Standing water in the yard, a soggy strip along the foundation, mulch washing across the walkway after every storm: these are drainage problems, and they do not fix themselves. Left alone, they kill grass, rot plant roots, invite mosquitoes, and can push water toward a crawl space or slab. We find where the water is coming from, where it wants to go, and build a system that gets it there.
We install French drains, connect downspouts to underground lines, add catch basins in low spots, and regrade areas so water flows the way it should. Every job starts with watching how the property actually drains, ideally during or right after a rain.
What is included
- Site evaluation to find the source of the water and the best outlet
- French drains with perforated pipe, filter fabric, and washed gravel
- Underground downspout extensions carried away from the foundation
- Catch basins and channel drains for low spots, patios, and driveways
- Regrading and swales to redirect surface water
- Dry creek beds where a visible drainage path fits the landscape
- Restoring turf, beds, and mulch over the finished work
How the job works
- 1Find the problem. We look at slope, downspouts, soil, and where water collects, and figure out a legal, practical outlet point.
- 2Design the fix. You get a plan and written quote that explains what we will install and why.
- 3Dig and install. Trenches are dug to the right fall, pipe and gravel set, basins placed, and everything tied to the outlet.
- 4Test and restore. We run water through the system to confirm flow, then backfill and restore the lawn or beds.
Why Columbia yards hold water
Much of the Columbia area sits on soil that does not drain the way homeowners expect. North and west of downtown, and in plenty of pockets elsewhere in Richland County, you hit dense red clay a few inches down. Clay absorbs water slowly, so a heavy afternoon thunderstorm runs across the surface and pools in the low spots. Even in sandier neighborhoods, a clay layer underneath can trap water just below the surface.
Midlands rainfall comes in bursts. Summer storms can drop an inch or more in under an hour, and hurricane season, from June through November, can bring several inches over a day or two. Many of our customers found out about their drainage problems during a tropical system like Helene in 2024, when yards that seemed fine suddenly had water against the house.
New construction adds to the problem. Builders often grade just enough to pass inspection, and settled backfill around the foundation can end up sloping toward the house instead of away. Gutters that dump right at the corner of a slab make it worse. A properly pitched French drain or downspout line fixes both.
Where the water goes matters. We route it to a safe outlet on your property, a street curb where allowed, or an existing drainage path, and never onto a neighbor's lot. Before digging, we have utilities marked through SC 811.
What affects the price
Every property is different, so we quote each job after seeing it. These are the things that move the number most:
- Linear feet of drain line and depth of the trench
- Number of downspouts, catch basins, or channel drains
- Distance to a workable outlet
- Soil conditions, roots, and rock that slow digging
- Access for equipment, and whether hand digging is needed
- How much lawn, bed, or hardscape has to be restored afterward
Quotes are free, and our customers regularly mention that we stick to the price we quote.
Timeline and warranty
Most residential drainage jobs take one to three days. Larger regrading projects or long drain runs can take longer, and we plan around the weather so we are not digging in saturated clay.
Ask about warranty coverage when we quote your project, and we will put the terms in writing.