Drainage Issues... is a landscape architect the answer?

Question

Josue Vargas · Answer

Civil Engineer here...

First, is the water you are dealing with only coming from YOUR property?  How is the grading and topography around your house.  Any recent development near or adjacent to your house?  Most likely it is illegal to divert runoff water from one to other property (Water Act, you can google it).

If this is "your water" and you have a pump, obviously you have drainage issues in your property.  Water is the #1 problem for foundation issues.  Please make sure the sum pump is well maintained!  You don't want the pump to stop working, that will likely be a big problem if left unnatent for large periods of time.

Understanding your problem now, a french drain (or underdrain) on the sides of the pavers and maybe across just before the foundation of the house (interconnecting the french drains) is the best solution to the problem.  You can call one of the "earthwork contractors" or a landscaper with that experience for an estimate.  You are looking to trench about 8" wide and 1-2 ft deep, install a lining (lining should cove the trench plus flap it back before the top soil), rock bed at the bottom of the trench (3" thick), place filter fabric (non-woven) around the trench and/or pipe, install a perforated pipe (6" at the most), fill with coarse aggregate (no sand or fines since it will clog the perforated pipe), close the materials with a double lap using the fabric, and then the top 4" top soil, etc, and a small outlet somewhere 10 or beyond away from the pavers that provides positive drainage (no water coming back!)  Make sure you don't divert this water to a neighbor.

An engineer that visit your property should tell you what to do.  Maybe a landscaper with enough experience also should now, but If it were me, I will not risk it, since their business is to do work on your property and maybe not the best interest to fix the problem for good...

Hope the pictures below help to describe better what should be done... Otherwise, it looks like you need to improve positive drainage of your paver area.

Alex Clark · Answer

As a landscape architect and having worked with many homeowners, as well as being a homeowner who has dealt with drainage issues, I can say that a Registered Landscape Architect would be a GREAT first stop. Here's why: Landscape architects are trained and tested  EXTENSIVELY on several issues specific to site development: building placement vertically and horizontally, site analysis including drainage/topographical analysis, vegetative cover analysis, viewsheds, pervious/impervious surfaces, cut and fill calcs, landscape structures such as small retaining walls, uninhabited structures, small roadways, bikeways, walkways, streetscapes, and even small dams. Landscape architects and civil engineers are cousins in terms of their professions. Civils focus on calculation of large utility systems, roadways, bridges, and public health safety and welfare, whereas landscape architects focus on analysis, design process and solutions, aesthetics, spatial qualities and experiences, site drainage issues, planting, soils, landscape and cultural stewardship, and public health, safety and welfare issues. While I have all the confidence in the world in Civil Engineers to be able to solve a problem like this, I also have equal or greater confidence that a landscape architect would be better suited, as many of us have years of experience working with residential home owners, and a greater sensitivity and eye for aesthetics that are often overlooked by our civil counterparts.

Another reason to hire a landscape architect or civil engineer first is that you are paying them to evaluate your problem, and offer the best and most appropriate solution vs bringing a contractor into your home who is simply trying to sell his or her service to you, sometimes regardless of whether you actually need it. (No offense to the honest contractors on here) Or may solve merely part of the problem. I will also say that most people (including those on this forum) do not know or understand the work of a landscape architect versus a landscaper. Landscape architects are highly trained, highly skilled individuals who live and breathe land related issues as outlined above.

Alec B Calzada · Answer

@Josue Vargas

That's what I'm talking about.

Chris T. · Answer

@Alan Francis

Where do your water from your sump pump go to? If it discharges next to your house, that might be your main issue.

You might be able to direct some water away with an exterior drain tile

Drain Tile Install

If your property is lower than the others (which is probably the reason why your sump pump runs all the time), an exterior pump may be needed to divert water uphill or away.

Get a couple of landscaping companies for quotes.

Some of the new builds in our area get a lot of water, and the builders have installed dry wells. Of course, it will not solve the issue of the sump pump running constantly, but at least it doesn't create any muddy areas.

Steve K. · Answer

@Alan Francis if you have negative drainage from the way the pavers were laid, I’d fix that first and see if the situation is resolved with positive drainage. If still no dice, try a French drain.

Alex Clark · Answer

One last thing: be weary of those who offer a solution without fully evaluating or demonstrating clear understanding of the full scope of the problem.

Michael Gessner · Answer

@Alan Francis didnt see your 2nd post, very common problem where either homeowner or contractors doesnt know what they're doing and outdoor living spaces now cause nightmares. Pictures will be very helpful, if the patio is against the foundation then no do not install a french drain in between, remove them and install new base with proper pitch, I would also remove a few and see if theirs a concrete slab under, I've removed countless patios where pavers were place onto exsting structure when in fact it should of been removed do to settling. Drains require maintenance find the problem and fix it correctly

Michael Gessner · Answer

@Alan Francis first and most important question, where are you leader drains, ie gutter drains draining to ? Are the dumping right at the foundation ? Where is the sump pump duming to ? Is this dumping where you see flooding ? Is the grade upto your foundation sloped away from it, ie higher towards the foundation and lower as you move away ? Are you getting water in the basment ? A sump pump will run, that doesnt mean theirs an issue especially of you do not have water penetration thru the basment. I'd be more concearned if that pump wasnt running. You do not need a civil engineer, I good landscape or excavation company should be very helpful. I've fixed countless flooding basements and guess what I owned a landscape company, so the above comment where they mostly do plants is completely incorrect.

Alex Clark · Answer

As a landscape architect and having worked with many homeowners, as well as being a homeowner who has dealt with drainage issues, I can say that a Registered Landscape Architect would be a GREAT first stop. Here's why: Landscape architects are trained and tested  EXTENSIVELY on several issues specific to site development: building placement vertically and horizontally, site analysis including drainage/topographical analysis, vegetative cover analysis, viewsheds, pervious/impervious surfaces, cut and fill calcs, landscape structures such as small retaining walls, uninhabited structures, small roadways, bikeways, walkways, streetscapes, and even small dams. Landscape architects and civil engineers are cousins in terms of their professions. Civils focus on calculation of large utility systems, roadways, bridges, and public health safety and welfare, whereas landscape architects focus on analysis, design process and solutions, aesthetics, spatial qualities and experiences, site drainage issues, planting, soils, landscape and cultural stewardship, and public health, safety and welfare issues. While I have all the confidence in the world in Civil Engineers to be able to solve a problem like this, I also have equal or greater confidence that a landscape architect would be better suited, as many of us have years of experience working with residential home owners, and a greater sensitivity and eye for aesthetics that are often overlooked by our civil counterparts.

Another reason to hire a landscape architect or civil engineer first is that you are paying them to evaluate your problem, and offer the best and most appropriate solution vs bringing a contractor into your home who is simply trying to sell his or her service to you, sometimes regardless of whether you actually need it. (No offense to the honest contractors on here) Or may solve merely part of the problem. I will also say that most people (including those on this forum) do not know or understand the work of a landscape architect versus a landscaper. Landscape architects are highly trained, highly skilled individuals who live and breathe land related issues as outlined above.

Drainage Issues... is a landscape architect the answer?

Most Popular Reply