If you’ve ever wondered why your yard looks like a swamp after a rainstorm, you probably need a new yard drainage system. As a Palatine homeowner, you long to take pride in your home. You want your yard to serve as a gathering space, a place to create fun memories.
The stress of unforeseen property expenses can feel overwhelming. You may find yourself putting off all but the most vital repairs to avoid going over budget. However, yard issues like flooding and standing water can lead to significant damage to your home’s foundation as well.
DIY solutions may seem appealing, but if you install a yard drainage system incorrectly, it can lead to further property damage.
What can you do to protect the beauty of your yard? Who can you hire to install and maintain a yard drainage system?
There are many low maintenance, easily installed yard drain options available. Your local Palatine yard drainage experts can help you choose the best option.
How Ware Landscaping can help
Ware Landscaping has a passionate team of seasoned experts who have beautifully transformed the yards of Palatine and Chicago-area homeowners for over two decades. Our yard drainage experts will meet with you at your home to determine the cause of any water damage issues, and we will offer a free assessment of your best course of action.
We’ll help you identify your current drainage system and find the right customized solution to solve your yard problems. We empathize with your stress and understand the multitude of problems ineffective yard drainage can cause. These problems can include:
Flooding and pools of standing water in your yard
Mildew, mold, and water stains in your home
Blocked gutters
Cracks or warping in your basement floors and home’s foundation
Floor or ceiling leaks
Mosquito infestation
We can get rid of your excess water issues, protect your property from further water damage, and help you to prevent future expensive repairs and constant maintenance of your yard drainage system. We’ll suggest drainage solutions tailor-made for your property and help you to realize your yard’s potential.
The installation of yard drainage systems is necessary for Palatine homeowners, and is also vital for commercial buildings, parks, and pools. A drainage system allows the overflow of direct surface water to be diverted underground or to specific areas of your yard.
Most drainage systems include connected pipes that run underground throughout your Palatine property. Rain water and water overflow is channeled through these pipes and away from your home. Most modern yard drains such as the French drain also include landscaped inclines or slopes (yard grading) and trenches to help with water disbursement.
Some yard drainage systems, such as the dry well, include a water retention basin that captures sediment and debris to prevent polluted runoff from reaching local water sources. Yard drains are a vital component in keeping properties pristine.
If you’re a Palatine homeowner, you may want to contact yard drainage specialists to prevent water damage from ruining your home.
What causes drainage issues in my Palatine yard?
Excellent yard drainage doesn’t occur naturally — It’s important to installa proper yard drainage system on your property. There’s a wide array of issues that can cause flooding, standing water, and blocked gutters. Some of the main causes of problematic drainage include:
Broken or blocked downspouts
Your home’s gutter system is vital to preventing water issues from infiltrating your yard and home.Your downspouts push the water that flows through your gutters away from your house and help to prevent foundation flooding.
If downspouts are filled with sediment, gutter water has no way to drain. Similarly, if wear and tear cause your downspouts to break, water may drain into your basement. It’s important to periodically inspect and clean your downspouts.
Improper yard grading
The landscaping of your Palatine home should include subtle yard grading to allow for proper drainage. Yard grading creates subtle inclines or slopes throughout your lawn. This provides a natural way for water to flow away from your home and helps to prevent standing water from forming pools near the foundation of your property.
Compacted soil
Compacted soil is dense and impermeable. Typically, when water hits soil it penetrates the ground and flows downward, providing nourishment for the microbes and roots that live in healthy soil. However, compacted soil isn’t porous and water becomes trapped in its layers. This can cause flooding and fungal growth on your property.
Erosion
Soil erosion is both a cause and a result of improper yard drainage. Eroded soil can’t absorb water. Therefore, excess water has nowhere to go in an eroded lawn. A Palatine yard drainage and landscaping expert can lay down new sod and till your soil to erase and prevent soil erosion.
How can a drainage system help?
A customized, well-installed yard drainage system can help maintain the beauty of your property. Yard drains have a plethora of benefits for Palatine homeowners that include:
Environmental protection
Proper yard drainage provides vital nutrients to soil, captures pollutants and prevents them from infecting local water sources, and can wash away harmful toxins such as chemicals and pesticides from your yard. A well-maintained drainage system also promotes healthy growth in flora and fauna. The right yard drainage systems contribute to the overall health of the environment.
Flood and standing water prevention
Yard flooding and standing water can deplete your soil of needed nutrients, breed mosquitoes and other insects, create a swamp-like environment, and seep into your home. Standing water can also bring mice and other rodents onto your property. Along with yard grading, an effective yard drainage system helps to disperse this water and allows rainwater to drain away from your home.
