French drains and yard drainage in Dallas–Fort Worth
Water standing in your yard for days after a storm is usually a clay-soil problem, and around Dallas that's most yards. Here's what fixes it, what it costs, and how to get it done.
Why DFW yards hold water
Dallas and its suburbs to the north and east sit on the Blackland Prairie, where the soil is heavy, expansive clay. When it's dry it shrinks and cracks, and water soaks in fast. Once it's wet, the clay swells shut and water barely moves through it. So after a real storm, water that can't run off the surface just sits. Read the full explanation →
What usually fixes it
| Problem | Usual fix |
|---|---|
| Water pools in one low spot | A short French drain or a catch basin piped to where water can drain |
| Water runs toward the house | Regrading so the ground slopes away, plus downspout extensions |
| A whole side yard or back yard stays soggy | A longer French drain run, sometimes with several catch basins |
| Gutters dump water right at the foundation | Downspouts piped underground to an outlet |
What it costs here
Local contractors quote French drains at around $60 per foot installed, with a 20-foot minimum. A typical 60-foot run with one catch basin comes to about $3,800. Fixing a single problem spot usually runs $2,000–$5,000, and whole-yard systems with regrading run higher. See the full cost guide →
Can you do it yourself?
Sometimes. A short drain in open ground is a weekend of hard digging. It gets harder when the trench crosses sprinkler lines or tree roots, or when there's nowhere legal for the water to go. When DIY works and when to hire →
Cities we cover
We connect homeowners with independent drainage contractors in Garland, Mesquite, Rowlett, Richardson and Plano.
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