What is the best drainage for a concrete patio?

Author: Casimir Veum  |  Last update: Thursday, February 13, 2025

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.

How to improve drainage around a concrete patio?

You can install a swale or French drain, which channels the water away from the site to an area where it won't cause problems. You can divert water to another spot on your property but not to the neighbor's yard, so if you can't shift the water to a good location, you'll have to run a French drain to a dry well.

What are the drainage options for concrete patio?

There are two basic types of drains: trench or channel drains that collect water at one end of a slope, and catch basin or area drains that drain the water from the middle of a slab. Each can be a bear for decorative contractors. Option one includes installing a long, unsightly grate.

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 to drain water from a concrete patio?

If you want to get water out of the sunken area, you want to add a drain and pipe it to a storm drainage system, or depending on ground drainage conditions, pipe it to a dry well.

Drainage Under Concrete Slab

How to create drainage for a patio?

How to build a French drain for a patio:
  1. Dig a channel 500mm deep. ...
  2. Add a 50mm layer of bedding aggregate to the bottom of the channel.
  3. Cover the aggregate layer with landscaping fabric. ...
  4. With your channel prepped, you can add your drainage pipe, ensuring the fall remains the same and the perforated side is facing down.

Should I leave a gap between a patio and a house?

In most cases, it makes sense for a patio to go right up to a house. Whether you have a large or small patio, they are usually designed as an extension of the home and expansion of the available living area. For this reason, it's better for your outdoor living space to flow directly from your indoor living space.

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.

What is the best base 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.

How do I drain water away from my patio?

If you've spotted water building up at the edge of your patio and taking a long time to drain away, you can install an underground drainage pipe system to cure the problem. Other wet areas of the garden can be drained the same way. However, there must be somewhere for the water to go.

What are the options for concrete drains?

Different Types of Drainage Systems for Concrete
  • Trench Drains: Trench drains are a common choice for spaces with high water flow, such as courtyard plazas and pool decks surrounded by buildings. ...
  • Slot Drains: ...
  • Area Drains: ...
  • Permeable Systems:

Should you put drainage under patio?

A well-planned drainage system prevents common pitfalls such as water pooling, erosion, and damage to your property's foundation. Investing time in selecting the right drainage solutions pays off by keeping your patio dry and functional year-round.

What happens when water sits on concrete?

Excess water can damage weak or unprotected concrete. Water seeping into soils beneath or pooling on top of your concrete slab can contribute to cracked concrete, sunken concrete, and even foundation settlement.

Why is my concrete patio sinking?

The cause has to do more with the base the slab was built on rather than the concrete itself. The soil beneath the slab may not have been compacted properly during installation. Another possibility is that the edges that the slab sits on weren't properly backfilled or were filled with soft soil and loose aggregates.

How do you fix erosion under a concrete patio?

The best way to fix erosion under concrete is to fill voids with material that's resistant to erosion. This is usually done with the slab jacking process. Scritchlow Concrete Lifting and Slab Jacking uses only crushed limestone and Portland cement which is not susceptible to erosion.

How do you stop water from coming through concrete?

When faced with damp in concrete floors, there are two options available:
  1. Dig up the old concrete floor, install a new damp proof membrane and lap up edges before replacing the concrete slab.
  2. Fully isolate the dampness in the floor using a surface Damp Proof Membrane (DPM)

Is sand or gravel better for drainage?

Your project's unique requirements will determine whether sand or gravel is better. Sand could be ideal for promoting plant growth and improving soil drainage. Gravel with larger particles provides more stability and better water flow for construction operations or heavy-duty drainage systems.

Is grass or gravel better for drainage?

Gravel is your best friend when combating excess water on your lawn.

Is #57 gravel good for drainage?

Versatile Size: The 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inch size range of #57 gravel suits various construction and landscaping needs. Effective Drainage: Due to its porous nature, # 57 Stone allows water to flow through, preventing pooling and erosion.

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.

Do I need a membrane under my patio?

Usually with a standard patio, drainage underneath the patio is not required, so a woven membrane should work just fine. The woven membrane will help to stop the sub base of the patio from mixing in with the ground beneath which will avoid pitting, sinking, or wobbling of the patio slabs.

Can you drill holes in patio for drainage?

A simple solution to patio drainage problems is to drill small holes in the surface. Holes approximately three centimeters in diameter allow excess water to drain and prevent issues with standing water. Fill the holes with gravel for a pleasing appearance.

What do you put between a concrete patio and a house?

Simply put, if water can enter the gaps between your house and concrete, it can cause problems down the line. Caulking these gaps is a proactive way to prevent not only water damage and future concrete settling, but can also help keep pests to a minimum.

Is two way slab better than one way slab?

One-way slabs are often used in residential buildings for smaller spans, such as in corridors or small rooms. Two-way slabs might be preferred for larger, open-plan areas that require support from multiple directions due to wider spans. The choice depends on the building design and load considerations.

How far should patio be from foundation?

We recommend putting your patio out away from the foundation of your home a few feet at a minimum. The space right next to your house is unusable space unless you place a couch or sofa up against the home.

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