Driveway Ponding: Causes And Repairs
Driveway ponding issues are a problem that occurs on the driveway, typically right as it levels out before meeting the street or sidewalk. It may seem like a minor problem at first glance, but there is more to it than you might think.
Driveway Ponding Issues
Driving through a puddle each time you turn in the drive on a rainy day may seem like a minor annoyance, as there is no obvious danger to car or paving. Unfortunately, that isn't the case. A puddle of water, especially right at the street, can hide items like nails and screws that could puncture tires. A flat tire is more than just an annoyance — it costs you both time and money.
More likely, though, is that the ponding is either due to a driveway issue or it will cause one to develop. Puddles of water in winter months can freeze. Some of the water from that puddle will have been absorbed into the concrete or asphalt pores, so when it freezes and expands cracks or potholes form. Even without freezing, puddles of water will slowly degrade the paving and shorten its lifespan.
Common Ponding Causes
Driveways are typically designed on a slope so that water will flow off the surface and away from your home. Streets are designed to slope, usually from the middle towards the sides so that water can drain into the gutters and storm drains. When the two opposing slopes meet near the street, a puddle can form.
Puddles are more likely to form if there is either insufficient storm drains or clogged storm drains on the municipal part of the street. Further, a driveway may level out or even dip down slightly before it reaches the street or when it meets up with a sidewalk, which can make ponding even worse since the water draining off the drive won't ever have a chance to reach the street-side storm drains.
Paving Repair Solutions
Fortunately, ponding is a relatively simple fix for both concrete and asphalt driveways. Your paving contractor will cut out a strip of paving from one side of the drive to the other to create a trench. The location of this trench can vary, it may be at the lowest part of the driveway or it may slightly upslope of the lowest point.
A drainage trough is installed inside the trench, then any necessary repairs are made to the paving surrounding the drainage trough. Finally, a grate is fitted over the top so you can drive and walk over it safely. The trough itself will empty out harmlessly into nearby landscaping or it will be routed into the storm drain system.
Contact a residential paving service for more help with solving ponding issues at the base of your driveway.
