How to stop your patio flooding
Why Your Patio Floods (and how to fix it) – Cornwall Edition
Patio flooding is really common here in Cornwall , especially in older gardens or areas with clay-heavy soil, but it’s not something you just have to put up with.
Here are some of the most likely reasons your patio keeps filling up with water.
1. The Patio Isn’t Sloped Properly
A patio should have a slight fall so water runs away from your house. It doesn’t have to be dramatic, just enough for rain to drain off instead of settling. Overtime in older Cornish properties the patios may have shifted, sunk or weren’t sloped right to begin with causing drainage issues.
Fix: Re-levelling the patio or adding a small drainage channel can sort it quickly.
2. Blocked or Missing Drainage
If your patio doesn’t have any drainage channels at the edges, or if the ones you do have are blocked with mud, moss or leaves, water has no escape route. It’ll just sit there until it evaporates… which in Cornish weather might take a while.
Fix: Clear out ACO drains, gutters and channels. If you don’t have any, installing a simple run of ACOs usually makes a huge difference.
3. Clay or Compacted Soil Underneath
A lot of Cornish gardens have clay soil. It drains slowly, and when it gets compacted under a patio, the water just can’t go anywhere. The result? Flooding even after light rain.
Fix: Installing a soakaway nearby or adding permeable sub-base materials under the patio handles the excess water.
4. Water Running Toward the Patio
Sometimes the patio isn’t the actual problem. The surrounding ground might be sloping toward it, so all the water from the lawn or driveway ends up dumping itself onto the slabs.
Fix: Re-grading, adding a small retaining edge or installing a channel drain helps redirect the flow.
5. Old Patios That Have Sunk
Over time, patios settle, slabs move, and dips form. Those dips become perfect little water-holding bowls that flood every time it rains.
Fix: Lifting and relaying the affected area usually sorts it.
When It Keeps Flooding No Matter What
Patio drainage can be simple… or a bit of a puzzle. Every garden in Cornwall is different, and the mix of clay soil, coastal weather and uneven ground can make DIY fixes hit-and-miss. If the problem keeps coming back, it’s usually easier (and cheaper long-term) to get proper drainage installed.
Need Patio Drainage Help in Cornwall?
We repair flooded patios and install ACO drains, soakaways, channel drains and full patio drainage systems across Cornwall. If your patio keeps filling with water, we can fix it properly so it drains the way it should.
Get a free quote or site visit today – just drop us a message.
cornwalloutdoorsolutions@gmail.com
01872 306736