Do you need a french drain?
French drains are the right tool for a real subsurface or standing-water problem — but they're overkill for some issues and useless for others. Work through this before you spend the money.
Start with the cheap fixes
A surprising share of "drainage" problems are really a gutter and downspout problem: water sheeting off the roof and dumping at the foundation. Extending downspouts 6–10 feet, regrading the first few feet of soil to slope away from the house, or adding a simple swale can solve it for a fraction of a french drain's cost. Rule these out first.
A french drain is likely the right fix when…
- Water collects and lingers in the same low area after rain.
- Water is reaching a foundation, basement, or crawl space.
- A slope or retaining wall stays saturated, or hydrostatic pressure is pushing water through a wall.
- Surface fixes (gutters, grading) aren't enough because the water is coming up from below, not just off the roof.
It's a big, disruptive job — usually a pro's
A proper french drain means trenching, the right slope, filter fabric, gravel, and a real outlet — a big, disruptive project that's oftentimes best left to a pro with a team. Corner-cutting is expensive to undo: you don't want to be digging your french drain back up after the fact.
What to ask an installer
- Where exactly will the water go? (A drain with no real outlet just moves the puddle.)
- What slope will the pipe have, and how will you keep silt out (filter fabric, cleanout)?
- Interior footing drain or exterior yard drain — and why for my situation?
- Can you show me past local jobs and reviews?