Beyond the Surface: How Rushed Drainage Installation Affects New Construction

Double B Excavations & Grade LLC

WHY PROPER DRAINAGE MATTERS IN NEW CONSTRUCTION

You might think a brand new home means everything's perfect.

After all, you're the first owner, everything's fresh and clean, and surely all the systems were installed correctly - right?

Unfortunately, what we found during a recent inspection in Pickerington tells a different story.

The truth is, some of the biggest problems in new construction aren't things that break - they're things that were never done right in the first place.

When contractors rush to finish a job, they often cut corners on the parts nobody sees.

And nowhere is this more common than with drainage installation.

Let me break down exactly what we're seeing out there. When drainage is rushed - like what we found in Pickerington - contractors typically make the same mistakes over and over. They'll just throw pipe in the ground, cover it up, and call it a day. No slope checks, no camera verification, nothing.



Here's what happens: the pipe develops what we call "bellies" - low spots where water sits instead of flowing out. Or worse, you get "back fall" - where the pipe actually slopes back toward your house. That's exactly what we found with this inspection, where at 37 feet out, we finally saw our first section that wasn't underwater. Think about that - water sitting in your drainage pipes for 37 feet, just waiting to cause problems.

Now, you might be thinking, "Well, the pipe's in the ground, how bad could it be?" Let me tell you - when water isn't properly flowing away from your foundation, you're looking at some serious potential issues down the road. And these aren't small problems we're talking about.



Water backing up against your foundation isn't just about wet grass or puddles in your yard. Over time, that moisture can lead to foundation problems, basement leaks, and even structural issues. And here's the real kicker - these problems often show up just after your new home warranty expires. Now you're looking at major repairs that could have been prevented with proper installation.

What makes this even more frustrating is that it's completely preventable. When we handle drainage work, we're not just thinking about getting the job done - we're thinking about protecting your home for the next decade and beyond. That's why we take the time to camera-verify our installations and ensure proper slopes. Yes, it takes longer. Yes, it might cost a bit more upfront. But it's a whole lot cheaper than dealing with foundation issues down the road.

Here's something I've learned over years in this business: fixing drainage problems always costs more than doing it right the first time. Take our Pickerington project - now we're looking at having to dig up and reinstall multiple drainage lines around a finished landscape. That means disturbing established grass, working around landscaping, and potentially dealing with other buried utilities.



Compare that to the cost of proper installation during construction, when the yard is still dirt and everything's accessible. The difference isn't just in money - it's in stress, time, and disruption to your life. When you're building a new home, proper drainage might not be the most exciting thing to think about, but it's one of the most important.