Drainage Swale Design for Foundations

A Drainage swale, often the easiest foundation drainage system to install, is virtually maintenance free, blending in with grass and easy to mow. Here are a few drainage swale design tips for DIY homeowners looking to install a drainage swale.

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Hi I’m Fred Marshall with advanced foundation repair and I’m here to today to talk to you about drainage on your lots. Most lots are drained with swales. Swales are just a fancy term for wide shallow ditch that is designed to carry away run off water from rain, sprinklers, and so on. Swales should drop a minimum of 1 inch every 10 feet, but I recommend 2 inches. But any less, slopes swales just do not work as well as they should. Most swales are wide and shallow like these. Swales should direct water to streets, drains or other channels that allow water to pull away from a home.
Swales that end in water traps do no good. Swales are functioning properly if, one hour after the rain stops, there is no water standing in the swale. Even the best grated swale is no good if it’s blocked. The builder grated your lot to give you proper drainage and it is important not to alter the drainage in any way that traps water by your foundation. If you need drainage work call the experts at advanced foundation repair at 214-333-0003.