A French drain is a gravel-and-pipe drainage system that captures groundwater and redirects it away from foundations, basements, driveways, and saturated areas of your property.
You probably need one if:
Trenching, more broadly, is the foundation of nearly every excavation job — utility lines, drainage runs, septic laterals, and irrigation.
Blake Excavation handles both with clean lines, accurate depth, and proper backfill.
Residential drainage: Yard runoff, foundation protection, driveway diversion
New construction: Footing drains, utility trenching, perimeter drainage
Commercial sites: Parking lot drainage, retaining wall weep systems
Slope and hillside work: Catching uphill water before it reaches structures
Septic and irrigation: Drain field laterals and clean utility runs
Mini Excavator: Efficient, controlled trenching in tight residential spaces
Trencher Attachment: Narrow, consistent trenches for utility and drain pipe
Gravel Spreader / Bucket: Clean, even gravel base around perforated pipe
Laser Level: Proper slope for drainage flow
Perforated Pipe Installation Tools: Cutting, coupling, and end-cap work done correctly the first time
Most residential French drains run 18 to 24 inches deep, but foundation drains are often deeper — sometimes 3 to 6 feet. The right depth really depends on your soil, the water table, and what you're protecting.
A properly installed French drain — with quality filter fabric, the right gravel, and clean pipe — typically lasts 30 to 40 years. Cutting corners on fabric or gravel is what kills them early.
Most residential French drains don't require a permit, but utility trenching and any drainage that discharges to a public right-of-way or wetland often does. We'll let you know up front and help coordinate.
We use clean, washed drain rock — typically 3/4" to 1-1/2" — wrapped in filter fabric to keep silt out. Avoid pea gravel or anything with fines as it will clog the system overtime.
Yes, but downspouts ideally go in their own solid pipe to a separate discharge point. Mixing them with perforated French drain pipe can cause backups.
Whether you need a single trench dug or an entire lot graded and cleared, we bring the right machine and the right approach to every job.
Precision rough and finish grading that protects your property from drainage problems and prepares it for what's next.
Excavation-driven landscape prep — from sod removal to soil shaping — so your yard projects start on solid ground.
Trenching, tank excavation, and drain field digs done cleanly and to code, ready for your septic installer.
Engineered excavation and backfill for retaining walls that hold the line on slopes, terraces, and driveways.
