Yard drainage and landscaping in Houston
Houston rain arrives inches at a time. We find where the water goes, move it away from your foundation and patio, then finish the yard with beds, sod and lighting.
Quick answer: A French drain in Houston usually costs $25–$50 per linear foot installed, and a full yard drainage fix with gutter tie-ins, catch basins and regrading typically runs $3,000–$10,000. Water that stands near your slab for days after rain is worth fixing early: Houston’s clay swells when wet, and that movement cracks foundations, patios and driveways.
- Written, itemized priceScope, schedule and cost before you sign
- Permits in our nameDrawings, inspections and HOA approval handled
- Licensed trades, insuredTexas-licensed plumbing, electrical and HVAC
- 2-year written warrantyTransferable if you sell
What’s included
- Rain-day walk or video review of where water collects
- French drains, catch basins and channel drains
- Downspouts tied underground to daylight or the street
- Regrading and swales away from the house
- Planting beds, sod, edging and mulch
- Low-voltage landscape and path lighting
Drainage & landscaping projects we build
French drains
A gravel trench with perforated pipe that collects water and carries it away.
Gutter and downspout tie-ins
Roof water piped underground instead of dumped beside your foundation.
Regrading and swales
Soil reshaped so the yard drains away from the house and toward a safe outlet.
Beds, sod and lighting
Native and adapted plants that handle heat and wet clay, with warm path and uplighting.
Signs your yard needs drainage
- Puddles that last more than a day after rain
- Water pooling against the slab, patio or garage door
- Soggy lawn, dead grass or moss in the same spot every year
- Mulch and soil washing onto walks and driveways
- Cracks in the patio or doors that stick after wet weeks
Where the water can go
Water has to end somewhere legal and lower: the street curb, a drainage easement or a ditch. You can’t send it onto a neighbor’s lot. We map the outlet first, because a drain with nowhere to go is just a buried pipe.
Design ideas for your drainage project
Design concepts showing the kind of work we build. Photos of finished Houston jobs are added as projects complete.
Drainage & landscaping cost in Houston
Typical ranges for full-service work in Greater Houston, reviewed every year.
| Project | What it usually includes | Typical Houston range |
|---|---|---|
| French drain | Trench, fabric, gravel, perforated pipe, outlet | $25–$50 per linear foot |
| Full drainage fix | Gutter tie-ins, catch basins, regrading | $3,000–$10,000 |
| Landscape install | Beds, plants, sod, edging and lighting | $8,000–$40,000 |
Ranges are for full-service work in Greater Houston, including design, permits, licensed trades and cleanup. They are based on 2025–2026 Houston data from Remodeling’s Cost vs Value report, Angi and Block Renovation, plus our own pricing. Your written estimate is itemized for your home.
Estimate your drainage project
Pick the closest match and set the size. Then get your exact number, free.
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Typical Houston range
$3k – $10k
Drainage & landscaping · Full drainage fix. Based on 2025–2026 Houston data and our own pricing. Your home decides the real number.
Free visit · written, itemized price · no pressure
Permits
Most yard drainage work on a single-family lot doesn’t need a city building permit, but work in the public right-of-way, a new curb outlet or connection to a city storm sewer can, and some HOAs review drainage and landscape plans. We confirm what applies to your address and keep water off your neighbors’ property.
Read our Houston permit guideHow your drainage project runs
- 1
Tell us
Call, WhatsApp or the form. We reply within one business day.
- 2
Visit and design
We measure, listen and sketch options in your home.
- 3
Written price
Scope, materials, schedule and cost in writing.
- 4
Permits
Plans to your city, plus HOA approval if needed.
- 5
Build and warranty
One project manager, photo updates, final walkthrough.
Questions about drainage & landscaping
How much does a French drain cost in Houston?
Usually $25–$50 per linear foot installed. A 60–100 foot run is about $1,500–$5,000, more if it crosses concrete or needs a long outlet.
How do I stop water pooling against my foundation?
Tie downspouts into underground pipe, regrade the soil to slope away from the house, and add a French drain or catch basins where water collects.
Can I drain my yard into my neighbor’s yard?
No. Texas law generally prohibits diverting surface water onto a neighbor’s property in a way that damages it. Water has to go to the street or a drainage easement.
What plants do well in Houston yards?
Native and adapted plants that handle heat, humidity and wet clay, like muhly grass, Turk’s cap, salvias, and dwarf yaupon. They need less water once established.
Does yard drainage help my foundation?
Yes. Keeping soil moisture steady around the slab reduces the swelling and shrinking of Houston clay that leads to foundation movement.
Where we build drainage projects
Ready to talk about your drainage project?
Free in-home estimate with a written scope, price and schedule.
- Free in-home visit
- Written, itemized price
- 2-year written warranty
