A commercial property is an investment, and maintenance is essential to keep it running smoothly and keep repairs to a minimum. In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of proper water drainage on a commercial property. Implement the right drainage system from the beginning to control excess surface water.
What Is Water Drainage?
A water drainage system is used to direct excess water away from a property, especially the building and landscaping areas. There are several types of systems but each one has the purpose of giving water an area to flow to that won’t harm anything in its path. Excess water comes mainly from precipitation or cleaning buildings and equipment.
Safety for Everyone and Everything
Excess surface water may not seem like a big issue, and sometimes it isn’t. However, when it happens too often or gets out of control, damages begin. The main concern when there’s excess water is the safety of employees, customers, and the building. Safety is one of the greatest benefits of proper water drainage on a commercial property. Here’s what can happen when proper water drainage is not in place:
Mildew and Mold
Excess water leads to mildew and mold when it’s left unnoticed and not taken care of. As a commercial building, if employees are there daily, they’re breathing in that mildew and mold and it’s unhealthy. It also affects others who walk in the door.
Flooding
Eventually, excess water leads to flooding of the grounds or the building on a commercial property. Flooding is dangerous if electricity gets involved. It also destroys anything in its path, including the foundation, furniture, and any other possible objects, documents, or machinery.
Parking Lots
If a parking lot is involved, excess water is a danger and a nuisance for those who must use it regularly. Don’t leave employees or customers waddling through large puddles to get to their cars. The excess water also causes damage, leaving cracks and potholes, which are risky.
Curb Appeal
Commercial buildings exist for many purposes, and very often the purpose is to run a business. That means the building is in competition with other businesses to attract customers. Curb appeal shouldn’t be overlooked when wanting to draw people in.
Proper water drainage is necessary to keep your landscaping and the exterior of your building looking fresh and inviting. Leave guests and employees with walkways, grass, and parking areas that are beautiful and dry.
Protect the Building and the Landscaping
Excess surface water can damage both the building and the landscaping. Let’s look at how it damages a building:
- As water sits near the foundation, cracks happen over time, leading to a weak foundation and flooding in the building.
- Unsightly mildew grows on the building.
- Paint is damaged.
- Property value lowers.
- Difficult to lease.
And now, let’s look at how excess surface water eventually damages landscaping:
- Soil is eroded as water makes a path through it.
- Mulch and other protective coverings are ruined.
- Flowers and foliage don’t look healthy and plants die.
- Walking paths become soggy and unsafe to walk on. Bricks or stones used for pathways move out of place and crack, as well as the concrete for a sidewalk.
- The grass gains uneven patches of darker or brighter grass due to too much water.
Property Value
When drainage is left unchecked, you risk the chance of lowering the property value of your commercial property. The reason being that the property not only looks uncared for but because of the issues mentioned above, the building physically requires extra maintenance to repair the water damage.
Commercial buildings are often leased. When potential renters have options, they’ll choose the property that has its water drainage system in place and under control. They’re planning to use your building to run their business. If you want to attract renters, don’t ignore excess surface water.
If you plan on selling your commercial property, the decrease in property value comes into play again. Buyers aren’t interested in a property without proper drainage. Install a drainage system that’s suitable for the entire property, and don’t risk a decrease in property value.
Less Maintenance
When the right drainage system is in place, a property requires less maintenance. As excess water wreaks havoc on landscaping, parking lots, and the building, repair needs pile up. Here are some common ones:
- Replacement of landscaping plants.
- Replacement of soil and mulch.
- Fixing cracks in the foundation or walkways.
- Drying out areas that the excess water sits in.
- Filling potholes in parking lots.
- Clean up of mold and mildew either outside or inside the building.
Excess surface water that ends up where it doesn’t belong causes a need for repair and maintenance. Lower your daily, monthly, and even yearly maintenance tasks, time, and cost with a drainage system.
Choosing a Drainage System
Now that we understand the importance of a drainage system, how do you know which type to use? There are four main types of drainage systems that are appropriate for a commercial property. They are as follows:
Downspouts and Gutter Systems
Downspouts and gutter systems are attached to the building and are used to redirect water. These are simple to install and they handle most precipitation. It’s essential to make sure the downspouts are pointed away from the building to keep the water away. It’s also necessary to have a plan for where the water goes once it’s away from the building. If you protect the building but not the rest of the property, you haven’t completely solved your drainage issue.
Subsurface Systems
A subsurface system is designed to control water just under the surface with a drain, often called a French drain. The French drain is installed just below the top layer of soil and works well at moving unwanted water to a safe place.
Slope Drainage System
Slope drains use the natural slant of a slope to push excess water away from an area. A pipe is placed in a ditch or just under the ground and angled in the right direction.
Surface Drainage System
Using channels and ditches, surface drains remove excess water, directing it where it needs to go. These are often trench drains, levees, hollows, or open drains.
A water drainage specialist is helpful when trying to decide which drainage system is best for your commercial property. The location, size of the property, and amount of yearly precipitation all play a role, along with how the property is used.
At ABT, we offer commercial trench drain systems to suit any commercial property. Contact us with your drainage concerns and let’s keep your commercial property safe, healthy, and well-maintained.