Do All Patio Need Drainage? (6 Benefits You Should Know)


Do All Patio Need Drainage

Installing a backyard patio may enhance your home’s aesthetic while establishing a functional dining area, unwinding, and entertaining area.

However, considering several factors before your DIY projects, such as materials, colors, dimensions, furniture, and drainage system, would be best. 

Do all patios need drainage? It’s time to dive into this article to get a comprehensive answer. Let’s get started!

Do All Patios Need Drainage?

The answer is yes! Most patios require drainage systems to prevent standing water from building up, which encourages mold and mildew development.

If you still hesitate to install this system for your patio, let’s consider the benefits of good drainage. 

Prevent Flooding

Insufficient or incorrectly oriented ground slopes can end up creating flooding. It can result in issues, particularly regarding patios, whatever the root cause.

Water damage may take many forms, including eroding paver surfaces, weakening and cracking tiles, and causing them to be unstable.

You can resolve and avoid these flooding problems by installing drainage, which helps protect tiled areas.

Reduce Patio Damage

Patio tiles are susceptible to weather deterioration, primarily from water, without sufficient drainage.

Pavements become damaged by standing water, which can cause chips, erosion, and fractures.

Water that seeps into these gaps and cracks during winter weather may freeze, expanding the fractures and making them worse.

You should invest extensively in draining the patios to stop them from accumulating water.

Maintain Tile Stability

Instead of sinking into the ground, patios need a foundation on the soil’s surface to offer support.

Usually, the base consists of a substantial layer of compacted stone, sand, or soil.

The foundation also aids in preventing water drainage, stopping surface water from penetrating the ground and compromising stability by degrading the soil beneath the base.

Patio stones will lose their stability without drainage. Also, it causes uneven surfaces, creating a risky tripping hazard.

Reduce Ice Accumulation

Drainage systems are essential while installing pavers to preserve the ground dry and reduce ice development, if not wholly eliminate it.

Ice damages flooring and causes danger for people who walk on them, such as slipping or other serious injuries. 

Reduce Replacements And Maintenance

Your patio shouldn’t have any standing water since it might cause a lot of harm.

Tiles will be destroyed and left looking ugly by water, which will cause them to chip, fracture, and deteriorate.

It then falls to you to do additional tasks, such as maintaining with care and fixing broken slabs and foundations.

Water drainage is crucial since it saves money and time on expensive, labor-intensive projects.

You may extend the time between maintenance and repair requirements for your patios by installing drainage.

Reduce Long-Term Expenses

Patios are expensive. The expense keeps rising when you factor in any regular maintenance and repair.

There are techniques to reduce the price of pavements, one being appropriate installation.

You can give your tiled surface the base it requires to be robust by ensuring the slabs have a strong foundation layer.

The foundation will prevent the slabs from settling into the ground due to pressure, gravity, or soil erosion.

Additionally, water-draining patio pavements are something you may want.

When combined with a sturdy base, patios with drainage systems will protect the ground under them from water damage.

The total long-term expenses of having a patio will be cheaper due to protecting the structure and minimizing necessary maintenance and repairs.

How To Install A Patio Drainage System? 

After you know the benefits of installing a drainage system for your patio, it’s time to build one for your outdoor space. 

If you have never built this system before, let’s take a closer look at these detailed instructions!

Method 1: Install French Drains

This installation is relatively affordable because it doesn’t require many materials. Here are all you need to get your job done, including:

  • Shovel
  • Measuring tape
  • Perforated drainage pipes
  • Spirit level
  • Bedding 
  • Drainage aggregate
  • Landscaping fabric
  • Topsoil
  • Tamper
  • Rake
  • Soakaway system

Step 1: Trench Preparation

Create a large hole to fit the perforated pipes, leaving a 25mm space on either side.

The trench must also be 500mm deep with a slope of 1 – 80. Add a bedding gravel layer of 50mm or aggregate to the channel.

A geotextile membrane made of non-woven material should be placed over the aggregate.

