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.
A trench drain can prevent excess water from coming too close to buildings.
Benefits of trench drain systems
The most significant and most obvious benefit of a trench drain is how it quickly and easily channels water away from certain areas of the landscape. A properly integrated trench drain will receive water from other areas in the landscape. To achieve proper integration of a trench drain, a landscape's natural slope should lead water to the trench drain's location, 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 driveways cracking and damage to the house foundation. This damage can necessitate major and expensive repairs.
All of this is even more critical in homes with a negative slope. In these landscapes, the ground slopes towards the home's foundation instead of away from it. This type of slope can be problematic, as it allows water to move quickly towards the foundation. But, a well-placed trench drain can prevent this from occurring.
Location-specific benefits of trench drain installation
Another way a trench drain can be of use is how it can protect a specific area from water damage. A trench drain provides a physical separator 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.
Trench drain can prevent specific areas from becoming slip hazards.
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 pathway into a hazard. In this way, trench drains are a useful tool for a variety of landscaping projects.
Differences between a trench drain vs French drain
Trench drains are often confused with another type of common drains, French drains. While similar, there are a few major differences that should be considered when choosing between these drain types.
A French drain is a subsurface drain, unlike the surface-level trench drain. 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.
With the same objective, the purposes of a French drain and trench drain are very different.
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 of the landscape. Therefore, a French drain might work in a landscape with a low slope that receives a small amount of water, but a trench drain might be better for a landscape with a steeper slope that receives more water.
Installation is also a factor. French drains consist of a liner and perforated pipe installed in a trench. The pipe is then covered with gravel, making them more difficult to install than a trench drain.
Options for decorative trench drain grates
Trench drain systems feature simple, clean lines, making it easy to incorporate them into most landscapes. Besides, Jonite's decorative trench drain grates offer even more aesthetic flexibility. The colour and texture of the reinforced stone can be customized to meet the needs of the landscape design. In addition, the slot design can be changed to a variety of options.
Decorative trench drain grates can be customized to fit your aesthetic needs.
These customization options allow you to choose the design that blends perfectly into your home's landscape.
Final thoughts
A trench drain can help prevent damage to your house and landscape due to excess water. This can be helpful in various situations and can form an integral part of a more extensive drainage system. Plus, with added customization options for the decorative trench grate, it's easy to fit into your landscape design.
