What Do You Really Need to Know About Your Drains?

Waterproofing is becoming an increasingly crucial issue all throughout the country. Much of this is due to more and more properties are being built in newly drained areas. One of the first questions you should ask when buying a new home is how things stand from the perspective of drainage. Here are the main questions you should feature on your drainage checklist.

Does Your Property Have Enough Drains?

The first question you need to ask is if your property even has drains. Believe it or not, there are still plenty of properties that do not possess this essential feature. As a result, you will want to make sure that a home and its surrounding area is properly supplied with drains. Be sure to do this well in advance of signing off on a deal.

Your next question should concern whether there are enough to make the area safe to live in. The number of drains should be fully proportional to the total square footage of the home plus its surrounding area. If you find that there are only one or two drains over a property that extends for 40,000 square feet, this is not good.

Most home building experts maintain that having more drains on a property is superior to having too few. Building codes in your area are also very likely to reflect this opinion. When it comes to dealing with potentially dangerous drainage issues, the more backup you have, the better.

Do You Have the Correct Drains?

It isn’t enough just to have them on your property. They need to be the right kind of drains that can handle a series of very specific tasks. As a result, your property may need to feature several different varieties such as planter, deck, trench, and more. Before you purchase a new property, be sure that all of the proper ones are present.

Keep a running drainage checklist to consult when building the property with a planner. In this case, you should confer with your architect, consultant, and engineer in order to make sure this issue is not lost sight of. Between them, they should agree on what types of drains to utilize in any number of different areas across your property.

Are They in the Correct Locations?

You may have all the drains you need as well as all of the correct kinds of drains. But are they located in all the right places? For example, you may have drains everywhere except for a planter section. You may be lacking drains in an area of deck that is bordered by curbs or an extension of wall. These are areas where drains are crucial.

You also need to be sure that all of the drains that you place in these areas are actually in good working order. A drain that doesn’t properly do its job is worse than useless. You need to be sure that all of your drains are properly draining. This will save you a lot of time, money, and effort when it comes to maintaining a safe area.

Do Your Drains Ensure Proper Water Flow?

It’s always a good idea to maintain a drainage checklist in order to permit a safe level of water flow. This will ensure that the membranes of your drains won’t be overworked. The water that flows through these membranes needs adequate space to pass all the way through.

You need to be sure that the drainage mat is able to extend for a comfortable space all the way under the clamping ring. This will give the proper level of clearance so that you don’t end up having to rely on tiny weep holes to handle all of the water draining out of the membrane.

You also need to be sure that all of your decks have a downward slope toward a drain. If you have flat decks, this is an invitation for standing water. You will need to consult with your planners in order to ensure that this issue is properly addressed.

Finally, you must also ensure that all of your drains are set at the correct height. If you are on a sloping surface, they should never be set at the lowest point. Give them the proper level of height to be able to do their job without taking on extra strain.

Get in Touch to Learn More

Drainage & Waterproofing Solutions LLC is here to be your one stop shop for expert Raleigh drainage solutions. We offer a wide range of services to fit your every need. Our friendly technicians can come to your home to diagnose your issue and provide an expert solution. Get in touch with us today to learn more about a drainage checklist can help you.