Licensed & Insured — Colorado
40+ YrsReviews
French drain trench with perforated pipe and gravel alongside a foundation

French Drains

French Drain Installation on the Western Slope

Our French drain systems use buried perforated pipe surrounded by clean stone to collect water from saturated soil and carry it away from your foundation, basement, or crawl space before it can cause seepage, pressure, or structural damage.

Six Sigma Yellow Belt CertifiedSix Sigma Yellow Belt Certified

When a French drain is the right solution

French drains solve water problems that start outside the home. If water pools near the foundation, seeps through the base of the wall, or saturates the soil after snowmelt, a buried drain is often the most reliable long-term fix.

  • Water pooling near the foundation after rain or snowmelt
  • Seepage at the wall-floor joint in the basement
  • Soggy or eroding yard areas
  • Crawl space moisture from groundwater
  • Downspouts and surface water near the home
  • Hydrostatic pressure against foundation walls
Perforated drain line set in gravel beside the footing
Perforated drain line set in gravel beside the footing

Key takeaways

  • Water pooling near the foundation after rain or snowmelt
  • Seepage at the wall-floor joint in the basement
  • Soggy or eroding yard areas
  • Exterior French drains stop water before it reaches the foundation.
  • Steep lots in Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, and Aspen shed large volumes of snowmelt quickly.
  • Free on-site inspection, written fixed price, and warrantied installation by our own crews.

How we install a French drain

We excavate a sloped trench along the problem area, line it with landscape fabric, and fill it with clean stone that surrounds a perforated pipe. Water enters the pipe and is discharged downhill, to a sump basin, or into a dry well, depending on the site.

  • Trenching to the correct depth and slope
  • Filter fabric and clean stone bed
  • Perforated collection pipe sized for the water volume
  • Proper discharge away from the structure
  • Site restoration and regrading
Storm runoff pooling against a home before drainage work
Storm runoff pooling against a home before drainage work

Ready to put your home back on solid ground?

Free on-site inspection, written fixed price, and warrantied work by our own crews.

Interior vs exterior French drains

Exterior French drains stop water before it reaches the foundation. Interior perimeter drains, sometimes called interior French drains, capture water that already enters the basement and route it to a sump pump. We inspect first and recommend the location that fits the water source.

Groundwater standing in an open foundation trench
Groundwater standing in an open foundation trench

Built for mountain snowmelt

Steep lots in Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, and Aspen shed large volumes of snowmelt quickly. Our drains are sized for peak flow, not average rainfall, so they keep working when the spring thaw is heaviest.

Perforated drain line set in gravel beside the footing
Perforated drain line set in gravel beside the footing

Recent project photos

Perforated drain line set in gravel beside the footing
Perforated drain line set in gravel beside the footing
Downspout water rerouted into a buried discharge line
Downspout water rerouted into a buried discharge line
Storm runoff pooling against a home before drainage work
Storm runoff pooling against a home before drainage work
Trench base prepared with washed gravel for drainage
Trench base prepared with washed gravel for drainage
Groundwater standing in an open foundation trench
Groundwater standing in an open foundation trench
Basement wall seepage from unmanaged groundwater
Basement wall seepage from unmanaged groundwater

Cracks, settling, or water in the basement? Don't wait.

1-970-235-0092

Frequently Asked Questions

How deep is a French drain installed?

Most exterior foundation drains are installed at or below the footing level to intercept water before it rises against the wall. Yard drains are shallower and sized to capture surface runoff.

Will a French drain stop my basement from flooding?

If the water source is groundwater or surface runoff near the foundation, a properly designed drain usually eliminates or greatly reduces flooding. Some homes also need interior drainage or a sump pump for complete protection.

How long does installation take?

Most residential exterior drains are completed in one to three days, depending on length, depth, and landscaping. Interior perimeter drains are usually faster.

Free Estimate

Get Your Free Foundation Estimate

Tell us what you're seeing and we'll schedule an on-site inspection with a written scope and fixed price. No cost, no obligation.

1-970-235-0092

732 Buckhorn Dr Unit B, Rifle, CO 81650 · Mon–Fri 8:00am – 4:00pm

Or call 1-970-235-0092 — no cost, no obligation.