ᐅ Drainage – Which Method to Choose?

From conversations with landscapers, building inspectors, neighbors, friends, and acquaintances, I have gained an overview of possible drainage methods. As expected, the people I spoke to often contradict each other, and everyone considers a different method to be the best. So how do you find the right solution?

Possible methods:

1. A pebble surface to prevent erosion in the lawn caused by runoff rainwater, possibly supplemented by a few square meters of a shallow basin to collect/divert larger amounts of water
2. Redirecting rainwater into a plastic drainage pipe, wrapped or not with coconut fiber, for example 5–10m (16–33 ft), possibly extended with an overflow opening at turf level
3. Redirecting water into an underground gravel pit lined with geotextile fabric, for example 5–10m³ (176–353 ft³)
4. Redirecting water into a gravel pit lined with concrete rings, for example 3 rings
5. Redirecting into a structure made of plastic cages wrapped in geotextile fabric, which are reportedly strong enough to be driven over

My house roof area is about 250m² (2,690 sq ft) with four downspouts, and my garage roof area is about 70m² (750 sq ft) with two downspouts. The slope from the street (curve) to the apex of the pie-shaped lot is approximately 1m (3.3 ft) and runs relatively evenly.

So far, we have had no problems—even during extreme rainfall events. Water remained in puddles for 1–2 days, gradually shrinking until it disappeared. According to a soil report, the water table is at a depth of 1.6m (5.2 ft). When digging the strip foundations (about 1m (3.3 ft) below ground level), no water accumulation was found.

Is there a universal solution, or just well-meaning advice—most of which work, but some fail in extreme situations?

In this context, I would also be interested to know whether sealing the cladding layer below the ground level (gravel strip) is necessary.

What type of soil do you have? Permeable, sandy? Loamy, rocky? Our landscaping contractor installed a drainage system under the gravel strip in the case of loamy soil and connected it to the stormwater drain because infiltration doesn’t work well here. This also helps keep the wall dry. Karsten

Nordlys schrieb:
What type of soil do you have? Permeable, sandy? Clayey, rocky? Our landscaping contractor installed a drainage system under the gravel strip in clayey soil and connected it to the stormwater drain because infiltration is difficult here. This also helps keep the wall nicely dry. Karsten

Below the topsoil layer (30-40cm (12-16 inches)) it becomes very sandy (permeable).

How is the drainage under the gravel strip designed? We do not have a stormwater drain.

Then gravel is sufficient for infiltration.
Drainage consists of pipes, usually orange plastic, you might know them, about the thickness of a leg, flexible. Around them is coconut fiber. It keeps soil away, water can diffuse into the pipe, and then away it goes. Karsten