French drain installation and drainage correction in Arlington, TX
Water Moves the House More Than Anything Else
One wet side and one dry side is how a slab gets pulled apart.
Soil under a North Texas foundation moves with moisture. Get the water off the property and a lot of movement stops on its own.
How drainage correction works
Get the Water Out of Here
On some properties this is the whole repair.
A French drain is a gravel-packed trench with perforated pipe that collects water in the soil and carries it away from the house. It is the right call when one elevation stays soggy for days after a storm.
Surface drains catch water where it pools on top. Downspout extensions get roof water past the foundation instead of dumping it at the corner. Regrading changes the direction the yard sends water in the first place.
Most jobs are a combination. We look at where the water comes from, where it stops, and where it can go, then we build the shortest honest path out.
Drainage correction warning signs
Signs You Have a Drainage Problem
- Water standing along the foundation a day or more after rain
- A side yard that stays muddy while the rest of the yard dries
- Downspouts dumping right at the corner of the slab
- Soil pulling away from the foundation in summer, swelling in spring
- Mulch or soil washing across the walk after every storm
- A crawl space that smells damp or holds water
Our drainage correction process
The Process
- 01
Follow the water
Where it lands, where it collects, and where the property will actually let it go.
- 02
Design the run
French drain, surface drains, downspout work, regrading, or the combination that fits the lot.
- 03
Trench and install
Pipe, gravel, fabric, and outlets set so the system drains by gravity and stays clean.
- 04
Restore the yard
Backfill, sod or rock, and cleanup so the yard looks like a yard again.
Drainage correction cost
What Drives the Cost
Linear footage, depth, what we have to dig through, and how far the outlet is from the problem. Rock and tree roots slow trenching down.
Compared to a pier line, drainage is usually the cheaper move. That is exactly why we check it before we recommend piers.
Drainage correction questions
Straight Answers
If your question is not here, call and ask. You get a person who has been under houses, not a script.
Will drainage alone fix my foundation?
If the house has already settled, no. Piers put it back. But if the movement is seasonal and the house has not dropped, correcting the water can stop the cycle. The elevation survey tells us which one you are dealing with.
Should I water my foundation in the summer?
Consistent moisture is what you want. The damage comes from swings. A soaker hose on a schedule during a dry stretch is cheap insurance in North Texas clay.
How long does a French drain last?
Years, when it is built with proper fabric, clean gravel, and a real outlet. Systems fail when they are built shallow, silt up, or drain to nowhere.
Can you tie in my gutters?
Yes. Getting roof water past the foundation is often the highest value piece of the whole job.
Related foundation repair services
What People Usually Read Next
- Mudjacking
Raising sunken concrete back to grade by filling the void underneath it.
- Crawl space repair
Support, moisture, and structure work under homes with a crawl space.
- Foundation inspection
An elevation survey and a straight answer about whether your house needs work right now.
Foundation evaluation in Arlington and North Texas
Get a Clearer Answer About Your Property
Call us and talk to a real person.
Tell us what you are seeing. Sometimes the right next step is not a repair.
Talk to us directly
(817) 940-9404Monday through Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Based in Arlington, working across Tarrant County and North Texas.
Have the address handy and a rough idea of what you are seeing. That is enough to get the visit on the schedule.