The short answer to your question is, “Absolutely.” If your driveway has poor drainage, you can have puddles of water standing on your pavement every time it rains more than a passing “sprinkle.” In addition, poorly directed run-off could play havoc with your landscaping, pool around the foundation of your home or flow beneath your garage door. Improper drainage also increases the risk of water penetrating to the base that supports your pavement. If the base becomes eroded, the pavement can suffer extensive cracking.Asphalt professionals have a number of different techniques in their repertoire to ensure that a driveway will drain efficiently.• Grading: The most common method used to ensure proper drainage is to grade the site correctly. Ideally, a driveway will have a lower elevation at the street than it has where it terminates, such as where it meets the garage. It will also often pitch a little more to one side than it does to the other. The precise slope of the driveway depends on factors that vary by site, such as the drive’s length, the type of soil, the surrounding terrain and building configuration. As a rule of thumb, figure that a driveway should slope at least 0.25 inch per foot of pavement length and roughly 0.25 inch per foot of pavement width.
• Drains: Sometimes, grading is not enough to ensure adequate drainage. Perhaps the driveway runs downhill, or perhaps it is receiving excessive runoff from a neighboring property. It might be possible to install a drain to collect water and direct it safely away. A covered trench drain is a common solution. These are often placed in front of a garage that has a history or likelihood of allowing water to flow inside.
• Porous Asphalt: Porous asphalt is a special mix of asphalt pavement that is applied over a specially built sub-base. Porous asphalt allows water to seep beneath the surface, while the special sub-base serving to redirect the water into the surrounding soil while protecting the base. Installation costs are more expensive for porous asphalt, and it is not suitable for all soils.
• Other: Contractors can use a variety of other strategies to make sure that your driveway has sufficient drainage. For example, curbing can sometimes help keep runoff from the surrounding area away from the driveway or help direct it down the driveway and away from your lawn. Gutters or channels cut into the pavement can sometimes help a driveway to drain faster.
• Drains: Sometimes, grading is not enough to ensure adequate drainage. Perhaps the driveway runs downhill, or perhaps it is receiving excessive runoff from a neighboring property. It might be possible to install a drain to collect water and direct it safely away. A covered trench drain is a common solution. These are often placed in front of a garage that has a history or likelihood of allowing water to flow inside.
• Porous Asphalt: Porous asphalt is a special mix of asphalt pavement that is applied over a specially built sub-base. Porous asphalt allows water to seep beneath the surface, while the special sub-base serving to redirect the water into the surrounding soil while protecting the base. Installation costs are more expensive for porous asphalt, and it is not suitable for all soils.
• Other: Contractors can use a variety of other strategies to make sure that your driveway has sufficient drainage. For example, curbing can sometimes help keep runoff from the surrounding area away from the driveway or help direct it down the driveway and away from your lawn. Gutters or channels cut into the pavement can sometimes help a driveway to drain faster.
LDC Paving has been providing customers in the Houston metropolitan area and surrounding counties with a full range of asphalt paving-related services since 2009. We are well aware of the unique challenges posed by the soil and climate in this area that can affect proper drainage. Whether you need a concrete repair, traffic signs or parking lot seal coating, our crews have the experience and skills to ensure that you will get quality work at reasonable rates. Complete our online form to request a free quote, or call 832-640-7296 to speak with one of our representatives.
