Tips: What is Grading and Drainage?

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What is Grading and Drainage?

A homeowner’s worst nightmare is improper drainage of the flow of water. And controlling water flow is based on the way a lot is graded and if a drainage plan has been put into place. Prime Paving & Sealcoating contractors offer services in excavation and grading. And today we want to answer a commonly asked question, “What is grading and drainage?”

Grading-Leveling of the Land

Before any construction can begin on a site, it has first to be cleared of any obstructions. Trees, shrubs, undergrowth, and natural obstacles such as large boulders, etc. need to be removed. The process of lot clearing is called excavation.

Following excavation, the disturbed land must be leveled and compacted before construction can begin. The process of smoothing out and leveling the area is called grading.

Why is Grading Important?

Grading is what determines the slope of the land in an area of construction. This can be for lots that are being prepared for the building of homes or other structures such as roadbeds.

Regardless of location, all parcels of land have water on them. And water will always find the path of least resistance to travel to streams to get back to the ocean.

When an area has been cleared of everything that was once on it, the flow of water is interrupted and changes course. Sometimes, depending on the grading performed or in the process of being created, water can pool in areas or carry loose soil away with it. That is why drainage plans must be put into place before construction can begin.

Proper Drainage is Key

As an area is being graded, your contractor should also be creating a drainage plan in preparation of runoff and soil erosion.

Drainage can be controlled via pipes, culverts, French drains, ditches, trench drains, and the building up of areas via retaining walls and fill dirt.

If runoff and drainage are not appropriately addressed in the beginning stages of construction, it can lead to significant damage and costly repairs later. Sometimes those issues do not show up until after a construction project is complete and are difficult to repair.

Problems That Can Happen Due to Improper Drainage

Prime Paving & Sealcoating have many years of expertise in grading areas for different uses. We have worked on grading for sub-divisions and homeowners associations, parking lots, roadbeds, building construction, landscaping, and more! Trust us when we say we have seen what happens when plans for runoff have not been put in correctly.

Take, for example, the foundation of a home if the runoff of water is allowed to pool near the edge of a home. Over time water can become stagnant but also seep into the foundation of the home weakening its foundation and destroying the sub-base with moisture. Furthermore, moisture breeds mold, mildew, and other allergens which can lead to sickness of a home’s occupants.

Not to mention that pooling water is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes and bacteria.

Or, if you have a bank that has not been reinforced and heavy rains move through your area. The erosion of soil can be detrimental to your property as well. If the runoff from storms is strong enough, it can remove fill dirt that may be necessary to the integrity of the build or cause landslides.

Nevertheless, it is apparent why proper grading and drainage systems need to be in place early in the building process. Can you imagine having any of the above examples happen to you after you have already moved into your home or built your road? It would be a nightmare, not to mention, the excessive amount of costs it would take to repair such issues.

That is why it is imperative to hire a quality contractor from the beginning. Prime Paving & Sealcoating contractors are experts in proper excavating, grading, and drainage solutions. If you are getting ready to begin a construction project, contact us for a free estimate and rest assured that you are hiring someone of quality and expertise!