West Seattle French Drain Installation Services

If your lawn is a sponge from November to May, a “bag of holes” isn’t going to fix it. You need a properly sloped pipe, clean drain rock, non-woven geotextile (used correctly), and a legal discharge. We build drainage that actually works in West Seattle clay.

We serve Admiral, Alaska Junction, Alki, Fauntleroy, Arbor Heights, Delridge, Gatewood, High Point, Morgan Junction, and Roxhill.

What’s the Problem?

• Seasonal standing water in lawns and side yards
• Mushy footpaths and ruts from trash cans, pets, or cars
• Downspouts dumping at foundations; water sneaking into crawlspaces
• Slopes weeping across walks and stairs after every storm
• Previous “drains” that were just fabric + gravel + prayers

What We Install (and why it works)

• French drains (interceptor drains): perforated SDR/ABS in a gravel trench to intercept groundwater before it reaches the problem area.
• Downspout conveyance: solid pipe to carry roof water away from foundations to an approved outlet.
• Dry wells / dispersion trenches: where we can’t daylight—sized for your roof/soil, wrapped in non-woven geotextile to keep fines out.
• Channel drains & trench grates: hardscape catch, tied into the same system.
• Cleanouts & inspection ports at high points/turns so maintenance is easy.

We don’t wrap planting beds in fabric or dump pea gravel in a slit and call it good. That just clogs and makes weeding a nightmare.

Our Build Method (no shortcuts)

1. Site read & elevations — laser levels, water paths, soil type, and where we can legally discharge.
2. Utility locate — we call 811 before we dig. Always.
3. Trench & line — typical 8–12” wide, 18–24” deep (site dependent); line with non-woven geotextile where soil is fine/clayey.
4. Base course — 3–4” of ¾” clean drain rock, then pipe.
5. Pipe set & slope — perforated pipe (holes down) at ~1% fall (≈ ⅛” per foot) for French drains; solid pipe for downspouts.
6. Rock envelope — up to within 2–3” of grade with clean, angular rock (not round river rock that migrates).
7. Wrap & cap — fold fabric over the top only to keep fines out; top with soil/sod, mulch, or decorative rock.
8. Outlets — daylight to curb/steep lawn where allowed, or to an appropriately sized dry well/dispersion per local rules.
9. Proof — hose test and photos of slope/cleanouts before backfill.

Straight talk: tying drains into a sanitary sewer is a no-go. We’ll give you an outlet that passes the sniff test—now and later.

French Drain vs. “Pipe in a Trench” (why yours failed)

• No slope = no flow.
• Fabric in the wrong place = mud filter.
• Round rock rolls; clean angular rock locks and drains.
• Perforated under roof water = sludge. Keep downspouts on solid pipe.
• No cleanouts = no maintenance.

Quick Sizing Math (so ordering is sane)

• Trench volume per linear foot

  • 8” wide × 12” deep = 0.67 cu ft/LF → ~40 LF per cubic yard
  • 12” wide × 18” deep = 1.5 cu ft/LF → ~18 LF per cubic yard

• Rock: order 10–15% extra for settlement/voids.

• Pipe: add 10–20% for bends and cleanouts.

Best Places We Use Them

• Along uphill property lines to intercept neighbor runoff
• Behind retaining walls (with dedicated wall drains)
• Across soggy lawns as lateral collectors before a dry well/dispersion trench
• Along walks/steps that weep in winter

Our Annual Maintenance Plan (Your Yard’s Routine)

• Cleanout checks — open caps, flush, confirm flow after first big fall storm
• Leaf control — gutter health & inlet screens; keep organics out of the system
• Outlet inspection — clear splash zones/daylight ends, test dry wells
• Surface refresh — top back mulch/rock after settlement
• Photo log — simple before/after so you know it’s working

We’re a low-maintenance landscaping crew. Goal: fewer puddles between visits and less work for you.

Service Cadences (Pick What Fits)

• Quarterly — fall storm prep + winter/spring checks + summer tune
• Bi-Monthly — high-leaf, high-water, or complex systems

What Annual Maintenance Includes

• Open/flush cleanouts; check for fines buildup
• Outlet daylight/dry well inspection and debris removal
• Gutter/downspout check and screen install (if missing)
• Grade touch-ups over trenches; re-seed or re-mulch
• Simple report with recommendations (if capacity needs increase)

Why Annual Maintenance Matters

• Prevents clogs before storm season
• Protects foundations & paths from saturation and heave
• Extends system life — clean rock and open outlets = fewer callbacks
• Saves money — maintenance beats excavation (every time)

How It Works

1. Free Estimate — photos/video or quick walkthrough; clear, upfront pricing
2. Install Day(s) — trench, rock, pipe, cleanouts, outlet, proof test, tidy backfill
3. Follow-Up — simple care tips and a maintenance calendar that fits

Why West Seattle Chooses Neat & Tidy

• Local crew that knows marine-layer rain, clay pockets, and tight alleys
• Licensed & insured; code-smart outlets and tidy sites
• Upfront pricing — materials, labor, hauling, and disposal included
• On-time, respectful, clean work (no mud moonscape left behind)
• Green-first approach — infiltration where suitable, smart dispersion where not

Ready to lose the puddles?

Call or text Neat & Tidy for a French drain plan that drains right—proper slope, clean rock, smart outlet, zero drama. We’ll keep it tidy—so you don’t have to.