What Homeowners Should Know About Concrete Patio Drainage

Published October 27th, 2025 by Concrete Solutions Of Central Florida

Water sits on patios in Orlando more often than it should. It doesn’t just look bad. It ruins furniture, stains concrete, and eats away at your foundation. Let water hang around, and you’ll be dealing with repairs sooner than you think. Drainage isn’t optional here. It’s the only way to keep your patio solid and your home protected.

Patio Slope Sets the Tone

Walk across a patio after a storm. Feel the soft spots underfoot? That’s water with nowhere to go. A flat slab traps moisture. Over time, the concrete shifts. Cracks open up. Edges sink. The fix starts with the right slope. Every concrete patio installation in Orlando needs a subtle grade: at least 1/8 inch per foot. That gentle angle keeps water moving. It doesn’t take much, but it makes all the difference.

Water moves away from the house, not toward it.
Soil stays firm. No more muddy patches or shifting pavers.
Furniture and grills stay dry. No rust stains or warped wood.
Fewer mosquitoes. No standing water for them to breed.
Foundation stays protected. No slow leaks or hidden erosion.

Miss the slope, and you’re stuck with constant cleanup. Puddles linger. Algae grows. The patio never really dries out. That’s not just annoying. It’s expensive. Repairs add up fast when water keeps finding its way back.

Standing Water Demands Real Solutions

Water that won’t drain is more than a nuisance. It’s a warning sign. Ignore it, and the problems multiply. Surface fixes can help. Adding a knockdown texture finish gives water a path to run off, and it looks sharp. But sometimes, the problem runs deeper. Old patios settle. Corners dip. Water finds the low spots and stays put.

That’s when it’s time to bring in the right tools. Our leveling services can lift sunken sections and restore the integrity of your patio. Retrofitting drainage channels cuts a path for water to escape. Perimeter drains pull water away from the slab and out to safer ground. These aren’t band-aids. They’re long-term fixes that keep your investment safe.

Channel drains along the edge catch runoff before it pools.
Trench systems move water underground, out of sight and out of mind.
Surface collectors grab water at the source and send it packing.
Permeable concrete lets water pass through, not over.

Each solution fits a different problem. The right choice depends on your yard, your patio, and how water moves across your property. But the goal stays the same: no more standing water, no more headaches.

Drainage Channels That Blend In

Drainage doesn’t have to look industrial. Modern systems blend right into your patio design. Linear drains run along the edge, almost invisible. Decorative grates add a touch of style. Integrated trench systems disappear beneath the surface. Even pool deck and patio designs can hide drainage in plain sight.

Linear drains, clean lines, easy to sweep, no trip hazards.
Decorative grates, match your patio’s look, not an eyesore.
Trench systems, handle big storms, stay out of view.
Surface collectors, tucked into corners, do the heavy lifting.
Permeable concrete, water disappears, patio stays dry.

These options don’t just move water. They protect landscaping, keep mulch in place, and stop erosion before it starts. A well-designed drainage system works quietly in the background, season after season. At Concrete Solutions of Central Florida, we know how to integrate these features so your patio looks great and functions even better.

French Drains Handle the Tough Jobs

Some patios need more than surface fixes. When water keeps coming back, it’s time to go underground. French drains do the heavy lifting. These systems run below the surface, collecting water and sending it far from your home. They work especially well with proper foundation footers. The drain and the footer team up: one keeps the slab stable, the other keeps it dry.

French drains don’t draw attention. No grates, no channels, just a dry patio and a foundation that stays solid. They’re built to last, handling Orlando’s heaviest downpours without missing a beat. For homeowners tired of patching the same problem, this is the fix that sticks. We’ve seen how a well-installed French drain can turn a troublesome patio into a worry-free outdoor space.

Drainage Mistakes That Cost You

Cut corners on drainage, and the problems show up fast. Here’s what goes wrong when the job isn’t done right:

Patio edges sink. Water erodes the soil, and the slab loses support.
Cracks spread. Moisture gets in, freezes, and forces the concrete apart.
Foundation trouble. Water seeps under the house, softening the ground.
Landscaping suffers. Plants drown, mulch washes away, roots rot.
Outdoor living takes a hit. No one wants to sit on a soggy patio.

These aren’t rare problems. They show up in every neighborhood. The fix is always the same: get the drainage right from the start, or pay for it later. Our team at Concrete Solutions of Central Florida is ready to help you avoid these costly mistakes with professional planning and installation.