Two ways to ensure your new driveway does not sustain flood damage
If you live in an area which is prone to flooding and you intend to build a driveway on your property, it's important to take certain preventative measures, to ensure that this new structure does not sustain water damage in the of a flood. Read on to find out more.
Add a stormwater drainage system
If a bout of heavy rain leads to a significant amount of water pooling on your driveway, the water is likely to seep in through the top layer of the structure and saturate the base layers, to the point where they become unstable. If this should happen, the structural integrity of the driveway is likely to be compromised, potentially to such an extent that it needs to be replaced.
As such, when having a driveway built on your property, you must make sure that your chosen contractor takes steps to ensure that any rainwater that falls onto this structure will quickly drain away before it has a chance to cause any serious damage.
One way to do this is to have your contractor install a stormwater drainage system. The residential versions of these systems usually consist of a stormwater pit covered by a grate, and a collection of underground pipe fixtures. Rainwater that falls onto the driveway seeps into the pit via the grates and is then transported away through the pipe fixtures.
To ensure the effectiveness of this system, your contractor may need to create a gradient when constructing the driveway, so that the rainwater that falls onto its surface is directed towards the stormwater drainage grate.
Add a high-quality sealant
Another step you can take to prevent water damage to your driveway during periods of heavy rain is to have your contractor add a high-quality sealant to the surface at the end of the construction process.
Sealant is made from substances which water cannot penetrate. As such, when added to your driveway, it should prevent rainwater from seeping through the structure's porous top layer into the subgrade underneath, and causing stability and structural problems.
Most sealants are made from pure acrylic, polyurethane, epoxy resin, or a combination of latex and acrylic.
It's important to note that sealants do not provide permanent protection from water damage; even high-quality, expensive sealants tend to degrade and become water permeable after a year or two. As such, you will need to have your driveway resealed on a regular basis.