When you take a glance out your window after a storm, do you spot soggy, wet, and muddy areas that hang around for days — no matter what you do to get rid of them? You could have major yard drainage problems.
The extreme weather changes in Chicago can make managing excess water on your lawn a real pain. To keep your lawn in top shape, you might need the help of yard drainage experts.
Our drainage professionals at Ware Landscaping help home and business owners throughout Chicagoland with lawn drainage issues — and we can help you, too.
Does your Chicago property have drainage problems?
When you look out at your lawn, you don’t want to find stagnant water. It’s unattractive and keeps you from enjoying your outdoor space.
An unsightly lawn isn’t the only disadvantage to drainage problems. It also leads to several other issues:
Constantly tracking mud into your house because your lawn is always soaked
A slipping hazard caused by the excess water freezing during the winter
Swarms of mosquitoes and other bugs due to puddles in the summer
Deterioration of your house’s foundation from too much water
Mold and dampness inside the house
Having a yard full of stagnant water is a real nuisance. When you think about all the other issues it causes, you’ll want to do something about it right away.
Our Chicago yard drainage services
Chicago residents recognize Ware Landscaping as a family-run company that treats our clients as well as our own families. We provide a variety of lawn drainage services in Chicago, including:
French drains: A French drain is a type of underground piping system that moves any surplus water away from your property, protecting against soil erosion, promoting the stability of your vegetation, and safeguarding against water damage to your foundation.
Gutters and sump pumps: A sump pump is placed in the basement of your home or business to take stormwater from the gutters and downspouts and keep it from saturating the ground. Once the pump takes in the water, it relocates it to another area.
Dry wells: Dry wells are underground basins that absorb and release any extra water through rock and gravel that is set up around the basin.
Channel drains: Channel drains are typically set in paved areas like driveways, walkways, and near in-ground swimming pools to keep water from pooling on the surface.
We also offer regular maintenance for your yard drains and gutters to ensure your outdoor drainage system runs smoothly throughout the year.
Yard drainage installation process
The installation of a drainage system at your home or business is something we take very seriously. We keep track of all the details and ensure the project gets completed on time.
Here’s what you can expect from our process when we install a French drain:
Free evaluation. We offer a complimentary assessment in order to find the origin of your drainage issue. Often, there are a few factors at play and our experts are trained to identify all of the causes of improper drainage.
Installation preparation. We plan ahead for installation by digging a trench for your underground water removal system. When selecting the spot for the trench, we consider the distance from your home or building and the location of hardscaping if you have any.
Laying pipes and adding gravel. We fit the trench with a cutting-edge system composed of gravel, piping, and a protective covering. We also place catch basins to ensure that the system can handle any amount of rain or snowfall.
Re-grading and finishing touches. We replace the soil and lay down fresh sod in the areas that have been refurbished. When we’re finished, your yard will look brand new.
We guarantee our work for ten years without any questions asked. If you experience standing water on your property during that period, our Chicago landscaping and yard drainage specialists will address the issue without charging you.
Should you fix your yard drainage problem yourself?
It’s possible to find step-by-step guides for almost any project online, including installing yard drains. However, a DIY tutorial you found on YouTube does not guarantee success if you attempt it on your own. We’ve heard from customers who have tried to install their own drains — and faced significant issues.
Some of the biggest problems with installing your own drain are:
Grading and downward water flow. Your yard might seem to have an appropriate downward slope, however, it’s nearly impossible to tell without measuring. If you don’t grade properly, water may not drain and installing pipes could result in an unlevel surface that requires a professional to fix.
Power lines. If you run into power lines on your property while trying to install a drain, you may end up damaging them, which could cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair. You could also get electrocuted if you’re not careful.
Poorly built drain. When constructing an exterior drain, it’s essential to choose the correct gravel and piping, to correctly and firmly line the trench, and to cover the drain using the right type of soil. Unless you can do all these tasks correctly yourself, it’s recommended they be done by Chicago yard drainage experts.
FAQs
How do I fix bad drainage in my yard?
You could fix bad drainage by extending your downspouts, removing any large rocks that obstruct water flow, watering your lawn less often, or several other methods. If your yard drainage problem is serious, however, these DIY solutions won’t be much help.
