Parking Lot Drainage Problems: Fix the Water Before It Wrecks Your Concrete
Standing water in a commercial parking lot isn't just annoying after a storm. Poor drainage can contribute to cracking, settling, surface deterioration and bigger concrete problems over time. And in Iowa, water sitting where it shouldn't becomes an even bigger concern once freezing temperatures arrive.
If you're seeing puddles that stick around long after the rain stops, water flowing toward your building, or concrete that's repeatedly deteriorating in the same area, the problem may not be the concrete alone. It could be time to take a closer look at your parking lot drainage.
Why Is Proper Parking Lot Drainage Important?
A commercial parking lot should be designed to move water away from buildings and high-traffic areas instead of allowing it to collect on or underneath the concrete.
When drainage isn't working correctly, water can find its way into joints, cracks and the base beneath the concrete. Over time, that can contribute to movement and deterioration.
Common signs of a parking lot drainage problem include:
Standing water after rain
Water collecting near entrances
Sunken or uneven concrete
Cracking around drains
Water flowing toward the building
Repeated deterioration in the same sections
Drainage areas that can't keep up during heavy rain
If you keep repairing the same piece of concrete, it's worth asking why it keeps failing. Sometimes the puddle is trying to tell you something.
What Causes Water to Pool in a Concrete Parking Lot?
Grading Can Make a Big Difference
Concrete parking lots aren't perfectly flat. They need carefully planned slopes that direct water toward the appropriate drainage areas.
If concrete settles or wasn't graded properly to begin with, low spots can develop. Water naturally finds those areas and stays there.
Simply replacing damaged concrete without correcting the grade can mean dealing with the exact same problem again.
CMC Solutions provides commercial concrete and parking lot services for businesses and property owners throughout Central Iowa.
Drains and Water Management Matter, Too
The problem can also be related to existing drains, downspouts or the way water moves through the entire property.
That's why CMC Solutions looks beyond the damaged slab. Our drainage and gutter services can include drainage improvements, gutter drainage solutions, water management, concrete grading corrections, drain replacement and site drainage repairs.
Learn more about our gutters and drainage services.
Why Should Iowa Businesses Address Drainage Before Winter?
August is a smart time to look for drainage problems because summer storms make them easy to spot—and winter makes them harder to ignore.
Iowa's freeze-thaw cycles can be particularly tough on concrete when water is involved. Water that gets into cracks, joints or beneath concrete can freeze as temperatures drop. When it freezes, it expands. Repeated freezing and thawing can contribute to further deterioration.
The Federal Highway Administration provides extensive information on pavement design, drainage and infrastructure, while the American Concrete Institute publishes technical guidance and standards related to concrete construction and durability.
Do You Need to Replace the Entire Parking Lot?
Not necessarily.
Depending on the condition of the existing concrete, the solution could involve correcting specific low spots, replacing damaged sections, improving drainage or combining several repairs.
For commercial property owners and managers, identifying the source of the problem first can help prevent spending money on a repair that doesn't address why the concrete failed.
Get Ahead of Parking Lot Problems Before Fall
If you've spent the summer watching the same puddles form every time it rains, don't wait for those puddles to become skating rinks this winter.
CMC Solutions works with businesses, contractors and property managers throughout Central Iowa on commercial concrete, parking lot repairs, grading and drainage improvements.
Contact CMC Solutions or call (515) 505-2245 to discuss your commercial parking lot or drainage project.
