French drains and perforated collection lines

Normal function

It relieves wet soil or intercepts a flow path. It is not automatically the right fix for roof runoff; roof water usually needs a solid pipe route to a proper discharge.

What a homeowner may notice

• Persistent wet strip, seepage at a slope, standing water, soil saturation, or a prior French drain that clogs and overflows.
• Pipe filled with fines, crushed pipe, missing outlet, settled trench, or eroded discharge.
• Installation beside a foundation without a clear outfall or waterproofing strategy.
• A rock-filled trench that has no actual pipe or maintenance access.

Professional inspection

Identify the water source, slope, soil, foundation elevation, utilities, and legal outfall. Probe or expose the system, check cleanouts and outlet, inspect geotextile/stone condition, and confirm roof leaders are not incorrectly connected to perforated pipe.

Repair or replacement path

Clean or rebuild short sections, replace collapsed pipe, add cleanouts/outlet, regrade, or design a new system with perforated collection pipe and washed stone. Keep roof runoff in solid pipe unless a designed infiltration system supports it.

Typical materials and equipment

Perforated pipe, washed stone, nonwoven geotextile, solid outlet pipe, cleanouts, fittings, trench safety equipment, and restoration materials.

When to act

Persistent wet foundation soil needs evaluation before it becomes seepage or settlement; do not install blindly beside footings.

What moves the price

Trench depth/length, roots/rock, soil/clay, slope, foundation proximity, equipment access, outfall, restoration, and permitting/design needs.