Drainage Options and Aftercare

Lateral drainage

Lateral drainage systems can be installed under existing turf. A typical drainage system consists of a lattice of lateral drains linked to a main drain.

If problems are severe lateral drainage may not be sufficient to remove all surface water. In this instance a secondary drainage technique is used in addition to the mains drainage.

There are two commonly recommended secondary drainage options, sand slits and grooves, in addition to gravel banding, which we can install.

Sand slitting

Sand slitting is a secondary drainage technique. The slits or trenches, 50-75mm wide and 200-300mm deep, are inserted at 1 - 2m spacing. They are back filled with 10mm pea gravel and then topped off with 50-75mm of free draining sand.

 

Sand Grooving

Sand grooving is a method of cutting narrow channels or 'grooves' and filling them with drainage sand. These slits are cut to various depths and back-filled.

Sand grooving has great benefits in reducing surface water between slit drains. It also re-opens existing drainage systems, connecting with the surface.

Machinery

Our equipment ranges from laser guided Mastenbroeck trenchers and AFT whiz wheels, cutting out trenches, which are immediately piped behind the trench being cut. Spoil from the trench is direct loaded onto the trailers from conveyors fitted on the trenchers.

Backfilling with porous aggregate with our purpose built gravel hoppers immediately behind the pipe ensures contamination is not a problem.

All plant and equipment are fitted with sports turf tyres to minimise disruption to the surface.

Post Installation

As with all aspects of our business we ensure that the post installation maintenance procedures are clarified to clients to give the drainage systems every chance of being successful long term.

This is where our vast expertise in the sportsground construction market comes to the fore. We see many instances where many thousands of pounds have been spent only for the lack of expertise in maintenance to render systems redundant within a few years. Before, during and after are all as important as one another if sports field drainage is too be successful.