Common Driveway and Patio Water Problems
- Water running down a driveway toward the garage
- Pooling near the garage door or apron
- Runoff crossing a walkway or patio
- Standing water on a patio after every storm
- Water sheeting off a driveway and into the lawn edge
Options for Managing Runoff on Hard Surfaces
- Trench drains across driveways and garage entries to intercept sheet flow
- Catch basins at low points along driveways or edges of patios
- Grading changes at the transition between hard surfaces and lawn
- Piped discharge carrying collected water to an appropriate outlet
Why the Details Matter
Even a small change in surface slope or grate placement can make the difference between a drain that catches every drop and one that lets water skim right past. Trench drains, catch basins, and grading are often combined so water is both collected and taken somewhere it can safely go.
When to Ask for an Assessment
If water is reaching your garage, standing on your patio, or running toward the house from paved areas, it's worth having someone look at the whole surface flow — not just the wet spot you can see.