The Problem: The rainy season arrives here in the greater Sacramento area, and you watch with frustration as your yard transforms into a swamp. Pooling water near your foundation, a soggy lawn that stays wet for days, and the growing threat of structural damage are not just inconveniences—they are serious property hazards.
Excess subsurface water can compromise the stability of your home’s foundation and make your beautiful yard unusable.
The Solution: You need a proven, professionally engineered drainage system designed to manage groundwater flow: a French Drain.
US Trenchless specializes in installing French Drain systems for Northern California homeowners worried about too much water on their lawns and the impact it can have on their homes. Call us today at 877-916-7473 to schedule a consultation.
French Drain Installation in Greater Sacramento
Protect your lawn and home foundation with professionally engineered French drains from US Trenchless. We are a California General Engineering Contractor (CSLB A-License #971065) specializing in underground utilities and drainage systems that are built to last.
Our focus is on subsurface hydraulics, soil stability, and long-term performance.
We proudly serve Sacramento, Elk Grove, Folsom, Roseville, Rocklin, Fair Oaks, Carmichael, and the surrounding areas.
What Is a French Drain?
A French drain is an expertly designed subsurface drainage trench that serves as an interceptor for groundwater. It is not merely a ditch; it is a meticulously constructed system comprising:
- Perforated Pipe: Placed at the lowest point of the trench to collect water.
- Drain Rock (Gravel): Surrounds the pipe, acting as a filtering medium and providing open space for water to easily flow down.
- Geo-Textile Fabric: Lines the trench walls and wraps the gravel, preventing fine soil particles (such as silt and clay) from entering the system and causing clogs.
The key to a successful French drain is correct grading, using proper materials, and routing the collected water to a safe and legal discharge point away from your property.
Types of French Drain Systems
While the core mechanics remain the same, French drains are engineered differently based on the source of the water problem:
- Perimeter or Footer Drains: These are installed immediately around the exterior foundation (or beneath the basement floor) to intercept groundwater before it contacts the foundation walls, preventing hydrostatic pressure buildup and basement seepage.
- Curtain Drains (Interceptor Drains): These are long trenches placed uphill from the area to be protected (often a yard or structure). They are designed to intercept and divert massive amounts of subsurface sheet water flow—like an underground curtain—away from the property.
- Surface Drains (Trench Drains): While not strictly a traditional deep French drain, many systems incorporate surface components, such as grate-covered trenches or catch basins, to collect heavy, rapid surface runoff (like patio or driveway pooling) before that water can infiltrate the soil.
Does My Yard Need a French Drain?
The need for a French drain extends beyond cosmetic concerns. Uncontrolled water migration poses direct threats to your most valuable asset: your home.
- Flooding in the Yard: Eliminates standing water, making your landscape usable and preventing mosquito breeding grounds.
- Foundation Protection: Redirects water away from the concrete slab or footings, mitigating hydrostatic pressure that can lead to cracking, shifting, and costly foundation repairs.
- Moisture Control: Reduces moisture buildup in crawlspaces or basements, preventing mold, mildew, and musty odors.
How Does a French Drain Work?
The process is a simple, effective narrative driven by gravity:
- Water Interception: As groundwater or surface runoff seeps down into the soil, it encounters the drain rock and geo-textile fabric-lined trench.
- Collection: The water easily filters through the rock, bypassing the dense natural soil, and is collected by the perforated pipe at the base of the trench.
- Redirection: Once inside the pipe, gravity takes over. The pipe is installed with a precise, slight slope—often invisible to the eye but critical for function—that directs the water rapidly downhill and away from the problematic area.
- Safe Discharge: The water is safely released at an approved point, such as a storm drain, a dry well, or a non-problematic area far from the structure.
Signs Your Northern California Yard Needs a French Drain:
Ignoring these warning signs can lead to exponential repair costs. If you observe any of the following, a professional evaluation is warranted:
- Your yard remains soggy long after a rainfall
- Water pooling near your home or patio
- Moisture in your crawlspace or basement
- Soil erosion or slope drainage issues
- Musty odor near foundation walls
Who Should I Hire to Install a French Drain?
French drains are sophisticated drainage and soil engineering systems. Choosing the wrong contractor risks costly, non-functional failures.
- Landscapers often focus on surface appearance and softscaping, not subsurface hydraulics, soil behavior, or long-term structural impact. Their solutions may only look good for a season before failing due to incorrect slope or materials.
- Most plumbers are trained for indoor, pressurized supply and drain systems—they are not exterior water management specialists.
As a General Engineering Contractor (A-License holder), US Trenchless, Inc. is licensed, bonded, and insured to design and construct water management systems that directly impact foundations, soil stability, and slope performance. Our expertise is in the earth itself.
What Sets Our Work Apart?
When you hire US Trenchless, Inc., you can expect:
- A French drain designed and installed to rigorous grading and drainage standards
- A design that prevents failures caused by clogging or incorrect slope
- Built to last for decades, using high-quality materials
- Clear fixed pricing proposals—no surprises
- Fully licensed, bonded, and insured General Engineering Contractor
- We offer convenient financing options
French Drain Installation: Our 6-Step Installation Process
Our process is meticulous, ensuring your system performs reliably for decades:
- Site Evaluation and Laser Level Survey: We begin with a precise survey to identify the source of the water problem and determine the exact slope and routing required to guarantee gravitational flow.
- Engineered Drainage Plan: We design a custom plan that considers soil type, water volume, discharge points, and foundation protection, ensuring compliance with all local grading and drainage standards.
- Trench Preparation: Trenches are carefully excavated to the precise depth and slope specified in the engineered plan.
- Pipe and Rock Placement: High-quality geo textile fabric is laid, the perforated pipe is installed, and the correct volume of clean drain rock is placed—all wrapped to prevent sediment intrusion.
- Backfill and Surface Restoration: The trench is closed, and the surface is restored, often including the replacement of sod or hardscaping materials.
- Final Flow Test and Warranty: A final test confirms the system’s function, followed by a clear warranty on our workmanship and materials.
French Drain FAQs
Here are some of the more common questions our customers ask about French drains:
How much water can a French drain hold?
A French drain is a flow-through system, not a storage tank. Its effectiveness is measured by its flow rate, meaning its capacity to collect water and immediately redirect it away. The pipe diameter and the surrounding volume of drain rock are engineered to handle the maximum anticipated water volume (even during heavy storms) and move it continuously to the discharge point.
How much does it cost to install a French drain in Northern California?
The cost is highly variable, which is why a site-specific evaluation is mandatory. Factors impacting the final price include:
- The total linear footage required
- The required depth and complexity of the excavation
- Soil type (rocky or dense clay soil increases labor cost)
- The necessary discharge solution (connection to a storm sewer or creating a new leach pit)
- Required surface restoration (concrete cutting, asphalt removal, etc.)
We provide clear, fixed pricing proposals based on the engineered plan.
How deep should a French drain be to work?
There is no standard answer. A functional French drain must be engineered to a depth that intercepts the specific water source causing the problem. This often means placing the drain deep enough to capture water before it reaches or penetrates the foundation of your home. The proper depth is determined by the subsurface laser level survey and the water table analysis.
Call Us to Install Your French Drain
Don’t wait for the next storm to test your home’s foundation. Protect your investment and property with a professionally installed French drain system built by US Trenchless. Call us at 877-916-7473 or request service online today for a free estimate. Serving homes and businesses in Sacramento and throughout Northern California.