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HD FOUNDATIONS
can design the
DRAINAGE SYSTEM that will solve your drainage
problems and prevent future foundation failure. Some
common problems and solutions are outlined below.
Drainage
Conditions
One method to both reduce the effects of the
foundation movement and help prevent significant
upheaval of the foundation is to make sure there is
good drainage around the foundation. The ground
surface should not allow water to pond within 8 to 10
feet of the foundation.
Poor
water drainage in the clay-like soil around the
Dallas-Fort Worth areas can cause soil deterioration
and erosion which leads to cracking, heaving and
settling of foundations. Poor drainage also causes
cracking in driveways and sidewalks not to mention
mold and wood rot.
Due
to the slow migration of water through Texas’ typical
clay soil under a foundation it may take as much as a
year for an affected foundation to settle or subside.
Often, because of the change in the soil’s integrity,
the foundation will set permanently and not return to
its original elevation.
 Water
from rainfall or irrigation that does
not soak into the soil appears as surface water.
All rain gutters should be cleaned out, kept clear of
debris, and also have adequate downspouts so gutters
do not overflow during a heavy rain.
The
slope of the yard around a home also determines
whether excess water will drain properly or poorly
causing erosion and damage to the foundation and
landscaping
Drainage
Systems
Drainage is a
process of collecting, directing and disposing of
excess water.
Types
of Drainage Systems:
A
drainage system incorporates both surface and
subsurface drains. Surface drains can remove
heavy volumes of rainfall that have nowhere to go
once the soil is saturated. Sub-surface drains
remove water that is trapped under the surface of the
soil causing flooding and erosion.
Surface Drain Systems
  Surface
drains are designed to collect excess surface water.
Water enters a surface drainage system through catch
basins sized to the anticipated volume of water to be
collected. The pipe carrying the water from the catch
basins is usually PVC or corrugated plastic and is
properly sized to the volume of water being drained.
Sub-surface Drain Systems
The French Drain is the most common sub-surface
drain system. It is constructed by digging a trench
approximately 6 inches below the surface perimeter of
the foundation and laying gravel and pipes into the
trench. Fremch drains are ideal for carrying water
away from houses into storm sewers or catchments where
the water will not cause a problem. A French Drain is
the practical solution to directing excess water from
a sloping yard or for directing water that drains onto
your property from your neighbor’s yard.
Swales
When the overall lot drainage is toward the house,
swales can be used to direct surface water away from
the foundation.
Berms
A berm is a mound of
earth constructed to control the flow of surface
water. Berms are also used to control erosion and
sedimentation reducing the rate of surface runoff. The
berms either reduce the velocity of the water, or
direct water to areas that are not susceptible to
erosion, thereby reducing the adverse effects of
running water on exposed top soil.
  
CALL HD FOUNDATIONS TODAY FOR A
FREE
QUOTE – (817) 226-7221
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