Read the water after rainfall
Look for puddles that persist, water moving toward the home, soft lawn areas, erosion and sediment deposits. Note whether problems appear after a short shower or only after prolonged rain. Photograph where water starts, where it travels and where it stops.
A single photo of a dry yard rarely tells the drainage story. Dates and weather conditions make the record more useful.
Think about elevation across the whole yard
Water movement depends on the relationship among the home, paths, patio, lawn, retaining walls and neighbouring grades. Adding a flat patio or raising a lawn can change where water goes. Review the proposed finished elevations together rather than treating each feature separately.
Drainage work might include shaping the surface, collecting water at specific points or directing it toward an appropriate outlet. The method depends on the site.
Sequence groundwork before finishes
Excavation and drainage installation can disturb lawns and hardscape. It is generally more efficient to resolve those systems before laying new pavers or planting expensive beds. If construction will happen in phases, identify the future routes and outlet locations in the initial plan.
Do not bury an unresolved water issue under new landscaping. It can damage the result and make repairs more disruptive.
Questions for a site review
Ask where water is expected to travel, how the new grades connect to existing structures, what happens during heavy rainfall and how outlets will be maintained. Site-specific requirements should be confirmed for the property.
See our Langley drainage and grading work and retaining wall service.
Questions to bring to the first call
- Where does water collect after heavy rain?
- Will a new patio or wall change drainage paths?
- Where can collected water go?
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