Increase of property value
If you decide to sell your Palatine home, your yard becomes an attractive selling point. 99% of members of NAR (the National Association of Realtors) believe the appeal of your home’s outdoor features are extremely valuable selling points. An excellent yard drainage system can help to keep your entire property in great shape.
Mildew and mold prevention
Black mold and mildew can ruin your home’s aesthetics and can cause illness. The main cause of these musty issues? Poor yard drainage that allows water to seep into your home and become trapped in your walls.
If you notice any of these issues on your property, you may want to consider contacting a yard drainage expert for an assessment.
FAQ
How do I add drainage to my front yard?
For effective drainage in your front yard, start by aerating the lawn regularly to improve water absorption. You might also consider planting more water-hungry plants to help soak up excess moisture. Installing channel drains across driveways and replacing solid surfaces like patios and walkways with porous materials can further enhance drainage.
How to fix low wet spots in yard?
To fix low wet spots in your yard, start by aerating the lawn to improve drainage. You can fill in the low areas or switch to permeable pavers for better water flow. Regrading your yard can also help direct water away from these spots. Consider installing a French drain or building a rain garden to manage excess moisture. Additionally, replacing your lawn with wet-tolerant plants can be effective in these areas.
How often should outdoor drains be cleaned?
Outdoor drains should be cleaned 1 to 2 times per season, depending on the amount of debris. To clean them, remove the grate by unscrewing a few screws and clear out any debris inside.
Should there be water sitting in outside drain?
No, there shouldn’t be water sitting in outside drains. If you see water backing up, especially during or after rain, it usually means there’s a blockage in the drainage system. It’s important to fix this issue quickly to avoid more problems later on.
Where does water from outside drains go?
In many cities, water from outside drains goes into storm sewers, starting an underground journey that leads to streams or rivers. Be careful about what you put in your yard, on the street, or in storm drains, as it can flow directly into local rivers or lakes.
How can I make my backyard drain better?
To help your backyard drain better, look for low spots that hold water. Fill these areas with a mix of topsoil and compost or rotted manure. Add enough to make a small hill compared to the rest of the yard, which will improve drainage.
Contact Ware Landscaping for Palatine yard drainage solutions
The right yard drainage system can make the difference between years of stressful home repairs and your ability to peacefully enjoy your Palatine property. Our yard drainage experts understand how yard and foundation issues can cause you undue suffering.
We want to help you get the most out of your investment and protect your home from becoming a money pit. If you’re experiencing problematic yard drainage, Ware Landscaping can help. Call us today at 630-557-8170.
“I contacted Mike at Ware Landscaping for help with fixing my flooded backyard and garage. Mike gave me an honest assessment of my situation and recommended the right system to fix my problems (a lot of issues). Ware Landscaping installed drainage, underground downspouts, underground sump pump lines, driveway drains and surface drains in the yard to fix all my problems.. The team was very professional and always asked for my approval on work being done before it was completed. They did a great job and we are very pleased!”
Jim Kristof
I recommend him without any hesitation.
“We had a water problem in our basement that Mike Ware completely eliminated by removing both our sump pump water and downspout water away from the home. He was professional and highly motivated to solve the problem and do it the right way. I always felt like a priority and that my project mattered. I recommend him without any hesitation.”
Michael Swider
FANTASTIC JOB!!!
Ware Landscaping did a FANTASTIC JOB!!! I needed my entire backyard regraded and they filled it in with more than 2 truck loads, installed a French drain and put new beautiful green sod on top. They also power washed and reset my front retaining wall. Communication from the beginning was always very good. We always knew when they were coming out. The project was completed on time as well. They also called on their own a month after the project to check on the sod and were willing to replace some spots due to the June heat wave. Would recommend Ware Landscaping to all!!!”
Dan Malloy
The entire crew were incredible, so friendly, knowledgeable, and paid attention to every detail.
“Mike, Greg and the rest of the crew made our back yard dream a reality with a drainage system to remove the stream that flowed through the middle of the yard, which flooded every rainstorm and stuck around for weeks. To complete the look in came a perfectly designed beautiful hardscape patio that we can’t wait to use this summer. The entire crew were incredible, so friendly, knowledgeable, and paid attention to every detail. Highly recommend!”
Katie Jankowski
The crew was fast, friendly, and tidy.
“We had a wooden deck for a front porch that was starting to age. When we removed it we saw that there was a concrete slab underneath it that was pitched toward our house, creating an issue with standing water up against our foundation. We had Mike come by to advise us on the best solution, and he suggested permeable pavers. We were able to come up with a custom design with him that day. The crew was fast, friendly, and tidy. I’m sure they do much bigger jobs than our little patio, but this project made a huge difference for our home.
