“Any suggestions on fixing driveway puddles caused by rain that haven’t been mentioned in previous posts?”
Asked by Aino Wiita 
3 months ago
Last Updated: June 18, 2024
Hey there! I need some advice on fixing up my driveway to prevent a big puddle from forming every time it rains. I did a bit of digging around the group and saw some suggestions like trenches and french drains, but I’m not sure if they would be the best fit for my situation. Any ideas?
The only way to reach the end of the driveway at street level is by filling it in properly. This involves removing the old damaged blacktop, starting fresh with a compacted gravel base, and laying down new blacktop.
Your driveway sits at the lowest point in your yard. Since it’s beyond repair, the best solution would be to remove everything and reconstruct it at a higher elevation with a solid base. By doing it correctly with either concrete or asphalt, you can expect it to last for many years. The key is to direct water towards the street.
You can either remove and replace the whole thing or work on each end section starting from the middle to make sure water flows to both sides. Increase the elevation so water naturally drains towards the street and sides. You might need to adjust both sides to ensure proper water drainage away from the driveway.
1 cubic yard of concrete. All set…
Consider installing a channel drain!
Where will it end up draining?
Is obviously heading downhill!
I was just thinking, where does all this water go? The asphalt is under water and to the right is my neighbor’s gravel driveway with even more gravel added. On the left, we have some space, but there’s a water line and meter nearby. A family member suggested adding our own gravel, but I don’t think it would fix the problem.
It looks like the area is pretty flat, but are there drainage ditches on the side of the road?
Also, driving off the side of the driveway, like the vehicle parked on the dirt/grass, is causing damage to the edges of the driveway. Not ideal.
Adding gravel/rock would be a good idea. If the area to the right is meant for parking, it should also be gravel/rock. Otherwise, if people keep driving onto the soft dirt/soil, this issue will continue.
You have two main choices… (1) raise the elevation of the area to prevent water accumulation, or (2) install a drain to collect the water and redirect it elsewhere.
A crucial question to consider is – where will the water be directed to?
If you opt for (1), ensure that the water can easily flow in the desired direction. If you choose (2), determine if it’s feasible to channel the water there.
👍^^^Exactly what mentioned
Using lots of stone and a basic drainage system is probably the most affordable and straightforward option.
It’s not fixable. Consider waiting for the dry season and gathering quotes for redoing it with new concrete or asphalt. You might save a lot by handling the demolition and removal on your own. Recently, I helped a client redo a driveway in this area (using asphalt) for around $3000 CAD. This was in Vancouver BC, a pricy city, so I’m confident you can find a good deal.
I agree with that the driveway needs to be replaced. We’ve had other priorities indoors that have delayed this project. It might actually be more affordable and doable than I initially thought.
Channel drain
That driveway looks pretty beat up and I don’t think it can be repaired. It might be best to regrade and repour it for a long-term fix. You just want to make sure the water drains properly, so maybe consider digging a trench in your yard that’s lower than the lowest point.
Stone dust compacts well when properly applied
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Seems to be just an opening. Fill it with 3/4″ base material and compact it in 2″ increments using a plate compactor.
In simple terms, try redirecting the water flow and elevating the driveway. Identifying the main source of water and diverting it elsewhere could be a good start. After that, consider raising the driveway to avoid going against nature.
I suggest contacting the city to come and assess the situation. In my experience, the city usually takes care of these issues.
You should reach out to a concrete contractor. The driveway is no longer serving its purpose and should be completely replaced.