When considering the specifics for a home drainage system, there is a wide variety of options available. One needs to consider the demands of the landscape, the aesthetics of the area, and the practicality of installation. However, one should also keep in mind the potential benefits of a trench drain.
Trench drains are a type of linear surface drain installed in areas where water tends to pool above ground. This water can cause damage to building foundations, driveways, and other structures so it’s important to divert it quickly and efficiently. A trench drain consists of a trench to channel water away from the house or other area and a decorative trench grate over the top. This grate allows traffic to move over the trench, while also adding a decorative element to the landscape.
Benefits of Trench Drain Systems
The most significant benefit of integrating a trench drain into the landscape of your house is how quickly and easily it channels water away from problem areas of the landscape. A properly integrated trench drain will receive water from the other areas of the landscape. A properly installed trench drain will receive water from other areas in the landscape, so a landscape’s natural slope should lead water to the trench drain; or a drainage system that concludes with water channelled into the trench drain.
Either way, the trench drain helps eliminate standing water by providing a means to remove it from the area. This is important because unchecked standing water can lead to cracked driveways and damage to the house foundation. This sort of damage can lead to major and expensive repairs.
All of this is even more critical in homes with downward/negative slope. With these landscapes, the ground slopes towards the house rather than away from it. This type of slope can be problematic as it allows water to move quickly towards the house foundation. A well placed & correctly specified trench drain can prevent this from happening.
Location Specific Benefits of Trench Drain Installation
Another way a trench drain can be of use is to protect a specific area from water damage. A trench drain provides a physical seperator between two elements of a landscape. While other types of drains may require water to be redirected to them, a trench drain can simply stop water in its tracks.
This can be extremely helpful in a variety of situations. A trench drain could separate a garage from a sloped driveway, stopping water from entering the garage. It could also separate the edge of a building from the yard around it. preventing water from pooling around the building’s exterior and leaking into the foundation. A trench drain could even separate a grassy hill from a potentially slippery footpath, stopping water from turning the walkway into a hazard. In this way, trench drains are a useful addition to a variety of landscapes.
Differences Between Trench Drains & French Drains
Trench drains are often confused with another type of drain; French drains. While similar, there are a few major differences that should be considered when choosing between the 2 types of drainage.
A French drain is a subsurface drain, whereas a trench drain is surface level. It helps drain excess water in the oversaturated ground, making them useful in yards that rarely flood but face excess water during occasional rain events. They can help prevent serious and structural damage to the house.
The effectiveness of a French drain depends on the slope of the ground and the drain position. Their purpose is not to quickly move large amounts of water off the landscape, therefore a French drain might work in a landscape with a low slope that recieves a small amount of water but a trench drain might be better for a landscape with a steeper slope that recieves more water.
Installation of a french drain is more difficult than a trench drain as it consists of a liner and perforated pipe installed in a trench then covered with gravel.
Options for Decorative Trench Drain Grates
Trench drain systems often feature simple, clean lines making it easy to incorporate them into most landscape designs. Jonite’s decorative trench drain grates offer more aesthetic flexibility as the colour and texture of the stone grate can be customised to meet the needs of the design. In addition, the slot design can be changed to a variety of options.
These customisation options allow you to choose a design that blends perfectly into your homes landscape.
A trench drain can help prevent damage from excess water to your house and surrounds. This can be helpful in a variety of situations and can form an integral part of a more extensive drainage system. With added customisation options for the decorative trench grate, its easy to fit trench drainage into your landscape design.