French Drains
Perforated pipe in washed stone and filter fabric that collects groundwater and moves it away from foundations, patios, and low yards.
40+
years in business
- Licensed & insured
- In business since 1985
- Free on-site estimates
- Village permits handled
Most of the Chicago suburbs sit on tight clay left behind by the last glaciation, and clay does not drain. Water that soaks in during a spring storm stays in the top foot of soil for days, which is why so many yards in DuPage and Cook counties hold standing water in the same spot every year.
A french drain is perforated pipe laid in washed stone and wrapped in filter fabric, running by gravity to a discharge point. Two details separate a drain that works for thirty years from one that silts up in three: filter fabric, and washed stone rather than pit-run gravel.
What's included
- Grade survey to find the true low point
- JULIE utility locate before digging
- Trench excavation and spoil haul-away
- Non-woven filter fabric lining the trench
- Perforated pipe bedded in washed stone
- Backfill, topsoil and sod restoration
How the job goes
- Walk the yard, shoot grades, set discharge
- Call JULIE and wait the required time
- Trench, fabric, stone, pipe, stone
- Backfill, restore surface, test with hose
French Drains jobs (2)
Catch basin
Chicago suburbs
4 photos
Foundation drainage
Chicago suburbs
French Drains questions
How much does a french drain cost?
Drains are priced by the linear foot of trench. Depth, heavy clay, and cutting through concrete push it up, as does restoring the sod afterward. We shoot grades before quoting.
Will a french drain fix my wet basement?
An exterior drain relieves the hydrostatic pressure that forces water through foundation cracks, and for most suburban homes on clay that is the fix. Specific cracks get sealed too.
Where does the water go?
To daylight at a lower point whenever the grade allows, otherwise a pop-up emitter, dry well or storm connection. Many villages prohibit tying yard drainage into the sanitary sewer.
Do french drains clog?
They clog when installed without filter fabric or bedded in dirt instead of washed stone. Clay silt migrates in and the drain quietly stops working.
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Related: Concrete Retaining Walls · Concrete Patio · Epoxy Basement Floors · Concrete Driveway. Updated 2026-09-06.
Free french drains estimate
Same-day callback on weekdays. On-site measurement, written price, permit filed.