Storm Drainage in Houston

We need to get serious about putting in a drainage system on our property and were wondering what Exterior Worlds could tell us about them.
A Houston home landscape design demands a well-thought-out storm drainage system. We not only have to contend with the furies of Mother Nature—Tropical Storm Allison and Hurricane Ike, to name the most recent major storms—but also the Gulf coast’s flat lands and dense soils. It hasn’t helped that years of construction on heavily forested lots have compacted the ground and increased impervious surfaces.Exterior Worlds is glad to see that local ordinances are beginning to follow the model used by the Memorial Villages that requires minimum pipe sizes, flow rates, temporary drainage systems, engineered drainage plans, calculations, topographic maps, and as/built plans. All drainage contractors must have a thorough understanding of these demands before embarking on a drainage project or homeowners may find themselves in a big mess that can cost thousands to rectify.

What are the different parts of a proper storm drainage system?

• Gutter downspout tie-ins. These connections, made of plastic, metal or brass, take water from the gutters to the landscape drainage system.
• Deck drains. Your deck design should be constructed so that water is either sloped toward drains or drained into the landscape beds. You can use decorative drains made of metal, brass or stone.
• French drainage. French drains are small ditches that are filled with undersized rocks or gravel and take water away from saturated soil.
• Catch basins, or yard drains. Catch basins can be placed under downspouts when it is undesirable or not possible to tie into the gutter. Usually a plastic or concrete box, catch basins use a plastic or metal drain grate cover to filter out leaves and other waste debris.
• Channel drains. These long narrow strip drains are used between main structures or at the edge of a patio.
  

How will the storm drainage system affect other parts of my landscape?
Drainage systems need to be integrated into your entire landscape plan. We work with professionals such as landscape designers or landscape architects to develop a whole-system approach so that the nuts and bolts of all systems are out of sight. When that is not possible, the use of decorative drain gates can be used to reduce the negative visual impact.

For purposes of tree preservation, Exterior Worlds also recommends that you hand-dig trenches around trees when installing a yard drainage system. You can also tunnel under tree roots by using compressed air, a method that exposes tree roots without tearing them. Or water can be used to dig deep trenches and expose roots, which also minimizes damage.

One benefit of a storm drainage system is its positive impact on your residential landscape maintenance. It prevents standing water that can cause slippery surfaces, mosquito breeding grounds and drowned landscaping. Further, a proper landscape drainage system moves water off your property, encouraging healthy grass, and allows your maintenance crew to perform their regular lawn service duties.