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Hardscaping Series Part 4:  Grading and Drainage

10/19/2012

23 Comments

 
A successful hardscape installation includes many aspects, a large number of which may not be clearly visible in the finished product.  Excavation, base preparation, and drainage allowances to name just a few.  I’d like to focus this week’s post on the subject of grading your hardscape.

First of all, just what exactly is grading?  Grading is simply the controlling or manipulation of slope to ensure that surface drainage runs in a specified direction.

In otherwords, when you go to hose off your new patio, or it rains on your new walkway the water flows in a desired direction, typically away from the house, so it doesn’t puddle or collect on the hardscaping surface.

Now most lay people will tell you that they want their patio to be flat.  Of course.  Nobody wants to feel like they’re on the slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro as they’re grilling out or kicking back on their Adirondack chairs.

But a perfectly flat patio will collect water, and just as you don’t want to be enjoying your patio on a slope, you also don’t want to feel like you’re trudging through a pond as you enjoy your patio.

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This patio has a bit too much slope!
To alleviate puddles and drainage issues is where grading comes in.  The generally accepted pitch for proper drainage is ¼” drop in slope per one linear foot of run.  In otherwords, for a 12’ long patio, you would want the “bottom” edge to be approximately 3” below the upper edge.  Any more pitch than that and your patio will feel a bit “slopey”, to paraphrase a colleague of mine.

Now I will say that walkways can get by with a bit more slope than patios, based on the surrounding grades.  Some people don’t mind having a bit of ramp to their walkways, and indeed a ramp or slope can be more accommodating to disabled individuals than a set of steps. At that point it really becomes a bit of personal preference.  But just be careful – too much slope and things can get a bit slippery when the ice and snow arrive.
 
In fact, even on patios I try to cheat just a bit by reducing the slope just a tad.  But you have to be careful if you’re trying this yourself.  Any less slope than 1/8” per foot and you will have drainage issues.  I would draw the line around 3/16” per foot at the bare minimum.  And if the stone you’re using has a bit of a textured natural cleft to it, you’ll be prone to getting some little “micro” puddles in the nooks and crannies of the stone – better to err on the side of ¼” per foot.
 
All of the above having been said, on a relatively flat lot the grading can be fairly simple. Identify the natural direction the water flows, and slope your patio in that direction.  What you need to be careful of is not to slope a patio in a direction that will result in water puddling or pooling in other areas of the yard. And you need to be careful that the patio or walkway placement won’t act as a dam to water flowing across the yard.
 
Where things get tricky is when you have a sloped or uneven yard.  In these instances even the simplest of hardscaping projects can incur additional costs in the form of retaining walls, drainage plans, code compliance, permits, etc.  If you don’t have a whole lot of experience, then I wouldn’t try to this yourself.

As you’re formulating your drainage plan in conjunction with setting the grades, just make sure you know where the water will go once it has shed off the patio.  Just because it drains off the patio doesn’t mean it won’t create a puddle somewhere else in the yard.  And you need to be careful that your project isn’t creating a new headache for your neighbor.  Plan your work and work your plan.

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Surface drains can help redirect water as necessary
If you live in a bowl, or you have poor soil percolation, or just can’t figure out how to deal with the water flow, there are a number of alternative solutions out there depending on the scope of your site – mechanical pumps, retention ponds, and dry wells to name a few.  But like the retaining walls mentioned above, if you’re not sure what you’re doing then this isn’t an area to mess around.  In fact more and more municipalities are beginning to require drainage plans in conjunction with issuing permits for hardscaping projects. And the penalties for irresponsible management of your stormwater are becoming stricter every year.
 
So no, grading and drainage certainly aren’t the most glamorous aspects of your upcoming hardscaping project (unless you have some wacky turn-ons, but hey, who am I to judge?), but it is perhaps the most important in terms of dealing with the overall functionality of your yard, not to mention the costs of fixing these problems.
 
Next week – we’ll take a quick side detour to discuss man-made pavers as our hardscaping series continues.

23 Comments
Matt link
10/21/2012 11:38:30 pm

Clark, I think this is a great post. Grading is often times over looked and not done correctly. Anybody that does hardscaping has to realize that water is the enemy but also must know how to work with it...since water can only be contained,diverted or defused and not stopped.

Reply
Anna link
10/22/2012 05:25:19 am

I couldn't agree more. Improper grading is like sitting down to dinner in a fancy restaurant and having a table that's out of balance....no matter how great the food and atmosphere is, you're always going to feel a little....annoyed.

Reply
Clark link
10/25/2012 11:23:40 am

Thanks guys. I like your dinner analogy Anna.

Reply
Robin Smith
5/4/2013 06:39:34 am

The photo, the caption "this patio has a bit too much slope" --- LOL! When you come to San Diego for a visit, could you please stop by our place on your way to the beach and renovate our patio? The weather is really nice right now. Thanks!

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Clark link
5/4/2013 09:51:32 am

I'd love to make it to San Diego, but unfortunately it's not in the plans right now...

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Jose link
8/21/2017 08:23:01 pm

These are really great tips. Especially about having a drainage plan! It can make a big difference and save money in the long run.

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4/2/2018 10:37:01 am

Great article - keep up the good work!

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4/10/2018 08:30:22 am

Great content on your website, keep up the good work!

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    Clark Kent Creations, LLC is a full-service landscape construction company servicing the Pennsylvania communities of Delaware County, Chester County, The Main Line, and the University City, Art Museum, and Manayunk/Roxborough neighborhoods of Philadelphia.  In addition to this blog page, additional information regarding the company and our services can be found on the subsequent pages of the site.
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    Author

    Clark Linderman is the president of Clark Kent Creations, LLC, a landscape construction company based in Swarthmore, PA.  He is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan.  In addition to his passion for all things outdoors, he counts Michigan football, Phillies baseball, Superman memorabilia, Memphis R&B music, and good craft brews among his many interests.  He currently resides in Swarthmore with his wife, Sheila, two sons, his dog Krypto, and a really, really messy garage full of work supplies and toys.

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    Contact Us:
    Clark Kent Creations, LLC
    Swarthmore, PA
    Design and Construction to Maximize Your Outdoor Experience

    707-290-9410
    clark@clarkkentcreations.com
    Serving Delaware County, PA

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