French drain installation with a sloped trench, fabric, washed stone and perforated pipe that collects soggy yard water and carries it to a safe outlet.
A French drain is a trench with a pipe and clean stone that gives water an easy path across a yard. It is the classic answer to a soggy lawn, a low corner by the foundation or a slope that sends water toward the house. Clay soil in much of Middle Tennessee drains slowly, so water sits on the surface or runs along it to the nearest low spot. A properly sloped drain with a clear outlet gives that water a place to go before it reaches your foundation.
We walk the yard in dry weather and, when we can, after rain, mark the low spots and trace where water comes from and where it can leave. We call for utility marking, dig the trench with a steady slope, line it with fabric, lay perforated pipe on stone, cover with more stone and fold the fabric over the top. We finish with sod, soil or decorative stone. The outlet may be a pop-up emitter, a daylight pipe at a slope or a drain basin. We test the flow with a hose and show you the cleanouts. A sloped Nashville yard can send a stream of runoff along a fence line and toward the house after a long rain.
A steady fall and a clear outlet matter more than the pipe itself.
They keep soil out of the pipe so the drain keeps working.
Access points let the line be flushed if silt builds up.
Sod, soil or decorative stone covers the trench neatly.
Drag the handle to compare.
BeforeAfterA drain needs a steady slope and a place to send water.
We call before we dig and plan around lines.
They keep soil from clogging the pipe over time.
The pipe collects water along its length.
Sod, soil or stone covers the trench neatly.
We run water through the pipe before we leave.
Every topic has its own page with what to expect and how we approach it.
Comparison guideFrench Drain TypesHow interior, exterior footing, curtain and surface drains differ in where they collect water and where it goes.Learn more 
ResourceTennessee 811The free call-before-you-dig service that has underground utility lines marked before excavation starts.Learn more 
ResourceNDSA maker of catch basins, channel drains, grates, pipe fittings and other yard drainage products, now part of…Learn more Answer a few questions about where and when water shows up to see which solutions usually fit, from gutters and drains to crawl space work.
You tell us what you have seen, where and when, and we set a visit that fits your day.
We walk the outside and inside with a moisture meter, take photos, measure slopes and call for utility marking.
You review the cause, the options and a plain written scope with every line and the schedule before anything is ordered.
We handle permits, protect your property and prepare the work area, from the floor edge to the trench.
We install drains, pumps, liners or repairs, restore floors and lawns and test every system with water.
We walk the job with you, share a care guide and schedule a first checkup.
To a pop-up emitter, a daylight outlet on a slope or a drain basin, within local rules.
It depends on the slope and purpose. We plan depth on site.
Silt can clog a poorly built drain. Fabric, clean stone and cleanouts help.
It can help when yard water is part of the cause. We check inside and outside.
Sometimes. We explain what to ask your local office.
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Surface Drains and Catch BasinsSurface drains and catch basins that gather water in low spots and pipe it to an outlet, with…Explore Tell us about your property and we will call you back to set up a visit.
Or call (615) 357-7797 to talk now.
