Drain X Perts

01/22/2025

04/14/2024

Properly Install Drainage Systems That Last

So Many Drainage Contractors Who Do I Choose?
At Drain X Perts, we are a team of experienced drainage contractors committed to providing top-quality drainage services to our clients. We take pride in our work and always strive to exceed our clients' expectations. Since Yard Drainage is all we specialize in we are provided the opportunity to see many systems that do not work and can create severe damage to the home and landscape. Time and time again we are pulling cheap corrugated pipe and so called french Drains out of the ground and replacing them with our systems that last year after year moving the water away from your home and landscape and out to your Cities Main Drainage.

A well installed French Drain consist of digging a hole usually two to three time the diameter of the pipe you are using, the pipe is perforated which means holes are drilled in the pipe to allow for water flow. Next a 30 year w**d or more often referred to as a Geo textile fabric is installed at the bottom of the ditch and up the sides enough slack left over to be able to wrap the french drain after installation. Once the Fabric has been laid a thin layer of drainage gravel is laid at the bottom of the ditch approximately 2 inches. After the gravel is laid down the entire ditch, The Perforated SDR35 PVC pipe is Laid in the gravel with the holes facing down. It is very important that the pipe be covered in a drain sock to prevent the holes and the pipe from getting clogged. After the pipe has been laid with a slope of 1 inch every ten feet (when using the more common 4 inch drain Pipe) gravel can be laid to cover the entire pipe to the top. It is common practice to use larger rock near the surface so water runoff flows more freely with less restriction. The final installing process is to wrap the Geo Textile around the the French Drain and install rock garden or soil and grass on top to hide the drain.

There are times when French Drainage systems work and are a great option but many times french drains are not the answer and will cost a lot of money to replace and install with a proper system that works. This article is to help you get the facts you need before making such an important decision that affects your investment and your wallet.

Wrongly Installed French Drainage
This is and example of someone not using Geo Textile Fabric and placing the holes upwards without and sock to protect the holes and pipe from getting clogged.

Where French Drains Work

Pier and Beam Foundations
French Drains Make since when you are building a pier and beam foundation and will have limited access underneath Or if you have an existing Pier and beam and the ground under the home is lower than the Surrounding grade. At this Time it is necessary to Install the system to prevent water runoff from entering under your home and destroying your foundation.

Under Flower Beds
When installing a new Flowerbed drainage should always be considered. Improper drainage can lead to fungus such as Root rot and Leaf spot that will ultimately kill the plants. To eliminate the variable many homeowners and businesses install french drains under the beds to allow excess water a way out so as not to sit in the root ball. These Drainage systems work well and are recommended especially in soils with high clay content. If the clay content is too high it is also a good idea to remove some of the clay and add garden soil to help with aeration.

In areas Where Minimum Slope is Available
In some cases the grade around a home has minimum slope and in these cases a French Drain Makes since and can be beneficial the reason being that French Drains are able to be set at grade at the beginning of the system allowing it to follow the slope of the ground and allow a smooth surface for the water to flow.

Where French Drains Do Not Work

Clay Soils
Living In Texas we area very familiar with this type of soil most every home we visit here in the Houston and Surrounding areas are full of this type of soil. Clay has the lowest infiltration rate of all types of soil. Since French Drains rely on infiltration they do not perform well because they drain too slow and we know with the heavy downpours Here in Houston we need to move water quick and in a hurry.

Root Bound Soils
When a lot of trees are present there are a lot of feeder roots that branch out in search of water. Since French Drains always have water sitting at the bottom they are a perfect recipe for the tree roots. There are root barriers that can be used to protect the Drain System but can be very costly and only used in extreme circumstances where there are no other options. A better and more costly effective system would be and enclosed area drain with the use of catch basins to move the runoff.

