PLANNING GUIDE ·
Where will the water go? A patio drainage guide for Windsor homeowners
Before choosing pavers for a new patio, walk the route from your back door to the yard after a rain or a thaw. A patio can look dry while the downspout beside it sends water across the only path to the gate. Spotting that route early gives you more room to adjust the layout.
Mark where water enters the space
Take photos of downspout outlets, window wells, low spots and the edge of the existing concrete. If you are adding a covered pergola, sketch where the new roof will shed water and where a gutter could discharge. Include the places where you pile shoveled snow so the designer can trace where it will melt.
Check the door, steps and side gate together
A patio extension has to meet the existing door and steps at sensible heights while giving surface water a path away from the house. Walk the route to the grill or garden gate and point out areas that already stay wet or icy. A low retaining wall or raised bed along the patio edge can change where water collects, so include those features in the same discussion.
Trace the route all the way to its outlet
Ask your designer to show the direction of flow on the concept plan, including what happens when water reaches the edge of the patio. Depending on the yard, a planted swale, a drain with a suitable outlet or a rain garden may fit. Colorado State University recommends checking soil drainage and planning where overflow will go before choosing a rain garden. Colorado State University rain garden and bioswale guide
Bring three things to your first walkthrough
- Photos or a short video taken after rain or snowmelt.
- A sketch of the new patio, roof and planting beds with the door and downspouts marked.
- A note about where puddles, ice or soggy soil show up and how long they linger.
Read the paver patio planning guide · See a covered patio concept plan