Its purpose is to prevent silt and debris from clogging the pipes by overlapping and blocking those entrances.

Step 2: Pipe Installation 

While preserving the necessary slope, insert the pipe into the hole. Then, cover the pipe with other geotextile membranes and put an aggregate layer on top.

Don’t forget to allow an opening of around 80 (mm) between the top of the nearby ground and the gap.

Then, use the rake and tamper to fill that space with soil. That’s all done!

Method 2: Install Channel Drains

They are neatly designed and very simple to install. Below are some guides for installation. 

Step 1: Trench Preparation

It would be best if you dug a ditch for these channel drains. 

Ensure the backfill on both drain sides is at least 100 (mm). The foundation of compressed aggregate should be at least 50 (mm). The slope should be 1:200. 

The grate’s finished height must be 2 (mm) below the surface level; mark it with a string line.

Step 2: Section Installation

The lowest position is where you should begin constructing your channel drain sections. It must be where that connects to the subsurface drainage system.

If you need to shorten any channel drains’ lengths, ensure you place the trimmed parts after completing the installation.

Make sure you place them at the highest and furthest position from your drain discharge.

Install the pieces with the grates in place to guarantee perfect alignment. Ensure the final part fits with an enclosure before being lowered into the trench.

After assembling the components appropriately, it’s better to seal the positioning grooves with silicone sealer.

After that, connect the underground drainage system to your channel drain.

Step 3: Secure Into Place

Cover the grates completely by covering them with masking tape.

Your drainage channels should be secured by pouring tarmac or concrete into the trenches on each side of them.

Make sure that the grates are 2 mm under the concrete level. That’s all done!

Before putting any pressure or pressure on your channel drains, you must first allow the material to cure within three days or more.

Tips To Ensure Proper Patio Drainage System

Sometimes patios make excellent water conduits. Your patio’s collection of heavy rainfall might direct the water directly to your base.

For this reason, you must ensure your drainage system works well. Here are some tips to make your task easier!

Check Any Existing Patio Drains For Clogs

Like gutters, drains require maintenance. Put on your heavy-duty gloves, open the drainage lids if possible, and remove the filth.

To remove the remaining leafy debris once you have made a clean passage into the drainage, consider inserting your hose pipe there.

Build A Drainage System

Depending on your patio design and preference, you can build a drain channel or French drainage.

We have mentioned both two ways above. You can scroll up this post to recheck them.

Install A Soakaway

Soakaways are large, gravel-filled holes. They may be installed in trouble spots or use French drains.

You don’t need square holes for soakaways. For water to drain off your patio and into this soakaway, you may create a trench at your patio’s foundation.

Fill Your Patio With Gravel

Gravel placed in between pavers on a patio will increase permeability. If your pavement consists of gravel, you might swap the sand for the bigger one.

After removing a row from the edge, space the tiles more apart. Add gravel between the final two.

Add A Permeable Coating To The Area

Traditional tiles, flagstones, stones, or wood are spaced on porous patios.

Besides, you can also notice plastic used to create permeable patios. These paving stones have lovely geometrical patterns.

You may get permeable concrete as well. This concrete seems rougher because it contains little stones.

Enhance Soil Drainage By Using A Popup Drain

The ends of subsurface downspouts have popup drains added.

The goal is to construct a system of PVC pipes to collect downspout water and then move it down to drainage in your backyard.

The drainage is constructed to lay in your garden. The drain opens up, rainwater drains out when it rains, and the pipelines fill with water.

Final Thoughts

Do all patios need drainage? This system is essential for many reasons, so all homeowners should install it on their property. 

It prevents flooding, reduces damage, maintains tile stability, lessens ice accumulation, requires less maintenance, and decreases long-term expenses. 

If you plan to build this system, we recommend the best methods and extra tips to ensure your drain works properly. 

Thanks for reading, and see you in the next post!

James Lopez

James Lopez is a lifestyle journalist. In addition to working as a journalist, he also takes courses in landscape design. He is pretty focused on the outdoor space, especially the backyard.

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