You might notice your Level Green Landscaping account manager hanging around your property in the rain. Don’t invite them in — they’re out there for a reason.
“I like to drive properties when it’s raining,” says account manager Ryan Rimshaw. “It’s the best way to check for drainage problems.”
Hopefully, he won’t find any. But if your property is soggy, damp or mildewy, there are some fairly easy commercial drainage solutions.
Here’s how to tell if you need them.
Is Your Property Draining Properly?
If your property is draining properly, you won’t see anything alarming.
- No big puddles forming. After a rain, they evaporate.
- Downspouts should direct water well away from your buildings.
- No telltale line of muddy silt on buildings.
- No buckled asphalt.
- No dampness or mildew odor in your basement.
When all goes well, a property will flush excess rainwater through the public sewers, or towards naturally occurring outlets such as rivers or lakes.
Your parking lots, walkways and basements should be nice and dry.
But many of our customers’ buildings are built on slab foundations, Rimshaw says.
“Lots of times the building will settle over time and the ground settles with it,” he says.
Then, you might have a problem.
Drainage Danger Signs
If your property has drainage problems, drainage contractors will spot them right away.
- “If you have a problem, we’ll often leave wet, muddy tracks when we cut the grass — even though it hasn’t rained in two or three days,” Rimshaw says.
- Permanent wet spots on asphalt. Or water oozing up through cracks in the asphalt.
- “It often starts with mold and mildew issues,” Rimshaw says. If you smell mildew, there’s a water issue somewhere.
- Water stains in your basement.
- Cracks in your foundation that are growing larger or wider over time.
- When water doesn’t flow properly off your property, Rimshaw says, you’ll notice frost heave — buckling concrete or asphalt that happens when water is trapped underneath then freezes during winter months.
Why Drainage Matters
Excess water can cause serious damage to your commercial property. It can damage your building’s foundation, erode and crack sidewalks, driveways and retaining walls.
Too much water creates mold and mildew and causes cracks in interior walls and exterior surfaces. Damp conditions can even encourage mosquitoes and rodents to breed.
Excess water is a safety issue, too. You don’t want residents, visitors or customers tripping on damaged asphalt or wading through puddles to get to your entrance.
Commercial Drainage Solutions
Drainage problems? We have the solutions.
- Installing French drains along the building foundation to capture excess water.
- Extending downspouts so water flows away from the building.
- Re-grading low spots so water flows away from buildings.
- A retention or detention pond to collect excess water then release it slowly.
- Bioswales, landscape elements that provide a path for water to run through slowly, rather than rushing off into a storm sewer or local waterway.
- Rainwater harvesting systems that capture excess water for reuse.
Level Green: We’ve Got Your Drainage Solutions
The drainage contractors at Level Green Landscaping can analyze your commercial property and figure out solutions for all your water management needs.
Plan ahead for your drainage issues and you’ll avoid major repair costs, insurance headaches and stress by ensuring that your property functions properly when heavy rains hit.
We can help.
Our focus is on commercial properties like offices, mixed-use sites, HOAs, municipalities and institutions in Maryland, Washington DC and parts of Virginia.
Contact us at 202-544-0968 or by filling out the form online. You can also request a free consultation online to meet with us one-on-one.
We’d love to hear from you.
Image sources: puddle in grass
