- Totally get the hesitation with rain gardens. I tried one a couple years ago—looked like a swamp for the first season, but eventually filled in.
- Permeable pavers are cool, but yeah, not a cure-all.
- I’m always wondering if I should just dig a French drain and call it a day... but then, what if that’s overkill?
- Anyone else notice that every “easy” water fix turns into a weekend project that never ends?
I’m always wondering if I should just dig a French drain and call it a day... but then, what if that’s overkill?
Honestly, I’ve had the same debate with myself. French drains sound great until you start pricing them out and realize how much trenching is actually involved. Plus, if your yard isn’t sloped right, you’re just moving water from one spot to another. I tried the “easy” fixes too—diverting downspouts, grading soil away from the house—none of it is truly set-and-forget. Every “simple” fix seems to eat up way more time (and money) than you’d think. Sometimes I wonder if a combo of small changes beats going all-in on one big project.
Sometimes I wonder if a combo of small changes beats going all-in on one big project.
French drains are one of those things that *sound* like a silver bullet, but in reality, they can be a money pit if you’re not careful. I’ve had tenants call me in a panic over water pooling, and honestly, I’ve found that “combo of small changes” you mentioned usually gets you 80% of the way there. Redirecting downspouts, adding extensions, even just keeping gutters clear—those little things add up. I’d only go full French drain if you’ve got chronic swamp conditions and nothing else works. Otherwise, you’re just digging for the sake of it.
Couldn’t agree more about French drains not being the magic fix folks think. I’ve seen people drop thousands, only to realize their gutters were clogged the whole time. Had a job last spring—lady was ready to tear up her whole yard, but all she needed was a couple downspout extensions and some grading. Sometimes it’s the boring stuff that actually works. French drains have their place, but they’re not a cure-all, and they’re a pain to maintain if you don’t really need them.
Had a call last year during a flash flood—family’s basement was filling up fast. Turned out their sump pump wasn’t plugged in after some electrical work. Gutters were packed with leaves too. It’s wild how often it’s just the basics that get overlooked. I get why folks want to jump to big solutions, but honestly, checking pumps, clearing gutters, and making sure water flows away from the house does more than any fancy drain system most of the time. French drains are fine if you’ve got nowhere else for water to go, but they’re not a quick fix.
