Poor drainage
Water moving the wrong way is a patient enemy: it soaks foundations, drowns lawns, rutts driveways, and turns usable ground into seasonal marsh. Drainage problems are grading problems — the fix is shaping the ground so water goes where you choose, not where it defaults.
What it looks like
- Water standing against or flowing toward structures after rain
- A driveway that washes or potholes every spring
- Ground that stays soft weeks after the rest of the property dries
The work that fixes it
Worth knowing in this county
- Work in mapped floodplains or near streams carries its own review — see the permits guide before regrading near water
Before you reach out
- Photograph or video the water DURING the problem — spring melt or a hard rain tells the whole story
- Note where water should go; an obvious safe outlet makes the fix simpler
Common questions
Can drainage be fixed without tearing up the whole yard?
Often, yes — a swale, regraded fall line, or corrected low spot is targeted work. The estimate walks the water path and scopes only what needs to move.