Stop water at the source.
Level the slab that sank.

We are based in Pflugerville and work across the suburbs north and east of Austin. That includes Round Rock, Hutto, Manor, Georgetown, Taylor, Elgin, Wells Branch, Brushy Creek, Cedar Park, Leander and northeast Austin. Most of these towns sit on heavy clay soil, which is why drainage and sinking concrete come up so often here. If your address is between two of these towns, or just outside them, call and ask. We will tell you if we can reach you.

A surface drain catches water that is already sitting on top of the ground. It uses a grate, such as a catch basin or channel drain, connected to a solid pipe that carries the water away. A French drain is a trench filled with gravel and a perforated pipe. It collects water that soaks into the soil and moves it downhill underground. Surface drains are best for puddles, patios and downspouts. French drains are best for ground that stays soggy. Many yards need a mix of both.

Much of the land east of I-35, including Pflugerville, Hutto and Taylor, sits in the Blackland Prairie. Its dark clays, such as Houston Black, have a very high shrink-swell potential. When they get wet they swell, and when they dry out they shrink and crack. Clay also lets water soak in very slowly, so rain tends to run off or puddle instead of draining. That swelling and shrinking can tilt sidewalks, sink patios and stress slabs. Even, steady moisture and good drainage help limit the movement.

On clay soil, the most common reasons are a flat or reversed grade, low spots that formed as fill soil settled, and clay that soaks up water very slowly. Downspouts that dump right next to the house add a lot of water to one small area. Sod laid on compacted builder fill, or a neighbor's yard that drains onto yours, can also be part of it. Watch where the water comes from during a storm and where it sits afterward. That tells you a lot about which fix fits.

Often, yes. A simple extension that drops water several feet from the house on ground that slopes away is a cheap and effective first step. The trouble is that above-ground extensions get kicked, mowed over and moved, and they can cross walkways. Underground downspout drains carry roof water through a solid pipe to a pop-up emitter or other outlet farther from the slab. They make more sense when you need to move water a long way or when extensions keep getting in the way.

Be careful here. Texas Water Code Section 11.086 says a person may not divert or impound the natural flow of surface water in a way that damages another person's property by overflow. A neighbor who is harmed can seek damages in court. In plain terms, you should not change your yard so that it sends new or concentrated water onto a neighbor. A good drainage plan keeps water on a path to the street, an approved outlet or a natural drainage route. For a dispute, talk to a lawyer. This is not legal advice.

Yes. Texas law requires anyone digging to notify the Texas811 one-call center before the work starts. Under current state rules, notice generally must be given at least 48 hours ahead, not counting weekends and legal holidays, and no more than 14 days ahead. Utility owners then mark their buried lines with paint or flags. Private lines, like sprinkler pipes or a line to a backyard light, are usually not marked, so plan around those too. Check Texas811 for the current rules before you dig.

It depends on where you live and what the job involves. Many HOAs in the Pflugerville and Round Rock area ask for approval before changes to grading, landscaping or anything visible from the street. Some cities have rules about drainage easements, outlets at the curb and changing the grade along a lot line. Work inside a drainage easement may need city sign-off. The rules differ from one city and HOA to the next, so check with yours before the work starts.