Every winter we get calls from homeowners whose garages flood when the rain comes in. It is especially common in older suburbs and on sloping erven, where driveways were laid to fall towards the house. The good news is that it can almost always be fixed.
Why it happens
- The driveway falls towards the garage. On many sloping sites, the natural slope runs from the street to the house.
- Water comes from the street. If the street or sidewalk is higher than the property, runoff can flow straight in through the gate.
- The surface has sunk in front of the garage, creating a dip that collects water.
- Drains are blocked with leaves, sand or debris.
- There is no drain at all.
The fixes
Regrading
Where levels allow, we reshape the driveway so it falls away from the garage, towards the street or the garden. This is often done as part of resurfacing or building a new driveway.
Channel drain
When the driveway must slope towards the house, a channel drain across the garage entrance catches water before it gets in. The channel is connected to the stormwater system or a soakaway. Choose a grate rated for vehicles.
Hump or berm
A small, gentle hump at the gate or the top of the driveway can stop street water from flowing onto the property.
Soakaway
Where there is no stormwater connection, a properly sized soakaway can take water from a channel drain. This works best in sandy ground and needs to be sized for the area it serves.
Fixing low spots
If the problem is a dip in front of the garage, cutting out and rebuilding that section, with the base replaced, solves it.
Do not forget maintenance
Even the best drain fails if it is blocked. Clear grates and channels before winter and after storms. In sandy, windy areas such as the West Coast and the Cape Flats, check them more often.
Get it sorted before winter
We look at levels and drainage on every site survey. If water is getting into your garage, book a visit in summer or autumn and we will price the fix before the rains arrive.