A French drain is a gravel-filled trench with a perforated pipe that collects subsurface and surface water and carries it safely away from your home. Done right, it's the most reliable fix for a wet Central Texas yard.
When you need a French drain
- Standing water or boggy spots that linger days after rain
- Water sheeting toward the house or pooling at the foundation
- A soggy, spongy lawn that won't dry out
- Water seeping into a garage, patio, or low side yard
- Runoff from a neighbor's higher lot
How we build them to last
We dig to proper depth and slope, wrap perforated pipe in filter fabric and clean gravel so it won't silt up, and daylight or tie it into a surface drain system. We grade the trench for positive fall — the detail most DIY and cut-rate jobs get wrong.
Built for Central Texas clay
Austin's expansive clay soils barely percolate, so water sits on top and works against your slab. A correctly designed French drain (often paired with foundation drainage and regrading) is what actually keeps the yard — and the foundation — dry.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a French drain cost in Austin?
Cost depends on length, depth, soil and where the water discharges. We give a clear, fixed on-site quote before any work starts — no surprises.
How long does a French drain last?
A properly built drain with filter fabric and clean gravel lasts decades. The failures we get called to fix are almost always missing fabric or no slope.
Will it tear up my whole yard?
We dig a narrow trench and restore the surface. Most residential French drains are completed in a day or two.