French Drain Installation

What This Service Involves

French drains are a proven way to move water off saturated Puget Sound lots before it reaches the house. We dig a sloped trench, bed perforated pipe in washed gravel wrapped with filter fabric, and daylight or connect the outlet where water can safely disperse. The system relieves soggy yards, protects foundations, and works alongside footing drains and sumps. Proper slope and outlet placement are what separate a lasting drain from one that clogs, and we get those details right. Work is done to code under our L&I license.

Benefits

Redirects groundwater away from foundations and low spots; Dries out soggy lawns and planting beds; Reduces hydrostatic pressure on basement walls; Uses filter fabric to resist silt clogging; Blends into the landscape once backfilled

Our Process

1) Identify water flow and set the drain route and outlet; 2) Excavate a trench sloped toward the discharge point; 3) Line the trench with fabric, add gravel, and lay perforated pipe; 4) Cover with gravel and soil or sod, then verify flow to the outlet

What Affects the Cost

Length and depth of the trench; Soil conditions and digging difficulty; Pipe size and quality of filter fabric and gravel; Outlet distance and whether a pop-up or dry well is needed; Restoration of lawn, hardscape, or plantings

Best Time of Year

Late summer through early fall offers firmer soil for trenching, letting the drain be finished before winter runoff peaks.