Outside water
Gutters, grade and window wells
Half of a wet basement starts in the yard.
A pump can move water, but it's easier to keep the water from getting there. We look at where the roof and the soil send rain, and fix what we can at the foundation.
What the work includes
Downspout extensions or buried lines that end away from the house
Soil built up and sloped away from the foundation
Window well covers, and wells that drain
Gutter ends and corners that spill at the wall
Splash blocks and swales where they help
What it doesn't include
Left out of this work
Roofs and new gutters
We fix how a gutter drains. A new roof or full gutter set is a job for a roofer.
Landscaping
We regrade for drainage. Planting and design are yours.
Your neighbor's water
We can show where it's coming from. Fixing it takes a conversation next door.
What changes the cost
What moves the number
We price each job from a written scope. These are the things that make one house cost more than another.
- 01
The slope of the yard
Moving a lot of soil costs more than adding a little.
- 02
How far the water has to go
A long buried line is a bigger job than an extension.
- 03
What's in the way
Patios, walks, trees and utilities.
- 04
Depth of the window wells
Deep wells need drains and covers that fit.
How it goes
From the first visit to the last
- 01
Walk the outside
We follow every downspout and check the grade.
- 02
Plan
We mark what changes and where the water will go.
- 03
Dig and set
Lines, wells and soil, with the yard put back.
- 04
Test
We run a hose and watch where it goes.
Permits and rules
Who pulls the permit
Most grading and downspout work doesn't need a permit. Buried lines that cross a property line or tie into a public system can, and the city tells us. We check before we dig.
Questions
About this work
Can you just extend my downspouts?
Yes, and for many houses that's the whole fix. The report says when it isn't.
Will you disturb my landscaping?
Some. We keep sod and plants that can be saved and tell you what won't be.
Do window wells need drains?
Deep ones do. A well that fills with water pushes it at the window and the wall.
Water coming from outside?
Tell us what you're seeing and we'll book the visit.