Yard drainage in Athens and Limestone County
Most of Limestone County sits on red clay. Once a builder strips the topsoil and runs equipment over what is left, water does not soak in. It runs to the lowest spot and sits. If that spot is your side yard, your back corner or the edge of your slab, we can give it somewhere to go. Chris has moved a lot of water building ponds. A drain is the same idea in reverse.
from $1,500
Why new yards here hold water
Builders grade for the house, not the yard. Topsoil gets scraped off and sold, the clay underneath gets packed down by equipment, and sod goes on top of it. The first big storm shows you every low spot. Left alone it kills the grass, keeps the crawlspace damp and breeds mosquitoes.
What is included
- French drains
- Downspout extensions to a pop-up emitter or daylight
- Dry creek beds that look intentional
- Catch basins
- Regrading and swales
- Resodding the soggy spot once it is dry
How it goes
Walk it after a rain
We want to see the water, not guess. If it has not rained, we run a hose and watch where it goes. We check the downspouts, the grade at the foundation and where the neighbor's water comes from.
Pick the simplest fix that works
Often it is a downspout extension and a swale. Sometimes it is a French drain to the street. We tell you which and why, with a price, before we dig.
Build it to last
Perforated pipe in washed stone, wrapped in fabric, pitched the whole way, with a cleanout. Utilities located first. Sod or seed back over the trench so you cannot tell we were there.
Get a drainage and grading quote.
Common questions
How much does a French drain cost in North Alabama?
Most residential runs land between $1,500 and $6,000 depending on length, depth and where the water can exit. We quote a fixed price after we see it, not by the hour.
Will it work on red clay?
Yes, that is what we design for. Clay does not absorb water, so the drain has to carry it somewhere lower by gravity. We confirm the exit point before we dig.
Do I need a permit?
Not for drainage on your own lot in most of Limestone and Madison County. If the water has to cross an easement or tie into the street, we figure out who to ask before we start.
Often paired with
- Lawn care from $45 per visit
- Flower beds and planting from $450
- Backyard projects from $3,500
Send a photo and get a ballpark today.
You do not need to know what it is called. A picture and your town is enough.