Drainage Installation in Los Angeles

Is lack of proper drainage slowly undermining your foundation? Inadequate drainage results in an excessive amount of water in the soil under and around the foundation. This leads to soil expansion and shrinkage which can go unnoticed for years and is the primary cause for foundation problems. When it is finally spotted, the repair bills can be substantial.

This may not sound like a serious problem in Southern California due to a climate that can go many months without rain. What many don’t realize, however, is that one night of steady downpour can land many thousands of gallons of rain on and around your home. As it rains on average 34 times per year in this region, there are plenty of opportunities for lack of proper drainage to cause serious damage to any foundation.

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Warning signs of poor home drainage include:

• Damp basements with musty smells
• Ponding around the foundation
• Water stains on the foundation or basement walls (a white calcified powder known as “efflorescence”
• Excessive moss on ground adjacent to structure
• Wet or damp crawl spaces
• Downspouts that dump water beside the foundation

What can be done about it? The City of Los Angeles code states “all water to be routed to street via non-erosive devices…” A well-designed drainage system directs water away from the foundation per the above code recommendation. The engineers at Alpha Structural can customize a drainage system to the layout of your home, guiding water away from the home and to the street via underground drain lines, concrete “swales”, landscape elevation grading etc. Not only is this a practical and cost-effective deterrent against water damage, it bolsters your home against the future possibility of water-related foundation issues.

Call Alpha Structural today to schedule an appointment!