Smart Drainage Design Protects Your Home When Storm Clouds Bring Rainy Days to the Sunshine State.
It’s true. Florida’s nickname is the Sunshine State. While tourists might be taken in by the warm temperatures and blue skies and the absolutely gorgeous scenery found between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, those lucky enough to make their home in Loxahatchee, Florida, know that there are likely to be storm clouds lurking over the horizon. After all, Palm Beach County typically sees more than 60 inches of rain each year. That water has to go somewhere, and corralling it properly is a significant issue that homeowners cannot afford to ignore.
How Residential Drainage Design Protects Your Property
How does a residential drainage design protect your Loxahatchee property? To answer that question properly, let’s break it down into three parts. First, let’s start with what a drainage system does. Then, let’s consider what happens without an effective drainage system. What can occur when water hangs around in areas where it shouldn’t on your property? Finally, let’s go over when it’s wise to think about drainage design. Residential Drainage Design is Critical for Proper Storm Run-Off South Florida
Designing Drainage Solutions
It’s a simple fact. Water that gets in the wrong place or stays put for too long can cause harm to your home. Floridians deal with a lot of water, so many Palm Beach County municipalities have responded with strict permitting requirements for drainage designs and the management of stormwater runoff.
How does a drainage system work? Civil engineers collect any information already available from existing records and visit the site to conduct additional analysis. They’ll need to use the data they assemble to create a system that collects water and moves it towards the proper discharge points. To do so, they’ll have to account for several factors, including any existing drainage design, the site’s topography, the surrounding vegetation, the adjacent properties, and the condition of any existing systems.
When Water Damage Wins
Water is a relentless foe. It can arrive in a pelting downpour, linger in the form of tenacious puddles, hover in endless humidity, or seep through in dampness. Whatever form it takes, your residential drainage design system must be ready to effectively channel the water away from your home. If the system fails in its task, the water can linger. Over time, water damage can cause several types of troublesome and expensive problems for both your home and its surroundings:
- Foundational damage.
- Structural damage.
- Mold and mildew issues.
- Hardscaping damage.
- Landscaping destruction.
- Pest and insect infestations.
- Erosion issues.
Thinking About Drainage Design
When should drainage design be on the mind of homeowners? It’s not exactly a catchy topic, but there are times when you’ll want to keep it in mind:
- You are buying a new home. No one wants to discover that their new home comes with drainage issues.
- You are building a new home. A dream home can quickly become a nightmare if you don’t make sure that it has an effective drainage system that complies with all permitting requirements.
- You are adding on to your current home. Expanding a home can increase your drainage needs.
- You are having drainage issues. If you see water puddling along the foundation or other signs of damage, reach out to a civil engineering firm with experience repairing or replacing residential drainage systems.
- You want to avoid having drainage issues. A little maintenance can make all the difference. Taking steps now to keep your drainage system functioning smoothly can prevent major headaches in the future.
When you’re searching for a full-service civil engineering firm serving Loxahatchee and all of southern Florida, turn to DKK Consulting Incorporated. Our team of experts is ready to assist you with a wide range of services, including residential drainage design. Contact us today to learn more.