Thinking about a new patio, driveway, pool, or home addition next spring? The smartest first step, before you pick pavers or paint colors, is to confirm how your property will handle the extra rainwater. Many townships require proof that you can manage runoff from new impervious surfaces on-site. That proof usually starts with a stormwater percolation (infiltration) test.
Fall is the ideal time to get it done. Here’s why and how to move from idea to permit without losing your spring build window.
Why you shouldn’t wait
Permits take time. Most municipalities need stamped test results, a simple drainage design (dry well, seepage bed, infiltration trench, or similar), and a review cycle before they’ll issue building permits.
Tests can also be delayed by frozen ground or saturated winter soils. Fall typically gives workable soil moisture, faster results, and fewer weather holds.
What counts as “impervious surface”
Think beyond concrete. Municipalities typically include pavers, asphalt, rooftops, additions, walkways, even some compacted gravel in the total. If water can’t soak through it, it probably counts toward your limit.
What a stormwater perc (infiltration) test tells us
A stormwater perc test measures how quickly your soil can absorb and disperse water. We use that rate, along with your project’s added runoff. to size the solution that keeps water out of basements, off neighbors’ yards, and away from the street system.
The payoff
Starting now means you’ll head into winter with testing complete, design approved, and permits in motion—so when the weather breaks, you can build instead of waiting on paperwork. You’ll also end up with a stormwater system that protects your home, lawn, and neighbors for years to come.
Ready to stay on schedule?
Schedule you perc testing this week! We’ll handle everything from testing and design to permits and installation, so your spring patio or addition starts on time and ends with a yard that drains the way it should.
