Drainage guides
Drainage and leveling guides for clay-soil homes
Plain answers on standing water, French drains, downspouts, sinking concrete, foundation watering and local rules, written for homes on the heavy clay north and east of Austin.
Drainage Checklist Before Storm Season: A Central Texas Yard Walk-Through
Use this drainage checklist before storm season to check gutters, downspouts, grading, slabs and drains in your Central Texas yard before heavy rain arrives.
Drainage help for Pflugerville and northeast Austin
Most of the questions we hear come down to a few things. Why does my yard hold water for days? Where should my downspouts go? Why did the sidewalk sink? Is this a drainage problem or a foundation problem? These guides answer those questions in plain words, with the local details that general articles skip, like how Blackland Prairie clay behaves and why a fix that works on sandy soil can fail here.
If you are new to drainage, start with the guide on Blackland Prairie clay. It explains why water sits on top of the ground east of I-35 and why concrete moves with the seasons. From there, the guide to why yards flood after rain walks through the most common causes, and the French drain vs surface drain comparison helps you match a fix to what you see.
Dealing with sunken concrete? The guides on why concrete sinks, foam leveling vs mudjacking and slab leveling vs foundation repair explain what each option does and when a structural engineer should be your first call. The crack sealing guide covers the simple step that keeps water out from under a slab after it has been lifted.
You will also find guides on the rules around drainage work. One explains Texas Water Code Section 11.086 and what it means for water running between neighbors. Others cover calling Texas811 before you dig and what to check with your HOA before changing your grade. We also cover everyday habits, like keeping downspouts extended and watering around a foundation during drought.
Rules can change and can differ from one city or HOA to the next. Treat these guides as a starting point, and confirm the details with your city or HOA before you start a project. For legal questions, such as a dispute with a neighbor over runoff, talk to a lawyer. If you want someone to look at your yard, our drainage services page lists everything we do, and our service areas page shows where we work.
All drainage guides
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Pop-Up Emitter Problems and Fixes: A Homeowner's Guide
Pop-up emitter not draining, stuck shut, or backing up? Learn the common causes, easy fixes you can try, and when the problem is bigger than the lid.
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Driveway and Sidewalk Trip Hazard Repair: Options Explained
Driveway and sidewalk trip hazard repair options explained: when to lift, grind or replace uneven concrete, what the ADA rule says, and what to check first.
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Why Concrete Sinks on Texas Clay and What You Can Do
Why concrete sinks on Texas clay: learn how swelling soil, washed-out base and roof water open voids under driveways and patios, and how to slow it down.
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Signs of Poor Drainage Around Your Foundation
Spot the signs of poor drainage around your foundation, from soil gaps to damp garage floors, and learn which ones you can fix and which need an engineer.
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Erosion Control for Sloped Yards in Round Rock and Cedar Park
Erosion control for sloped yards in Round Rock and Cedar Park: how limestone, clay and fast runoff cut gullies, and the fixes that hold soil in place.
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Drainage Swale Design for Suburban Yards: Slope, Width and Mistakes
Drainage swale design for suburban yards: slope, depth, width, grass and where the water goes. Learn what works on Central Texas clay and what to check first.
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Concrete Leveling Cost in the Austin Area: General Ranges
Concrete leveling cost in the Austin area depends on method, void size and access. See general market ranges, what drives price, and how to compare quotes.
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Fix Drainage Before Installing Sod or a Pool: A Texas Homeowner's Guide
Fix drainage before installing sod or a pool. Learn how grading, downspouts and clay soil decide whether a new lawn or pool thrives or becomes a costly redo.
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Foundation Drainage on Expansive Clay: What Actually Helps
Foundation drainage on expansive clay is about steady moisture, not just dry soil. See what helps slabs in the Pflugerville area and what does not.
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Foam Leveling vs Mudjacking: Differences for Texas Concrete
Foam leveling vs mudjacking: compare weight, hole size, cure time, cost and clay-soil performance so you can pick the right way to raise a sunken slab.
