Recently in this space, we discussed some of the issues with standing water and moisture on several areas of your property, particularly concrete slabs. Standing water and general moisture saturation can pose several risks to structural integrity across concrete areas, including home foundations.
At Lift-Up Concrete, our commercial and residential concrete lifting and leveling services help many property owners or managers address water issues that have built up over time. Our professionals are also here to lend their expertise on preventing future such issues, however, and one important area here that some home or building owners neglect is drainage. The wrong drainage solutions on your structure present major risks, not only to your concrete areas but to your entire property as a whole. Let’s look at both these concerns and why drainage should be a primary consideration on your property.
Concrete and Soil Risks from Improper Drainage
If your drainage is improperly set up or has undergone damage that lowers its functionality, it can create multiple issues related to your concrete and supporting soil areas:
- Sinking concrete: Most homes and commercial buildings have multiple types of concrete surfaces in their immediate vicinity, from driveways and sidewalks to patios, staircases, decks and other areas. Below most of these surfaces is soil – if your drainage is directing too much water to this area, this soil can become saturated with water and may be unable to support the weight of the concrete above it. This can lead to concrete that sinks, cracks and becomes both unsightly and unsafe.
- Home water damage: In many cases, these soil concerns can impact your home and its foundation. If soil around your home is badly graded, water runoff may seep into the home itself, creating issues ranging from water damage and mold creation all the way to foundational damage if enough water builds up.
- Erosion: Because Utah is a climate where rain is often followed by long periods of hot, dry weather, long-term erosion of soil is a distinct possibility with too much water exposure. Soil that washes out beneath several concrete areas may lead to total collapse of these structures, and expensive repairs.
Other Risks
In addition to the specific concrete risks, poor drainage also poses a couple other major concerns:
- Landscaping damage: Soil damage from water runoff can extend to several areas of your landscape, including damage to several grasses, trees and plant types. Plants need water, of course, but too much can kill many types.
- Pest issues: Poor drainage and runoff leads to standing water, which in turn leads to the presence of several pest types that are drawn to this moisture source.
For more on the risks of poor drainage on your property, or to learn how our concrete repair services can help remedy some of the resulting concerns, speak to the staff at Lift-Up Concrete today.
