How to create drainage around a patio?

Author: Sincere Feeney Jr.  |  Last update: Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Trench Excavation: A shallow trench is dug in the problem area where water pools. Lining with Fabric: The trench is lined with a water-permeable landscape fabric. This fabric helps prevent soil and debris from entering the pipe. Installing the Perforated Pipe: A perforated pipe is placed at the bottom of the trench.

How to add drainage around a patio?

  1. Plan the Location. Figure out where the excess water is pooling and where you want it to go. ...
  2. Dig a Trench. ...
  3. Line the Trench with Filter Fabric. ...
  4. Pour the Gravel Bedding. ...
  5. Hook Up the Pipe Connections. ...
  6. Set the Pipe Drain in the Trench. ...
  7. Cover with Gravel and Filter Fabric. ...
  8. Backfill with Topsoil.

What is the best drainage option for a patio?

In most cases, we would recommend that you install a soakaway crate, in order to let the water seep away naturally into the ground.

How do I drain water away from my patio?

You'd just install a surface drain on the patio area or wherever the lowest spot is. Whether you have french drains that terminate into that to gather water from the surrounding areas will depend on how it pools and drains (separate pooling areas).

Does a patio need a drainage channel?

However before you lay down any paving slabs, you should consider a patio drainage system. By ensuring the removal of standing water from a patio (which can happen as a result of heavy rainfall) a properly installed drainage system can help you to avoid bacteria growth and even insect infestations.

How to Install a French Drain | The Home Depot

How to slope a patio for drainage?

Patios must have a slight slope (1" for every 4' to 8') for proper drainage. If you don't provide enough slope, rainwater will settle into low spots, eventually softening and washing out the sand and subbase materials beneath.

Can you install a channel drain without concrete?

ALL CHANNEL DRAIN MUST BE INSTALLED IN CONCRETE AND THE GRATE NEEDS TO BE ON THE CHANNEL BEFORE POURING. The grates can be covered with painters' tape to keep the concrete off them while the concrete is being installed to avoid staining.

What if my patio has no drainage?

If the existing concrete patio lacks a drainage system, it is a practical move to install one. In areas where the rainwater collects, cut a sloping channel. A well-cut channel directs the water away from the patio. Fill the channel with decorative stones or gravel so it meets aesthetic ideals.

How to create a drainage trench?

7 Steps for Digging a Drainage Trench
  1. Step 1: Determine the Location and Size of the Trench. ...
  2. Step 2: Prepare the Trench. ...
  3. Step 3: Excavate the Trench. ...
  4. Step 4: Line the Trench With Landscape Fabric. ...
  5. Step 5: Create a Gravel Bed. ...
  6. Step 6: Install the Drain Pipe. ...
  7. Step 7: Cover the Trench.

What soaks up water outside?

Organic mulches like wood chips, bark, and straw absorb water. Inorganic mulches like rocks, gravel, pebbles, and rubber don't absorb water but may allow water to drain through the gaps between pieces.

How do I build drainage in my backyard?

  1. Build up Low Spots. Areas of your yard may have low spots or sunken areas that hold water and are slow to drain. ...
  2. Aerate the Lawn. Photo credit: Sherry Barr Photography / Shutterstock. ...
  3. Install a French Drain. ...
  4. Build a Rain Garden. ...
  5. Create a Swale. ...
  6. Add a Dry Creek Bed. ...
  7. Clean Gutters and Add Downspouts.

What is the best landscape material for drainage?

Pea gravel is one of the best materials for landscape drainage because its small size allows for outstanding drainage. These rocks are only about ¾ inches in size. Pea gravel is available in a variety of shades, including brown, grey, blue, and red, making it a good choice for a number of different landscapes.

What is the best drainage for a concrete patio?

A concrete patio drainage channel like Slot Drain is the ideal way to protect your outdoor recreation area from the damaging effects of water. The most efficient option available, Slot Drain is a sleek, easy-to-install option that will easily handle any water runoff from your patio area.

What are the options for patio drainage?

A channel drain is a linear drainage solution designed to remove large quantities of water from a patio, or any paved, tarmac, or concrete area. It is essentially a long, narrow channel integrated into the hard landscaping covered with a removable grate, to collect and channel water away from the area.

How do you pitch a yard for drainage?

Desired slope: To achieve the best drainage solution, you must create an incline in the yard with a slope as small as 3% or as severe as 25%. Distance from the house: The furthest area from the house or building structure should be the lowest point in the lawn to maximize water drainage away from the foundation.

Does a French drain require a permit?

Permits Needed to Install a French Drain

Generally, a small French drain on your property that doesn't change the flow of runoff entering and exiting your yard won't need a permit. Major projects that warrant your French drain to discharge into a municipal sewer or roadside ditch, however, do require one.

How to dig a small drainage trench?

How to Dig a Trench for Drainage
  1. Step 1: Plan the Drainage Trench. ...
  2. Step 2: Determine the Trench Depth and Slope. ...
  3. Step 3: Assemble Your Trench-Digging Equipment. ...
  4. Step 4: Dig the Drainage Trench. ...
  5. Step 5: Line the Trench with Landscaping Fabric. ...
  6. Step 6: Add Gravel at the Base of the Trench. ...
  7. Step 7: Install a Drainage Pipe.

What are the four types of drainage?

Types of Home Drainage Systems
  • Surface Drainage. This type of drainage system focuses on getting rid of water from the top or surface part of your home. ...
  • Subsurface Drainage. A typical subsurface drainage system can remove excess water from the soil at the root level. ...
  • Slope Drainage. ...
  • Downspouts and Gutters.

How to add drainage to an existing patio?

Installing a patio drainage system to an existing patio
  1. Assess Your Patio Area. ...
  2. Choose the Right Drainage Channels. ...
  3. Prepare the Installation Area. ...
  4. Get digging! ...
  5. Install the Drainage Channels. ...
  6. Secure the Channels. ...
  7. Test the Drainage System. ...
  8. Backfill and Finish.

How to install drainage around a patio to avoid standing water?

Dig and Line the Trench

Dig a dry well about two to four feet wide and three feet deep at the low end of the trench. Line the trench with landscape fabric and gravel. Then lay in 4-inch perforated drainpipe with the holes facing down. Continue running pipe a few inches into the dry well.

What is a soakaway?

A soakaway consists of a hole dug in the ground and filled with rubble or plastic crates. It provides a solution to excess surface water by letting it slowly drain and soak into the ground instead of build up.

What is the difference between a channel drain and a trench drain?

Trench drains may also be called channel drains and are an above-ground drainage solution. Its materials are embedded in the ground within a long, narrow trench. It has a grated covering that may look like guttering.

Can I use PVC pipe for underground drainage?

And, they are affordable too. In short, pvc drainage pipes are the best option for your underground drainage system.

How to make a drainage channel?

Driveway Channel Drain Installation Quick Guide
  1. Mark the area. Mark out a trench that is wide enough for your channel drain, plus 100mm of concrete fill on either side.
  2. Excavate the Trench. ...
  3. Base Preparation. ...
  4. Assemble the Channel Drain. ...
  5. Cut the Channel Drain. ...
  6. Install the Channel Drain. ...
  7. Outlet Connection. ...
  8. Test the Drainage.

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