Drainage Solutions

Keep Erosion and Drainage Under Control With the Poynter Pros

Creating A Drainage Solution

In St. Louis, we can have rain cycles that last 4-6+ weeks at any given time of the year. Remember that the flood of 1993 happened in the usually-dry month of August and in 2016 we had flooding in the month of December. This type of extreme rainfall can lead to serious drainage issues and serve to expose less serious but annoying issues.

If you have noticed puddles throughout your property, areas of streaming water during storms, erosion, or water in your basement you may have a solvable drainage issue.

From new construction to established properties, Poynter will provide you with the best drainage solution for your unique issues. These issues could include anything from erosion control to basement water complications.

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Engineering Is Fundamental

Drainage engineering is fundamental to outdoor design success and, just as you would expect your house to be level, your outdoor space should drain properly. Diagnosing drainage issues begins with a topographical analysis that will reveal existing drainage problems and identify any potential issues that could occur after construction.

This important step takes the guesswork out of determining drainage concerns as trusting your ‘eye’ is never the correct path to resolving a drainage problem. Different surfaces, such as turf, pavers and asphalt, require different degrees of pitch (% of fall) to have proper surface water flow.

Once your site’s drainage issues are determined, there are many ways to address those issues, such as grading, dry stream beds, creeks, flow wells, trench drains and French drains.

Erosion Management

Erosion is often due to natural occurrences, such as extraordinary rainfall or erosion from a lack of vegetation to hold soil in place. Landscape architects have knowledge of local soil types, slope angles, average rainfall, plants that thrive in your microclimate and proper irrigation techniques and will help guide you when determining what solutions are needed to treat and control your erosion problems.

There are many different types of erosion control you can implement which are harmless to your landscape, lawn or garden. Plants naturally protect soil by cloaking the ground in foliage that prevent raindrops from falling directly onto soil particles and establishing roots that help to bind soils underground. Other solutions include water diversion, rain gardens, retaining walls, grid systems, geotextiles and piping.

Erosion is a problem that should be dealt with immediately to prevent further damage and to prevent small problems from escalating into large problems. Finding the proper solution for your erosion issues will secure a healthy and vibrant landscape.

Basement Water

Many times, water in the basement is an indication of surface water issues. Basements are particularly prone to silent and non-visual damage or wear. During wet weather, the soil around your basement is saturated with water, causing ‘hydrostatic pressure’ – when the air cavities in the soil are fully loaded with water, a major cause of basement water problems. This can result in tens of thousands of pounds in hydrostatic pressure on your foundation that can push water into the basement through cracks and joints.

Benefits of Drainage Solutions

  • We use sound engineering principles for water management
  • We offer solutions that are both ascetically pleasing and functionally practical
  • We know how to make the solutions look good, turning your property’s liabilities into assets.
  • We incorporate the use of precision measurements in determining your drainage issue
  • Poynter has you covered and can help resolve any drainage and erosion issues you may be experiencing with your property

Contact Us

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    Or call us:(636) 256-2600