Yard Drainage
Yard Drainage Company Serving Kerrville, TX
Surface drains, catch basins, swales, and grading — the right fix for your specific water problem.
The Right Diagnosis First
The Right Solution Depends on the Problem
Yard drainage isn't one fix — it's a category of fixes. The wrong solution doesn't just waste money; it can make the problem worse. A French drain in the wrong location redirects water into a new problem area. A catch basin installed on a slope without proper outlets becomes a flood zone.
The assessment starts by separating surface runoff from subsurface seepage and checking where collected water could discharge. That keeps the recommendation focused on the actual water path instead of a preferred product.
Common mistake: Homeowners often call for a French drain when the actual problem is improper grade or a downspout discharging beside the foundation. A simpler surface correction may be more appropriate.
Surface Solutions
Surface Drainage Options
When water is pooling above ground, the installation plan may use one or more of these options:
Catch Basins
Grated inlets installed at low points in your yard that collect surface water and route it through underground pipe to a safe discharge location. Best for flat zones where water consistently pools.
Trench Drains
Long linear collection channels installed across driveways, patios, or hardscaped areas. Effective where a large impervious surface is shedding water across a single path.
Area Drains
Single-point collection in flat lawn zones. Less infrastructure than a catch basin, effective for moderate problem areas where water accumulates but doesn't flow.
Swales
Graded channels that move water without buried infrastructure. A well-cut swale on a Hill Country lot can solve significant drainage problems with minimal cost — and blends into the landscape naturally.
Stop guessing. Get a real diagnosis.
Free property walk-through. We map water flow, check grade, identify problem points, and give you options with real pricing.
Sometimes the Cheapest Fix Is the Best Fix
Regrading and Soil Work
Sometimes the most direct fix is reshaping a limited area so water moves away from the home and toward a suitable outlet. Soil settlement, landscaping, and erosion can all create low spots or reverse the intended grade over time.
When grade reversal is the problem, regrading can restore positive drainage without adding unnecessary underground pipe. The contractor can combine grading with inlets or buried piping when the yard lacks a continuous surface path.
Grade matters more than most homeowners realize. Ground sloping toward the house can repeatedly direct roof and yard runoff to the foundation edge. The site visit checks whether a practical correction is available.
Common Problems We Solve
Yard Drainage Problems in Kerr County
These common symptoms help narrow the assessment, but the final recommendation depends on what is feeding the wet area and where the water can go:
- Standing water 24+ hours after rain — usually a low point, catch basin or French drain needed
- Soggy areas in otherwise sloped yards — often subsurface seepage, French drain solution
- Runoff from neighboring uphill properties crossing your yard — interceptor drain or swale
- Erosion channels cutting through yard during rain — swale or diversion channel
- Water near foundation walls — usually downspout extensions + regrading
- Mosquito breeding zones from persistent standing water — catch basin or French drain
- Wet spots that damage lawn regardless of irrigation schedule — subsurface French drain
What to Expect
What a Free Drainage Assessment Looks Like
The installation contractor walks the affected area before recommending a scope. The review typically includes:
- Map water flow patterns and identify low collection points
- Check existing grade at the foundation and throughout the yard
- Examine downspout discharge locations and distances from the house
- Look for existing drains, culverts, or previous drainage work
- Assess soil type, caliche depth, and absorption capacity
- Review neighboring lot drainage that may be affecting your property
You receive a written recommendation and price from the installation contractor before deciding whether to move forward.
Ready to stop watching your yard flood?
Start with an on-site look at the slope, soil, runoff source, and possible outlet.