Before investing in any outdoor improvements, it is essential to address drainage concerns first. Correcting drainage problems prior to making aesthetic changes helps protect your property and extend the life of your investment. At Prestige Landscaping, we bring over 30 years of drainage expertise to projects throughout the low country including Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, Summerville, and the surrounding areas. From minor grading fixes to complex water management systems, we have resolved a wide range of drainage issues — leaving behind peace of mind and satisfied customers.
The following are various means to resolve drainage issues:
Regrade
Regrading for drainage correction is often the most straightforward solution. When the problem stems from uneven terrain—such as high and low spots—elevated areas can be reduced by hand or with specialized equipment, and the depressions filled using the excess material. Once the grading is complete, the disturbed area is resodded, leaving your yard with a smooth, functional slope that promotes proper drainage.
French Drain
A French Drain is a system of perforated pipe installed in the ground, covered by cloth, surrounded by drainage rock, and covered with dirt and sod, or by rock. When using dirt, we can make use of the material extracted from the trench to cover the drainage rock, we would then tamp the trench by hand to remove air pockets, once we add sod the drain is invisible. The less compacted area (rock) wicks out the water from the saturated soil. The water flows into the pipe and outlets at a lower point. As with any drain installation, before we cover the pipe, we do a “flow check” to confirm the water flows in the correct direction, we make any needed adjustments, and then we cover the drain.
Drain Boxes & Gutter Outlets
We install this system of small boxes in low-lying areas or areas where concentrated water flow occurs, often described by clients as a “river” flowing through the yard when it rains. We connect these drain boxes, as well as any downspout outlets, using solid drainpipes. This system is more cost effective for large areas, than regrading and resodding would be. It also works when you have raised beds, hardscapes, or other drainage obstacles acting as a dam for the water.
Hybrid Systems
This is the kind of system we install most often. Typically, drainage problems are a mixture of factors requiring a combination of the above systems to resolve the issues.
Pump System
This is when we need to install a pump to move the water because any reasonable outlet point is at the same level as the drainage problem or higher. It consists of a 12″ or larger catch basin and a float-actuated pump, installed at a central low point including a back check valve and solid PVC pipe outlet to an area where water will drain away (ditch, curb, etc.). This system requires a power source and is often used in combination with other drainage solutions.
