01 · Drainage & French Drains
Drainage & French Drain Installation in East Tennessee
Soggy yard? We've seen it. We fix it for good.
Standing water, soft spots, water in the basement, mosquitoes by the front door: most yards in Blount and Knox have at least one of these. We diagnose what's actually happening underground, then build the right system to move the water somewhere it belongs.
Where the water sits tells us where it needs to go
The problem
Water doesn't disappear. It moves, or it sits.
The foothills get 52 inches of rain a year. Our soil is heavy clay over rock. When water can't drain down, it goes sideways: right under your foundation, into your crawlspace, or pooling in the same low spots every storm.
Most "drainage problems" are actually three different problems wearing a trench coat: surface water (rain that needs to leave the lawn), subsurface water (saturated soil that won't drain), and roof & downspout runoff (concentrated water dumping in the wrong place). Each one needs a different fix. Most contractors install the same french drain everywhere and hope.
If any of these sound familiar, you've got a drainage problem that's worth fixing now, before it becomes a foundation problem:
- Standing water in the same spot every time it rains
- Soft, mushy lawn weeks after the last storm
- Water marks or efflorescence on basement / crawlspace walls
- Mulch beds washing out, mosquitoes breeding nearby
- Downspouts dumping next to the foundation
- Bare patches where grass keeps drowning
02 · What we do
The right system for the actual water problem.
We install all of these, and combine them when the situation calls for it. Most jobs are two of these working together.
French drains
Perforated pipe in a gravel-wrapped trench, daylighted to a safe outlet. The workhorse for subsurface water. We size the gravel and the pipe to the actual water volume, not "12-inch trench, four-inch pipe, every job."
Surface regrading
The cheapest fix when it's the right one. We re-shape the lawn so water flows away from the house instead of toward it. Often the only thing needed for mild cases.
Catch basins & channel drains
Hard-surface drainage for driveways, patios, low spots that fill up like a kiddie pool. Stainless or polymer grates, sized for your peak storm flow.
Downspout extensions & pop-ups
The most-overlooked fix. We bury solid pipe from your gutters out to a pop-up emitter or daylight, so 1,200 gallons of roof water per storm doesn't end up next to your foundation.
Dry creek beds
When the right answer is to show the water moving instead of hiding it. Functional drainage that doubles as landscape feature: river rock, boulders, native plantings.
Sump pump & crawlspace
For the cases where water's already inside. Interior perimeter drain to a sump basin, pump, discharge line, handled with a licensed plumber on the electrical side when required.
03 · How it works
Four steps, start to finish.
The same way every job runs, whether it's a quick fix or a full build. No surprises between the steps.
Quote & Bid
We come look at the actual job and give you a real number.
Design & Scope
We confirm exactly what we're doing before anyone picks up a shovel.
The Work
We get it done, the way we said we would.
Quality Control
We don't leave until you're happy with it. Questions later? We're a call away.
04 · Pricing
Every yard is different.
Every quote is fixed.
Drainage is the service where "starting at $X" lies the most. A 30-foot french drain along a flat backyard and a 30-foot french drain across a slope into a daylight outlet are two completely different jobs. So we don't quote drainage online.
What we will do: come look at your property for free, tell you honestly whether you need a drain, a regrade, or just a downspout extension, and write you a fixed quote, not a "starts at, plus materials, plus disposal" estimate.
What affects your quote
- Linear feet of trench
- Soil & rock conditions
- Daylight vs. pump outlet
- Lawn restoration scope
- Hardscape cuts & patches
- Access & equipment
05 · Recent work
Drainage projects across Blount & Knox.
Photo · diagnosis 
Photo · install 
Photo · finished Drainage projects in Blount, Knox & Loudon County — and the towns between.
On the border or not on the list? Send your address — we'd rather decline a job than make a neighbor count themselves out. See service areas →
From the blog
More on this from our crew:
The Drainage Problems That Can Destroy an East TN Property
Most serious drainage problems start as minor annoyances. What East Tennessee homeowners should watch for, and when to call a pro.
Read
French Drain vs. Catch Basin vs. Surface Drain: Which Solution Is Right for Your Property?
French drain, catch basin, or surface drain? An East Tennessee guide to matching the right system to groundwater and surface runoff.
Read
7 Signs Your Retaining Wall Is Failing (And What to Do Before It Collapses)
Retaining walls rarely fail without warning. The 7 signs East Tennessee homeowners should watch for, and why most start with drainage.
ReadFAQ
Common questions.
- How much does a French drain cost in East Tennessee?
- Most drainage installs land between $1,000 and $5,000. Final pricing depends on linear feet, soil, and where the water can outlet. We quote a fixed scope after a free site walk.
- Do I need a French drain or surface drainage?
- It depends on whether the water sits below ground (saturated soil, soft spots) or runs across the surface (driveways, downspouts). We diagnose what is actually happening underground before recommending a system.
- Will drainage work fix water in my basement or crawlspace?
- Often, yes. We extend downspouts, regrade the surface, and install drains that move groundwater away from the foundation. We assess the source on site first.
- Do you offer free drainage estimates?
- Yes. We walk the site, find where the water sits and where it needs to go, and quote a fixed scope at no charge.
Free site walk · No pressure
Tell us where the water sits. We'll come look.
Drainage problems get worse, not better. The site walk is free, the quote is fixed, and we'll tell you honestly if it's a $400 regrade fix instead of a $4,000 drain install.
Two ways in
Pick the path that fits.
Path B · Project
Request a site walk
Path A · Maintenance
get on the schedule
Or email contact@lawngevitytn.com
Most drainage jobs touch one of these too.
Drainage rarely shows up alone. If you're already going to have a crew on site, here's what's worth bundling.