Drainage
French Drain Installation
French drains — subsurface gravel-and-pipe systems that capture groundwater and move it away from the foundation and yard.
About Our French Drain Installation Service
A French drain is a subsurface drainage system: a trench of clean stone and perforated pipe that intercepts water moving through the soil and redirects it before it reaches the foundation, saturates a yard, or pools in a low spot. French drains are one of the most useful tools we have for moving water across a Connecticut property — they handle the groundwater that grading alone can't reach. We size the trench, choose the pipe and fabric, and plan the discharge so the drain actually relieves the water rather than just moving the problem.
Signs You May Need This
- A persistently soggy or soft area of the yard
- Water flowing toward the foundation across the lot
- A wet swale or low spot that never dries out
- Standing water after rain that drains slowly
What Causes It
- Groundwater moving through the soil toward a low point
- A slope or lot shape that funnels runoff toward the house
- Hardpan or tight soil that won't drain on its own
- Runoff from up-slope lots or driveways
How We Approach It
Trench & pipe
We cut a graded trench, line it with filter fabric, lay perforated pipe on a clean stone bed, and cover it — capturing water through the soil profile and moving it along.
Discharge planning
The drain needs somewhere to send water. We plan the outlet — a daylight discharge, a dry well, or a tie-in — so water actually leaves the property.
Integration
Where the water source is the foundation itself, the French drain ties into the footing or perimeter system so the whole lot drains together.
Things to Consider
A French drain is only as good as its grade and its outlet. A drain that dead-ends, sits flat, or discharges back toward the house doesn't solve the problem — it just relocates it. We plan the path, the slope, and the outlet before we dig so the finished system actually moves water where it needs to go.
Our Process
Map the water
We trace where water enters and where it needs to exit.
Design
Trench path, depth, pipe, stone, and outlet are planned to grade.
Install
The drain is trenched, piped, and tied to a clear discharge.
Restore
The trench is backfilled and the surface is left tidy.
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