in order for gravity to play its role in their functionality. This is possible to do on your own, but it is challenging. A poorly-graded French drain or drainage swale could result in water pooling and overflowing from the drain rather than flowing downward through it.
Additionally, retaining walls need to be sloped and anchored properly. It’s the job of a retaining wall to hold the soil in place, and soil full of rainwater is tremendously heavy. If a retaining wall isn’t installed at the correct angle and with the right materials, it could collapse from all the pressure behind it. Removing a collapsed retaining wall and installing a new one is considerably more work than having an experienced drainage expert install a proper wall right from the start.
Need a Hand With Your Drainage Installation?
Are you ready to turn your flooding yard into a well-drained, attractive piece of property? At Greenway of Nashville, our drainage experts are ready to help you decide which drainage solution is the best choice for your yard. Contact us today.
