As a business owner, if you're looking to purchase a new plot of land to build a new location, there are several factors you need to think of when it comes to the site plan. For areas that experience a lot of rain and snow, for example, the land needs to be developed for drainage. Here’s what you should know about drainage before you start building on a foundation.

What Is Positive & Negative Drainage?

As a crucial step to the overall site plan, the land supporting the structure should be sufficient before you start building, including proper drainage. Positive drainage is when the water flows away from your building; negative drainage is when it flows toward the building. If water pools around the base of a building, it can slowly degrade the property and damage the nearby landscaping.

Why Does Proper Drainage Matter?

A strong foundation supports a building and keeps it standing. Whenever there is any damage to the foundation, it threatens the integrity of the building as a whole and can cause significant damage. Whenever there is heavy rain or snow, the water needs to have a place to run off. If there isn't room, it can pool up around the foundation of your home or business and cause water damage. To ensure this doesn’t happen, the land must have optimal draining before the building process begins, such as using downspouts that push any water runoff further away from the building.

How Can You Correct Negative Drainage?

If the building is already standing and you notice pooling water around the exterior of the building, it can be corrected. You could raise the grade around the home by removing any landscaping that surrounds the property and filling it with enough soil until it's level with the grading. You can then have the landscape put back into place.

If you’re having trouble determining the proper drainage for a foundation, you need someone on your side with knowledge and experience. The experts at Hart-Frederick Consultants PC have been serving counties in southeast Iowa since 1996. To see how they can help with your site plan, visit their website, or call (319) 545-7215 to speak with a representative.