How to Fix Water Pooling on Your Patio

Does your beautiful patio turn into a miniature lake every time it rains? This is an incredibly common problem, especially for patios that weren’t installed correctly or have settled over time. And while it may seem like a minor inconvenience now, the standing water will only cause more issues as time goes on. For example, the moisture can damage patio materials, create a slippery and dangerous surface, compromise the foundation of your home, and become the perfect invitation for mosquitoes and other pests.

The good news is that you don’t have to live with a waterlogged patio for long. Let’s explore the reasons why water pools on patios in the first place and dive into the solutions that can restore your outdoor space.

Why Is Water Pooling on My Patio?

You’ve likely heard it before: water follows the path of least resistance. So, if that path leads to the middle of your patio, you can likely blame the standing water on one of the following:

• Improper Slope: A properly constructed patio should have a gentle, almost imperceptible slope that directs water away from your home’s foundation and into a designated drainage area, like your lawn or a garden bed. Without this grade, water has nowhere to go and simply sits on your patio’s pavers or concrete.
• Compacted Soil & Settling: Over time, the soil beneath your patio will settle. Most of the time, this settling happens unevenly, creating low spots and depressions in the patio surface where water will eventually collect.
• Clogged or Inadequate Drainage: For paver patios, the joints between the pavers are filled with sand (ideally polymeric sand), which allows for some permeability. If these joints become clogged with dirt, moss, and debris, the water can no longer seep through as intended. Similarly, if your patio relies on a channel drain or French drain that has become clogged, it will flood, as the drain can no longer do its job.

How to Remove Standing Water From Your Patio

Now that you have a better idea of what might be causing your patio to flood, you can evaluate and choose different methods for resolving the problem.

Clean Your Patio’s Surface

Remember how we said that the joints between your pavers can become so dirty that they can’t whisk away water properly? Before taking extensive measures to remove standing water from your patio, consider starting with the basics. Specifically, give your patio a deep cleaning.

Use a stiff brush to remove all accumulated dirt, moss, and debris from the surface and the joints between pavers. If you have a drain, make sure it is completely clear of leaves and sediment. Sometimes, this simple step is all it takes to restore proper surface drainage.

Re-Sand Paver Joints

In addition to becoming dirty, paver joints can wash away over time. If you suspect the joints need re-sanding, schedule an appointment with a professional. They will add more polymeric sand to lock pavers in place and create a semi-permeable barrier that encourages water to flow across the surface without pooling.

Install a Channel Drain

A channel drain (also known as a trench drain) is a long, narrow grate-covered drain that is installed flush with the patio surface (think of the skinny drains you see along pathways in your local park or zoo). This type of drain intercepts water as it flows across the patio and funnels it through an underground pipe to a safe discharge point away from your home. They are perfect for installing along the edge of the house, across a large patio, or at the bottom of a slope.

Install a French Drain

While a channel drain collects surface water, a French drain manages subsurface water. It consists of a perforated pipe that is surrounded by gravel and buried underground. A French drain is an excellent solution to install along the perimeter of your patio, especially if the surrounding yard is heavily saturated or higher than the patio.

Create a Rain Garden or Dry Well

Even when you install a drainage system, you will still need somewhere for the collected water to go. Two options include dry wells and rain gardens.

A dry well is an underground pit filled with gravel that collects runoff and allows it to slowly percolate into the surrounding soil. A rain garden, in contrast, is a landscaped depression filled with water-loving native plants. The system is designed to temporarily hold and soak in rainwater runoff from your patio and other surfaces. Both options are fantastic, eco-friendly ways to manage drainage.

Re-Grade and Re-Install Your Patio

In severe cases, it may make sense to start over completely. You can hire a landscape design company like Great Lakes Landscape Design in the Metro Detroit area to handle the entire process for you. Our professionals will remove the old patio surface (whether you currently have pavers or a concrete slab), excavate the base, and install a brand new, properly compacted base with the correct slope. While this is the most intensive and costly option, it guarantees that the problem will be solved for good.

Trust Our Experts to Solve Your Patio Drainage Issues

Here at Great Lakes Landscape Design, we’ve been designing and installing beautiful, functional patios and stormwater management systems in the Detroit, MI, area since 1989. We understand the unique challenges of our local soil and climate and can easily get to the bottom of your drainage problem and provide a lasting, effective solution.

Contact our professionals today for a consultation, and let us design a plan that keeps your patio looking beautiful for years to come!