In areas Where Slope is Available
If you have a Home in Houston and surrounding areas that sits on a normal floating foundation, have areas that water accumulates and stands around the foundation and other parts of the yard and the area in question is higher than the street or drainage ditch where the water needs to go. The best option is an Area Drainage System with catch basins

03/10/2023

Great review from Jamie... "I reached out to Jimmy at the beginning of this year after my neighbor recommended his company to install drainage in my backyard after I experienced flooding from heavy rains. Jimmy was wonderful to work with, answered all my questions, and was very communicative. His team was very clean and put everything back the way they found it. Jimmy was able to resolve several flooding problems I was having and I have not had any issues since. Additionally, I had him install sprinklers while we were already tearing up the yard. After they were done with installation, he took the time to help me identify each sprinkler zone, showed me how to use the system, and taught me how to manually adjust the sprinkler heads if needed. He was wonderful to work with and I would highly recommend him!"

"I reached out to Jimmy at the beginning of this year after my neighbor recommended his company to install drainage in my backyard after I experienced flooding from heavy rains. Jimmy was wonderful to work with, answered all my questions, and was very communicative. His team was very clean and put e...

12/03/2022

Great review from Laurence... "They did an awesome job!!! Its beyond my expectations! Thank you guys!"

"They did an awesome job!!! Its beyond my expectations! Thank you guys!"

12/01/2022

Great review from Timothy... "I discovered this company when I was searching the Internet for someone to address my backyard drainage issues. They were able to clean out the existing drains and come up with a solution to fix an area that was not draining properly. I was quoted a price and given a time estimate, both of which occurred without a hitch. Midway through the project, I even added on a second part to the project since things were going so well. I needed a long run along the house near my air conditioners and swimming pool equipment cleaned out and totally revamped after it was torn up during a recent full home generator placement. The entire area it was put back together better than it was even before the generator was installed. They also added on a small area of cement pavers for storing trash cans and other items behind the fence out of sight from the HOA. Overall, a really great job. Jimmy is always very quick to respond by text, email, or by phone. It was really a pleasure working with this company."

"I discovered this company when I was searching the Internet for someone to address my backyard drainage issues. They were able to clean out the existing drains and come up with a solution to fix an area that was not draining properly. I was quoted a price and given a time estimate, both of which oc...

10/03/2022

Here's a little behind-the-scenes look at the Manvel Bank culvert and traffic grade basin we got to install for our commercial clients. It's a lot of hard work and long days diggin' ditches (literally!) to get the right set-up installed so there's no water damage and build up to hassle with.

Our team at Drain Xperts has more than 25 years experience in the design and installation of landscape drainage systems. We look forward to hearing from you and are always looking for creative solutions to big water problems. Your yard should never be the cause of property damage or financial loss - and we can help make sure your investment is salvaged. 🌿

09/29/2022

Thank you for entrusting us with your yard, Patricia. We understand what a complete pain it can be when you have repeat flooding in your yard. Finding a solution to that problem means finding a contract company you can trust - and we're proud to have earned that trust with you and your family!!!! 🤩

09/26/2022

It may not look like anything right now, but this residential drainage install will yield incredible results once its healed up and healthy again!!!! Our team at Drain Xperts truly understands the burden of having a yard that isn't capable of draining itself - sometimes all we need is a professional to come provide some TLC.🌿

Our pro team at Drain Xperts will design and install a drainage system tailored to your residential or commercial landscape. We specialize in the following drainage systems: channel drains, area drains, and sump pumps.

We can't wait to work with you if your yard needs a little help!!! 🌳

09/22/2022

Thank you Mike for your awesome review!!!!

We are proud of our team of professionals at Drain Xperts and this is why! We ensure that your team will be show up on time, ready to work hard and efficiently, and will deliver what's promised. We are grateful to serve our community!

09/19/2022

Our name says it all, we're the Drain Xperts. 👨🏻‍🔧 A drainage system is only effective when all the aspects of a property are working together. When you call us, we'll assess the entire property to determine how each part of your lawn landscape drainage system can work together to enhance its value and function— not just to fix problems when they occur, but also as a preventative measure.

If you've been having drainage problems, we can help! Your whole home will thank you for it! 🏡