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Gutters, Gutter Guards and Yard Drainage: What Really Matters
Do gutters and gutter guards help yard drainage? Learn how roof water reaches your yard, what guards can and cannot do, and where downspouts should end.
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Drainage and Your Neighbor: Texas Water Code 11.086 Explained
Texas Water Code 11.086 limits how you can divert surface water onto a neighbor. Here is what the law says, what it does not, and when to call a lawyer.
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Call 811 Before Digging in Texas: The Rules and the Steps
Call 811 before digging in Texas: learn the two business day notice rule, how to request locates, what the colored marks mean, and what to do near lines.
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How to Grade a Yard Away From the Foundation, Step by Step
Learn how to grade a yard away from the foundation: measure your slope, find the right pitch, fix low spots, and know when to call a pro in clay soil.
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Soaker Hose Foundation Watering in Texas: Pros, Cons and the Debate
Soaker hose foundation watering in Texas: what supporters claim, what critics warn about, local water rules, and how to decide if it fits your clay-soil yard.
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HOA Drainage Rules in Texas: What to Check Before You Dig
HOA drainage rules in Texas vary by neighborhood. Learn how architectural approval works, what to ask first, and how to avoid fines before a drainage project.
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Downspout Extensions vs Underground Drains: How to Choose
Downspout extensions or underground drains? Compare cost, looks, lawn mowing, clay soil limits, and maintenance to pick the right roof water fix for your home.
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Drought, Clay Soil and Foundation Watering in Central Texas
How drought shrinks Central Texas clay, why it stresses foundations and slabs, and what foundation watering can and cannot do under local water rules.
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Drainage Problems in New Construction Homes Around Hutto
Drainage problems in new construction homes are common in Hutto and nearby suburbs. See the causes, what to check in year one, and what to ask your builder.
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French Drain vs Surface Drain: Which One Fits Your Yard?
French drain vs surface drain: learn how each works, where each belongs, and how to pick the right one for a clay-soil yard in the Pflugerville area.
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Slab Leveling vs Foundation Repair: What's the Difference?
Slab leveling vs foundation repair explained: what each fixes, how to tell them apart, and why drainage matters for both. Know who to call before you spend.
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Standing Water in the Yard and Mosquitoes: What to Know
Standing water in the yard and mosquitoes go together. Learn how fast they breed, which spots to check, and how better drainage cuts the problem for good.
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Why Your Yard Floods After Rain: 9 Common Causes
Why does your yard flood after rain? Find the nine most common causes in Central Texas clay-soil neighborhoods and learn how to test for each one.
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Concrete Crack and Joint Sealing Guide for Texas Homeowners
A homeowner's concrete crack sealing guide: which cracks to seal, which to watch, what sealants last in Texas sun and clay, and when sealing is not enough.
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Catch Basin vs Channel Drain: How to Choose for Your Yard
Catch basin vs channel drain: learn how each works, where each belongs around a Texas home, and what to ask before you pick one for your yard or driveway.
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How Blackland Prairie Clay Affects Yard Drainage
Learn how Blackland Prairie clay swells, cracks, and holds water in yards east of Austin, and what that means for drainage, grading, and your foundation.
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Dry Well vs French Drain: Which One Fits a Clay Yard?
Dry well vs French drain: see how each one works, why clay soil changes the answer around Pflugerville, and how to pick the right fix for your own yard.
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Sunken Patio Repair: Why It Sinks and How to Fix It
Sunken patio repair for Central Texas yards: why slabs settle, how to tell a drainage problem from a soil problem, and which fixes actually last in clay.
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French Drain Cost in Pflugerville: What Drives the Price
Wondering what a French drain costs in Pflugerville? See general market ranges, what raises or lowers the price, and how to compare bids fairly.
Water pooling or concrete sinking?
Call or send a request. We will look at where the water goes, check the grade and give you a written estimate.