What we can help with
- French drain installation: a gravel-and-pipe trench that collects water moving through the soil and carries it to a safe outlet
- Yard drainage: standing water, soggy lawns and water flowing toward the house
- Buried downspouts: moving roof water away from the foundation underground instead of dumping it at the corner of the house
- What a french drain costs: published national ranges and what actually drives the price
How it works
- Call or send the form. Tell us where the water collects and when it’s worst.
- We try to match you. If an independent drainage professional who serves the Detroit area is available for your job, we may share your details with them and they may contact you.
- You get a straight answer. Any pricing and any plan come from the professional after they’ve looked at your yard - never from us.
Why Detroit yards hold water
Detroit was built on a low-lying glacial lakeplain. Wayne State University’s urban geology research describes the area’s native soil as originally somewhat poorly drained, clay-rich glacial sediment - and documents human-made fill across the city, including construction and demolition debris, so what’s under any given yard varies. Where clay-rich soil is present, water moves through it slowly, so rain and snowmelt sit near the surface instead of soaking in.
And the roof matters more than most people think: the USGS calculates that one inch of rain drops roughly 600 gallons of water for every 1,000 square feet of roof. If that water lands at the corner of the house, the yard and the foundation share it.
When a french drain is the right tool - and when it isn’t
Good fit: water moving through the soil toward the house, a section of yard that stays soggy long after rain, or water pooling along a foundation or driveway edge.
Probably a different fix: a yard that slopes the wrong way (regrading may be the answer), water only at a downspout during heavy rain (a buried downspout extension may be enough), or active water inside the basement (that may call for an interior drain and sump system, which is a different job).
The professional figures out which one your yard needs when they see it. Our cost guide explains what drives pricing either way.
Who we are
We are a referral service operated by Bordman, LLC - not a drainage contractor. We may share your request with local drainage professionals, who may contact you directly, and we may be paid for referrals. What we publish is sourced information about how drainage work is priced and what to ask before you hire someone.
Areas we serve
We take requests from Detroit, Highland Park, Hamtramck, Grosse Pointe, Dearborn, Redford, Livonia, Warren, Royal Oak, Southfield and nearby Wayne and Oakland County communities. See the full service area →