Drainage & Erosion Control
Protect your property from water damage with professional drainage solutions and erosion control systems.
Recognizing Drainage Problems
Water is essential for healthy landscapes, but too much water in the wrong places causes serious problems. Poor drainage damages your property, kills plants, and creates standing water that breeds mosquitoes. Many homeowners don't realize they have drainage issues until significant damage occurs. Understanding the warning signs helps you address problems before they become expensive disasters.
Standing water is the most obvious sign of drainage problems. If puddles remain in your yard for more than 24 hours after rain, water isn't draining properly. You might notice soggy areas that feel squishy underfoot or bare patches where grass won't grow due to excessive moisture. Water stains on your foundation, basement dampness, or settling around your home's perimeter all indicate water isn't being directed away from structures properly.
Erosion shows up as exposed soil, gullies, or channels carved by running water. You might see sediment washing onto driveways or into landscape beds. Tilting or cracked retaining walls suggest water is undermining their foundations. Plants that yellow and decline despite adequate care might be suffering from waterlogged roots. These problems won't fix themselves. Without intervention, drainage issues progressively worsen and cause increasing damage to your landscape and structures.
Professional Drainage Systems
Effective drainage requires understanding how water moves across your property and implementing solutions that redirect it safely. We design systems tailored to your specific site conditions, addressing both surface water and subsurface drainage issues.
French Drains and Subsurface Systems
French drains excel at managing subsurface water and preventing soggy soil conditions. These systems use perforated pipe surrounded by gravel to collect and channel water away from problem areas. We install French drains around foundations to prevent basement seepage, through wet areas to dry out soggy spots, and along property lines to intercept water flowing from neighboring properties. Proper installation with correct slope and quality materials ensures these systems function reliably for decades.
Surface Drainage and Channel Systems
Surface drainage handles water that flows across your property. We install catch basins in low areas where water collects, channel drains across driveways and walkways, and swales that direct water to appropriate discharge points. These systems capture water before it causes erosion or flooding. Strategic grading changes the slope of problem areas to promote better drainage naturally. Sometimes simple solutions like redirecting downspouts or regrading a section of lawn solve major drainage headaches.
Erosion Control Solutions
Erosion requires immediate attention before it worsens. We stabilize slopes with retaining walls, terracing, or specialized erosion control fabrics. Ground covers and deep-rooted plants hold soil in place while looking attractive. Rock-lined channels handle concentrated water flow without eroding. Proper erosion control often combines multiple techniques customized to your specific conditions. These solutions integrate beautifully with your existing landscape design while providing essential protection.
Dry Creek Beds and Rain Gardens
Functional drainage systems don't have to look industrial. Dry creek beds use attractive river rock and strategic plantings to create natural-looking features that channel water during heavy rain. Rain gardens combine beauty with function, creating planted depressions that collect and filter stormwater naturally. These solutions solve drainage problems while enhancing your landscape's appearance. They work particularly well when integrated with other hardscaping features and plantings.
How We Solve Drainage Problems
Effective drainage solutions start with proper assessment and planning. Our systematic approach ensures we address the root causes of your drainage issues:
- •Comprehensive Site Evaluation: We visit during or after rain when drainage problems are most visible. We identify where water accumulates, how it flows across your property, and where it needs to go. We check slopes, soil type, existing drainage infrastructure, and potential discharge points. This thorough assessment ensures we understand all factors affecting your drainage.
- •Custom Solution Design: Based on our evaluation, we design a drainage system that solves your specific problems. We consider both immediate issues and potential future problems. Our plans show all components, explain how the system works, and outline any necessary grading changes or structural additions like retaining walls.
- •Professional Installation: Our crew excavates trenches, installs pipes and drainage structures, and ensures proper slopes throughout the system. We use quality materials designed for underground applications that won't crush, clog, or deteriorate. Proper backfilling and compaction prevent settling and ensure long-term performance.
- •Landscape Restoration: After installing drainage systems, we restore disturbed areas to match your existing landscape. We replace sod, reseed areas, and ensure the finished result looks clean and professional. Good drainage systems should be largely invisible once installation is complete.
- •Testing and Verification: We test the system to ensure water flows correctly and discharge points function as designed. When possible, we conduct final inspections during rain to verify performance under actual conditions. We don't consider the job complete until we're confident your drainage problems are solved.
Many drainage solutions integrate with other improvements. When appropriate, we coordinate with other services like irrigation system installation to create comprehensive water management systems that both water your landscape efficiently and drain excess water effectively.