To get at the root of your problem and truly eliminate excess water in your yard, you should contact professional yard drainage contractors.
How do you drain water from your yard to the street?
To drain excess water from your lawn, you need some type of yard drainage system. It could involve a gravel-filled trench running from a low spot in your yard to an exit point, known as a French drain. You could also install catch basins underneath your downspouts and then make a route for the water to follow away from your yard.
Our Chicago yard drainage experts can help you deal with excess water on your lawn. We’ll come up with a solution tailored to your property that eliminates flooding in your yard.
Does gravel help with drainage?
Gravel can be a huge help with yard drainage problems. A two to three-inch gravel layer can deter water buildup, and it can be used to help direct the flow of water in your yard. Gravel is also eco-friendly and can be used in a decorative way for flower beds or pathways.
How do you deal with poor drainage in your backyard?
To deal with poor drainage in your backyard, add dirt to low spots, extend your downspouts, and aerate the grass. You can also dig a creek bed or swale to guide water away or build a rain garden to absorb excess water.
How do I know if I have a drainage problem in my yard?
You likely have a drainage problem if you notice large puddles, soggy spots, overgrown grass patches, soil erosion like divots or fissures, or water pooling under your downspouts.
How do I stop water from draining into my yard?
To stop water from draining into your yard, you can redirect it by creating a swale, installing a French drain, or adding a catch basin. You can also use splash blocks or extend your downspouts to guide water away from your yard.
Who deals with drainage problems?
A drainage expert or service like Ware Landscaping is the best person to handle drainage problems, especially when dealing with sewer pipes or septic tanks. Plumbers may not have the right skills for these issues, so a drainage specialist is needed to fix the problem and safely manage waste.
Contact Ware Landscaping for your Chicago outdoor drain
At Ware Landscaping, we value every client we work with. We treat all our clients like family and it shows in our detailed workmanship and constant communication with you during the installation process. Stop fretting over your waterlogged lawn and call us at 630-557-8170.
Our landscaping and yard drainage specialists in Chicago will give you a no-cost evaluation of your yard’s water drainage issue.
“I contacted Mike at Ware Landscaping for help with fixing my flooded backyard and garage. Mike gave me an honest assessment of my situation and recommended the right system to fix my problems (a lot of issues). Ware Landscaping installed drainage, underground downspouts, underground sump pump lines, driveway drains and surface drains in the yard to fix all my problems.. The team was very professional and always asked for my approval on work being done before it was completed. They did a great job and we are very pleased!”
Jim Kristof
I recommend him without any hesitation.
“We had a water problem in our basement that Mike Ware completely eliminated by removing both our sump pump water and downspout water away from the home. He was professional and highly motivated to solve the problem and do it the right way. I always felt like a priority and that my project mattered. I recommend him without any hesitation.”
Michael Swider
FANTASTIC JOB!!!
Ware Landscaping did a FANTASTIC JOB!!! I needed my entire backyard regraded and they filled it in with more than 2 truck loads, installed a French drain and put new beautiful green sod on top. They also power washed and reset my front retaining wall. Communication from the beginning was always very good. We always knew when they were coming out. The project was completed on time as well. They also called on their own a month after the project to check on the sod and were willing to replace some spots due to the June heat wave. Would recommend Ware Landscaping to all!!!”
Dan Malloy
The entire crew were incredible, so friendly, knowledgeable, and paid attention to every detail.
“Mike, Greg and the rest of the crew made our back yard dream a reality with a drainage system to remove the stream that flowed through the middle of the yard, which flooded every rainstorm and stuck around for weeks. To complete the look in came a perfectly designed beautiful hardscape patio that we can’t wait to use this summer. The entire crew were incredible, so friendly, knowledgeable, and paid attention to every detail. Highly recommend!”
Katie Jankowski
The crew was fast, friendly, and tidy.
“We had a wooden deck for a front porch that was starting to age. When we removed it we saw that there was a concrete slab underneath it that was pitched toward our house, creating an issue with standing water up against our foundation. We had Mike come by to advise us on the best solution, and he suggested permeable pavers. We were able to come up with a custom design with him that day. The crew was fast, friendly, and tidy. I’m sure they do much bigger jobs than our little patio, but this project made a huge difference for our home.
