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French Drain Installation in Peoria, IL
French drains for soggy yards, wet spots along foundations and water that runs across the lawn every time it rains. Built for Peoria clay, with a real outlet so the water actually leaves your yard.
What a French drain includes
- A sloped trench to a planned outlet
- Perforated pipe in clean gravel
- Fabric to keep clay out of the stone
- Outlet to daylight, a dry well or a basin
- Utilities marked first through JULIE
Short answer
What is a French drain, and do I need one?
A French drain is a gravel-filled trench with a perforated pipe that collects water from soggy ground and carries it somewhere lower. You need one when water sits in the same spot for days, runs across the yard during storms, or soaks the ground along your foundation, and simpler fixes like extending downspouts or regrading haven’t solved it.
Will a French drain work in clay soil? Yes, and clay is the main reason Peoria yards need them. Clay drains slowly, so water has to be collected and moved. The key is a trench that keeps falling toward the outlet and fabric that stops clay from clogging the stone.
How we build it
How a French drain is installed
- Find the water and the outlet. We watch where water collects and plan where it can go: a lower part of the yard, a dry well, a catch basin or the curb where allowed. No outlet, no French drain.
- Locate utilities. Lines are marked through JULIE (811) before digging.
- Dig the trench. Sloped steadily toward the outlet; a common minimum is about 1 percent, roughly 1/8 inch of drop per foot.
- Line and fill. Landscape fabric, a bed of clean stone, perforated pipe, then more stone.
- Wrap and cover. Fabric folded over the top, then soil and sod, or decorative stone if you want it visible.
- Test it. Run water through the system and check it flows out the outlet.
Options
French drain or something else?
| Problem | Usually the right fix |
|---|---|
| Water dumping from downspouts next to the house | Downspout extensions or buried downspout lines |
| Low spots where water ponds | Regrading and filling, sometimes a catch basin |
| Ground that stays soggy over a wide area | French drain |
| Water running across the yard from uphill | French drain or a swale to intercept it |
| Roof water you’d like to keep on site | Rain garden |
More on the whole range of fixes in drainage and grading and our guide to fixing drainage in clay soil.
Good to know
Rules and neighbors
- Water should never be sent onto a neighbor’s property. We plan the outlet so it doesn’t.
- In the City of Peoria, ask about any permit or right-of-way rules before outletting near the street. We check when we price the job.
- Peoria’s stormwater program lists credits for practices that manage runoff on site. See lowering your stormwater bill.
FAQ
French drain questions
How much does a French drain cost in Peoria?
It depends on length, depth, how far the water has to travel to an outlet, access for equipment and restoring the lawn. You get a written price after we look at the yard.
How long do French drains last?
Built with fabric and clean stone, they can work for many years. Drains that skip the fabric clog with clay much sooner.
Can a French drain fix a wet basement?
An exterior French drain can help by moving surface and shallow water away from the foundation. Water coming through the basement floor or walls usually needs a waterproofing contractor.
Can you put a French drain under a lawn?
Yes. Most are buried and covered with sod, so you never see them.
What areas do you serve?
Peoria and nearby towns. See service areas.
Related: Drainage and grading · Dry creek beds · Clay soil drainage guide
Soggy yard? Get a French drain estimate
Call or request a free written estimate. We will get back to you within [RESPONSE TIME].