Discovery call. Share your drainage headaches, home age, lot size, and goals. Mention basements, crawl spaces, patios, and problem areas.

On-site evaluation. A technician walks the site, checks slopes, notes soil types, and maps runoff from roofs, driveways, and neighboring lots.

Plan and estimate. You receive a diagram showing trench routes, depths, catch basins, pipe size, and discharge locations, along with a clear scope, timeline, and warranty.

Scheduling and locates. The contractor schedules Miss Dig utility markings and confirms access, material staging, and protection for plantings and hardscapes.

Installation day. Crews lay protective mats, excavate narrow trenches, install nonwoven fabric, add washed stone, set perforated pipe with consistent fall, and connect to daylight, a dry well, or a storm inlet where permitted.

Backfill and restore. Fabric wraps the stone, topsoil is placed, and sod or seed restores the lawn. Hardscapes are reset and cleaned.

Final walkthrough. You review performance expectations, maintenance, and seasonal tips.

How French drains near Macomb County are designed to work

Design begins with slope. A typical target is about one percent fall so gravity keeps water moving. Next is pipe selection. Many residential systems use perforated SDR or high-quality corrugated pipe with a filter sock where soils are fine. Washed angular stone creates void space for fast flow. Nonwoven fabric keeps silt out while allowing water in. Discharge is critical. Outlets should be frost-resistant, screened, and positioned where water will not return toward the house or neighbor lots.

Where French drains near Macomb County are most effective

They shine along foundation perimeters, at the base of steep lawns, behind retaining walls, under downspout lines, and across swales that stay muddy. They also pair well with gutter extensions, regrading, dry wells, daylight drains, and sump line reroutes. In some cases, interior drain tile is better for chronic basement leakage. A professional will compare options and explain tradeoffs so you can pick the right fix the first time.

Maintenance for French drains near Macomb County

Good drainage should be simple to own. Keep outlets clear of leaves and ice. Maintain a positive grade away from home. Avoid fine mulch over trenches that can migrate into stone. Aerate compacted turf nearby each spring. Every year or two, flush accessible lines and catch basins. If a section silts in after unusual construction or landscaping, it can be re-dug and refreshed without replacing the entire system.

What affects the cost of French drains near Macomb County

Pricing reflects length, depth, stone volume, pipe type, number of catch basins, and restoration needs. Access matters too. Fenced yards, tight gates, or delicate landscaping take extra care and time. A clear design with quantities lets you compare bids apples to apples. Value lives in performance. A low bid that shortcuts slope, fabric, or stone often costs more after the first big storm.