Commercial Water Drainage Tips for Concrete and Asphalt Projects

Your Guide To Sealcoating Concrete Driveways

Proper concrete water drainage is essential for the lifespan of your concrete walkway, driveway or stairs. Though concrete is known for its durability and strength, it is not impervious to water damage. To keep your concrete surfaces from becoming stained, cracked or otherwise damaged by prolonged water exposure, it’s essential to remove water as fast as possible from its surface. One way to do this is by ensuring the concrete is poured in such a way to allow the water to drain away naturally.

Consequences of Poorly Designed Concrete Drainage

Poorly designed concrete drainage inevitably leads to unwanted consequences in both commercial and residential applications. Here are a few of the common drawbacks associated with insufficient concrete drainage design.

• Slow erosion of the concrete or asphalt surface
• Increased risk of slipping and other injuries
• Potential lawsuits due to failure to follow code-compliant drainage requirements
• Unwanted visual impact (water-stained areas are often a different color than the rest of the concrete)

If you want to avoid all of these negative consequences, it’s very important to make sure you have optimal asphalt or concrete water drainage.

Ways You Can Customize Your Water Drainage

When hiring contractors to install your commercial concrete flooring or parking areas, you should do your research to make sure you’re hiring skilled contractors who know about the importance of correct concrete water drainage. When done well, here are a few ways expert installers can customize your water drainage features.

• Sloping: Concrete doesn’t need to be completely flat (so it allows water to pool on its surface). Instead, it can be sloped (or graded) to allow water to run off before it has a chance to build up. Sloping concrete requires great skill because it must not be too steep or too shallow. If the slope is too shallow, the water won’t move fast enough to avoid pooling. If it’s too steep, the water will run so quickly that it will contribute to erosion.

• Local Conditions: Good general contractors know that to get the right degree of water drainage for your area, it’s important to consider the climate. The local soil characteristics, topography, and climate will help determine how a drainage system in your area should be installed. Experienced professionals always consider local conditions when determining how to install custom water drainage systems.

• Surface and Subsurface Drainage: Though concrete water drainage may seem pretty straightforward, it’s actually quite complicated. In addition to ensuring proper surface drainage of water across the concrete, it’s also important to consider subsurface drainage (how water drains after it has moved into the surrounding soil around the concrete). When installing drainage systems, it’s essential to make sure the water can never rise up from below to cover the concrete layer. When subsurface drainage techniques are used effectively, they prevent water from rising up below the concrete layer.

As you can see, concrete water drainage can be more complicated than it seems at first. To make sure the water drains efficiently from your property, it’s wise to hire professional general contractors who specialize in concrete installations. RTS Construction is one such contractor.

Schedule Your Appointment

Good water drainage is an essential part of overall operational safety and commercial logistics. That’s why it’s very wise to consult with a skilled contractor who knows how to install concrete the correct way using all the right drainage techniques.

Here at RTS Construction, we perform concrete and water drainage installation for projects of all sizes in both residential and commercial areas. We know how to walk you through any drainage process to make sure the finished product meets or exceeds your expectations. To schedule your consultation or learn more about our water drainage installation capabilities, please get in touch with us today.