From Water Problems to a Backyard Upgrade

The Challenge

The original concrete patio had been pitched back toward the house for years, which created a number of problems over time. Water consistently drained toward the home instead of away from it, leading to wood rot around the base of the door frame and near the fireplace. During heavier rains, the patio would occasionally flood, and in major storms, water would pool heavily around the patio area due to nearby downspouts dumping water directly beside it. On top of the drainage issues, the existing patio simply wasn’t large enough for the space the homeowners wanted to enjoy.

The Game Plan

To solve the issue at its source, a small retaining wall was installed along the wood line where most of the runoff originated. A completely new drainage system was then added to capture and redirect water before it could reach the home. The old concrete patio was removed entirely and replaced with a larger paver patio, allowing new underground drainage lines to be installed beneath the surface.

The new patio was carefully graded to slope away from the house and into a gravel dispersion bed for better runoff management. Existing downspouts, along with new drainage lines connected to the neighboring property, were tied into underground double-wall PVC piping that directs water toward the street through a newly created swale between the two homes.

The Finished Result

Now, rainwater flowing from the wooded area is intercepted by the retaining wall and guided naturally into a decorative gravel stream bed. When dry, the gravel feature doubles as a natural extension of the patio space, blending function with appearance.

All downspouts from both properties are connected to a long underground drainage system that safely carries water to the street and into a natural drainage easement. To complete the project, leftover paver materials were used to create a matching trash pad, and fresh sod was installed across the property to restore all trenching and work areas, leaving the yard looking clean, cohesive, and built to handle heavy rain for years to come.