Standing water in a yard almost always starts at a roof. Before anyone digs a trench we work out how much water is actually arriving, from what area, and where it can go — because a dry well sized for a guess is a hole that fills up in year two.
French drains get washed three-quarter stone, perforated pipe in a fabric sock, and a minimum one percent fall. Downspouts go into solid pipe, not perforated, so the roof water is carried past the foundation rather than released next to it.
On the irrigation side we zone by sun exposure and plant type rather than by geometry, fit rain sensors as standard, and set controllers so that beds and turf aren't watered on the same schedule. Most systems we inherit are watering lawns at the rate a hydrangea wants.
What's included
- French drains in washed stone with sock-wrapped perforated pipe
- Dry wells sized to the roof area actually feeding them
- Catch basins, channel drains and downspout tie-ins in solid pipe
- Regrading to move surface water away from foundations
- Sprinkler systems zoned by sun and plant type, with rain sensors
- Backflow prevention, winterisation and spring start-ups
What it costs
| Work | Typical range |
|---|---|
| French drain, per linear foot | $38 – $68 |
| Dry well, installed | $1,400 – $3,400 |
| Downspout tie-in, each | $450 – $900 |
| Sprinkler zone, installed | $700 – $1,200 |
| Winterisation, per season | $85 – $150 |
Ranges are installed prices for work in our service area. Every estimate we issue is a fixed price for a defined scope, not a unit rate applied to a guess at quantities.
Related work
Next step
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No charge, no obligation, and you'll have a fixed price within four days of the visit.
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