Looking for French drain installation in Highlands Ranch or the south Denver metro? Elevate Landscape & Spas installs French drains and yard drainage that move water away from your foundation, patios and lawn. Much of the south metro sits on clay soil that holds water instead of letting it soak away, so a soggy yard rarely fixes itself.
This page explains when a French drain is the right fix (and when it isn’t), how a proper one is built, where the water goes, and what to expect from French drain installation with us.
Signs your yard needs drainage
We cover these warning signs in more detail in our guide to French drain warning signs.
When a French drain is the right fix, and when it isn’t
A French drain is built to collect water that is already in the ground, or that keeps pooling in a low spot, and carry it somewhere harmless. It is the right answer for wet low spots, saturated soil next to a foundation, water behind a retaining wall, and runoff that keeps soaking a patio or pool deck base.
It isn’t always the answer. If your yard simply slopes toward the house, regrading it so water runs away may solve the problem on its own. If the water comes off the roof, extending or burying the downspouts can be the cheaper fix. On the site visit we look at where the water starts, where it collects and where it can go, and we tell you honestly which fix your yard needs. Sometimes it’s a mix of all three.
Our French drain installation process
A French drain that is built badly works for a season, then fills with silt and stops. Good French drain installation comes down to steps you never see once the yard is put back:
The build, step by step
Where the water goes
Moving water is only half the job. It has to end up somewhere it can’t cause a new problem. Depending on your lot, we use one of three outlets:
We never route water onto a neighbor’s property, and we keep outlets away from sidewalks and driveways where the water would refreeze in winter.
Drainage done with your patio, wall or pool
Most drainage problems we see show up next to something else: a retaining wall that’s starting to lean, a paver patio that keeps sinking, or a pool deck where splash water runs under the surface. Because we build walls, patios, decks and inground pools ourselves, the drainage is planned as part of the same job, by the same team.
That matters, because when one company builds the wall and another adds drainage later, the gaps between trades are where water gets in. We also install egress windows, where getting the drainage around the window well right is what keeps the basement dry.
Colorado clay and why water won’t drain
Much of Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Castle Rock and Parker sits on expansive clay. Clay soaks up water slowly, holds onto it, and swells as it gets wet. In a heavy storm or a fast spring melt the water can’t soak in quickly enough, so it runs across the surface or sits in the low spots. Next to a house, that saturated clay presses against the foundation and keeps it wet for weeks. Proper French drain installation gives that water a faster way out than the clay ever will.
What affects the cost of French drain installation
Every yard is different, so we price each French drain installation after seeing the site. These are the things that move the number most:
The quickest way to a real number is a visit: call (303) 718-4619 and we’ll come out, see where the water goes and talk through the options.
How we work as your French drain contractor
Why homeowners choose Elevate
We’re rated 5.0 on Google by the homeowners we’ve worked for, and what they mention most is how the job is run:
Frequently asked questions
What is a French drain?
A French drain is a trench lined with fabric, filled with washed drain rock and laid with a perforated pipe. Water in the soil finds the rock, enters the pipe and runs downhill to a safe outlet, so it stops collecting where it causes problems.
Do I need a French drain, or just better grading?
It depends on where the water comes from. If rain and snowmelt simply run toward the house, regrading the yard or extending downspouts can be the simpler fix. A French drain is the right tool when water sits in the soil, in low spots that never dry out, behind walls or along a patio. We tell you which one your yard actually needs on the site visit.
Where does the water from a French drain go?
To a safe outlet on your own property: daylighting to a lower part of the yard, a pop-up emitter in the lawn, or a dry well where there is nowhere lower to send it. We never route water onto a neighbor’s lot or across a walkway where it will freeze.
Can a French drain stop water getting into my basement?
It can help a lot when the water is coming from saturated soil and surface runoff against the foundation, including around window wells. It is not a replacement for an interior drainage or waterproofing system, and if that is what your basement needs, we will tell you.
Will a French drain clog?
Any drain can slowly silt up if it is built with the wrong materials. Lining the trench with fabric, using washed rock and wrapping the fabric over the top keeps soil out, and where a run is long we can add cleanouts so the pipe can be flushed.
Can you put a French drain behind a retaining wall or under a patio?
Yes, and that is where drainage matters most. A retaining wall needs drainage behind it to relieve water pressure, and a patio or pool deck needs water kept out of its base. Because we build walls, patios and pools ourselves, we plan the drainage as part of the same job.
Do I need a permit or HOA approval for a French drain?
Every French drain installation starts with a Colorado 811 utility locate, which we arrange. Permits depend on the project and your address, and in Highlands Ranch the HRCA asks for approval of exterior improvements, so some drainage work may need it. We check what applies on the site visit and prepare any paperwork.
How long does French drain installation take?
Most residential French drains take a day to a few days, depending on length, depth, access and how much has to be removed and put back, like sod, rock beds or pavers.
Can you install a French drain in fall or winter?
Fall is a good time, before the ground freezes and before spring snowmelt shows up the problem again. In deep winter we can assess the yard and plan the job so it is ready to go when the ground allows.
How much does a French drain cost?
It depends on the length and depth of the run, how hard the ground is to dig, what has to be removed and restored, and where the water needs to go. Every yard is different, so we give an exact quote after an on-site visit. Call (303) 718-4619 to set one up.
Book French drain installation in Highlands Ranch
Whether it’s a soggy lawn, water against the house, or a wall or patio that keeps moving, the first step is a visit. Call (303) 718-4619 and we’ll come out, find where the water is coming from and give you a clear written quote. We work across Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Lone Tree, Centennial, Parker and Castle Rock. See our full landscape construction services.
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