How can I fix a patio that drains everywhere but one spot, causing puddles and standing water, without having to remove the patio?
Asked by Elvira Gauthier 
7 months ago
Last Updated: May 23, 2024
Hey, I need some help! I recently had a patio installed, but the water isn’t draining properly – it’s pooling in one spot. Any ideas on how to fix this without having to rip up the whole patio? Thanks in advance!
Can you please reach out to the contractor who put in the patio? They made a mistake and we need them to come and fix it.
There seems to be a low spot in your slab. To fix it, you may need to remove some of the tiles.
Can you pass me the broom, please?
How about drilling some tiny holes using a drill? 🤷🏻
If you’re certain about where the water will end up and you’re okay with the appearance, this doesn’t seem like a solid idea.
The contractor made a mistake and tried to play it off like it wasn’t a big deal. As a result, it ended up leaking into our house.
Our regular contractor was not around. Once they returned, they took out all the tiles, redid the concrete, the membrane, and the flashing. It was quite costly to recover from the poor contractor.
I think the slope is not right or it may have sunk due to not being properly compacted. It needs to be fixed in my opinion.
You could use a 24″ to 36″ squeegee on a pole to push the water off the patio in about a minute. The correct way to solve this is to redo the patio with a slight slope away from the house. Personally, I’d go with the squeegee for now – it’s a small hassle but faster and cheaper.
>That’s the most cost-effective solution. The builder must have been aware of the dip when constructing it. The type of base beneath the tiles could also be a factor. It’s possible that it has settled slightly there. Another less expensive option would be to install a floor drain at the lowest point.
I totally agree with on this one. A water vacuum cleaner could be a great option since it doesn’t require a large volume of water. Otherwise, you’d have to remove the pavers and create a slope towards a drain. It’s always best to do the job right the first time to avoid extra work later on.
Better grading is needed for a permanent solution. Otherwise, just brush it off once the rain stops.
Ive the contractor a call regarding this matter.
The most cost-effective approach is to use a circular saw equipped with a rock cutting blade to create some lines indicating where the water is meant to drain.
Perhaps gutters could assist in minimizing or diverting water flow.
It seems like the slab wasn’t installed properly or it may have been uneven.
One option could be to use a 4″ core drill in the middle with a drainage pipe under the slab, unless you prefer to have it removed and replaced.
If those look like brick pavers, fixing the drainage issue isn’t too bad.
Those are actually pavers
If it’s pavers, try lifting them up in that area and adding some sand. If it’s tile and you’re close to the edge, you can run a drain pipe underneath without needing to do too much demolition.
Water naturally flows to the lowest point, there’s not a lot you can do about it except adding a drain. If you have stamped concrete, you might have to pull up the entire patio. But if you have individual pavers, you can locate the lowest point and only remove enough to install a drain.
It seems like there may be a low spot in that corner, causing the whole area to raise slightly and the outer edge to drop. The deck should have been built with better drainage to prevent this. The person who installed it should have the right tools to fix it.
Contact the company that installed it – they should have checked this before charging you!
Check out permeated stone – it will drain into any French drain along the edges.
You can’t really fix it without pulling it up.
Yes, grab a floor squeegee. I find them quite handy in the garage after washing a car to help direct any remaining water towards the drain.
I might consider using a tool like this and simply setting it aside.
https://amzn.to/3Us3uOn
Depending on the severity of the uneven/low spot, you can try to scrape out some poly sand with a nail or screw to encourage drainage towards an edge.
Additional details are required. When was the patio installed? Are the paver blocks on sand or cemented on a concrete slab? If it’s a new paver patio, you might have options to have the contractor address the issue based on the contract terms and warranty.
If you’re dealing with pavers, a quick fix is to grab a screwdriver and remove some sand to create a drainage channel towards the patio’s edge.
Instead of removing everything, consider adding sand to create a crown that directs water away from the house. The area is already too low, leading to water pooling.
I think you misunderstood my suggestion. I propose creating a drainage channel by removing sand between the tiles, not underneath them. What you described involves lifting the tiles, adding sand underneath to level it out. My method is quick and simple. If it works, great! If not, your approach is indeed the accurate one, but much more labor-intensive. Mine is a cost-free and easy experiment that should do the trick. Yours is the more appropriate but time-consuming solution. Both have their merits if effective.
Here’s how I see it – if you’re going to invest the time into this, might as well do it correctly. Even creating a channel would require removing blocks, possibly even more than what’s needed to extend the channel all the way to the edge of the patio. This could lead to erosion and potential water issues in your basement. It’s important to remember that water always finds the easiest path downhill. Instead of risking water pooling on or under the patio, especially if it’s not a concrete slab with a low spot, it would be best to do it right. Take out the blocks, regrade the bed with a slight slope away from the house. This approach will provide better longevity and fewer maintenance concerns in the long run. Also, since the patio is at ground level, where will the water drain to?
It seems like there’s a dip there, which causes pooling. If you’re not willing to lift it, be prepared to sweep it when it pools.
Consider using a floor squeegee for this.
Just give the COMPANY a call
It would be a whole different story if you did it yourself – you mentioned you ‘hired’ a company to do this, so THEY should be the ones to fix it. THEY dropped the ball. It’s their responsibility to make it right, even if it’s inconvenient for you to deal with the repairs and not being able to use the patio. The sooner you get them started, the sooner it will be done – don’t accept delays or excuses like having to wait 6 weeks for them to come back. They can rearrange their schedule to prioritize fixing your issue – they’ve already been paid. If not, filing a BBB report might push them to make a stronger commitment.