French Drain Installation & Repair inWhatcom County, WA
New French drains, footing drains and repairs for clogged or failed systems. We stop standing water, soggy yards and wet crawlspaces at the source. Our local crew and our own machines dig, install and restore so water goes where it should.
Dry yards & crawlspaces
Our own equipment
Free on-site visit
Plan Your French Drain
Tell us about your drainage problem. We’ll reply within one business day.
- No obligation
- Or call (360) 503-0571
A Dry Property Starts Below the Surface
Water that has nowhere to go ends up where you don’t want it: soggy lawns, puddles that never dry, wet crawlspaces, mold, and moisture pushing against your foundation. Over time it leads to settling, cracked concrete and costly repairs. A properly installed French drain fixes the problem at the source for far less than repairing the damage later.
What is a French drain?
A French drain is a trench filled with drain rock and a perforated pipe, wrapped in filter fabric. It collects groundwater and surface water and carries it away to a safe outlet. It’s used to dry out yards, protect foundations and crawlspaces, and stop water from pooling around your home.
Whatcom Excavation handles the full job with one local crew, from finding the problem to digging, installing and restoring your yard. Whether you need a new system or a repair on an old, clogged drain, you get one plan, one price and one team accountable for the result.
Dug & DrainedPerforated pipe, fabric and drain rock that move water away for good.
What Our French Drain Work Includes
Every property is different, so we build the scope around your drainage problem, your yard and your home. Most projects include some or all of the following.
01
Drainage Assessment
We walk the property, find where water collects and where it’s coming from, and plan the best drain route and outlet.
02
Locates & Layout
Utility locates called and the trench path marked out around foundations, landscaping and existing lines.
03
Trench Excavation
Trenches dug to the right depth and slope with our own equipment, keeping disruption to your yard to a minimum.
04
Filter Fabric & Drain Rock
Filter fabric lines the trench and clean drain rock is placed, keeping soil out and letting water flow freely.
05
Perforated Pipe Installation
Perforated drain pipe set to a steady slope, so water is collected along its length and carried away.
06
Footing & Foundation Drains
Drains installed along your foundation to keep water away from the walls, crawlspace and basement.
07
Outlets & Connections
Drains tied into a safe outlet: a ditch, dry well, storm system or daylight point away from the house.
08
French Drain Repair & Replacement
Clogged, crushed or failed drains dug up, cleaned out or replaced with a new system built to last.
09
Backfill & Yard Restoration
Trenches backfilled, graded and cleaned up, ready for lawn, landscaping or gravel.
French Drains Built for Whatcom County Conditions
Our long rainy season, high water tables and dense glacial clay mean water doesn’t soak in. It sits. Without the right drainage it ends up in your crawlspace, against your foundation, or turning your yard into a swamp from fall to spring.
We size every drain for Northwest rainfall, use filter fabric and clean drain rock that won’t clog in clay soils, and route water to a proper outlet, so your property stays dry season after season.
Built for Heavy Rain
Drains sized to handle long, wet Pacific Northwest winters.
Clog-Resistant Design
Filter fabric and clean drain rock keep clay and silt out of the pipe.
High Water Table Ready
Deeper drains that lower groundwater around homes and crawlspaces.
Permit-Aware
We help you understand drainage and outlet rules for your property.
From Soggy Ground to a Dry Property
A clear, step-by-step process so you always know what’s next.
01
Free Site Visit
We walk the property, find where water collects and discuss your goals and budget.
02
Written Estimate
Detailed scope, drain route, price and timeline, plus permit guidance.
03
Locates & Setup
Utility locates called, trench path marked and the outlet point planned.
04
Dig, Lay & Connect
Our crew trenches, lays fabric, drain rock and pipe, and ties it into the outlet.
05
Backfill & Restore
Trench backfilled and graded, and the yard cleaned up and left dry.
What Affects the Cost of a French Drain?
No two drainage problems are the same, which is why we price every project after seeing it in person. These are the biggest factors that shape your estimate.
Our estimates are free, written and itemized, so you can see exactly where your budget goes.
Drain Length
The total length of trench and pipe needed to collect the water.
Trench Depth
Deeper drains for foundations or high groundwater take more digging.
Soil & Rock
Heavy clay, roots or rocky ground can slow the excavation.
Site Access
Tight side yards, fences or landscaping can limit equipment.
Outlet Type
Ditch, dry well, storm connection or daylight outlet, plus its distance.
New vs. Repair
Fixing or replacing an old, clogged drain vs. building a new system.
Yard Restoration
Repairing lawns, landscaping, walkways or gravel after the dig.
Permits
Drainage and outlet requirements for your property.
Related Services
Site prep often goes hand in hand with these services, all handled by the same crew.
Exterior French Drain Installation
Subsurface trench drainage systems wrapped in filter fabric to channel groundwater away from lawns and foundations.
Downspout & Roof Runoff Piping
Underground smooth PVC piping to capture roof runoff directly from downspouts and discharge it safely away from structures.
Catch Basin & Surface Water Collection
Heavy-duty surface catch basins installed in low spots to rapidly collect standing rainwater and prevent yard flooding.
Sump Basin & Dry Well Systems
Deep collection basins and dry wells engineered to capture excess surface water and manage high-volume drainage output.
Main Line Trenching & Underground Piping
Precision trench excavation and long-run PVC main line routing to carry stormwater to safe discharge outlets.
Custom Multi-Branch Drainage Systems
Complete multi-line drainage solutions combining downspouts, surface drains, and cleanout access points into one unified system.
French Drains Across Northwest Washington
We’re based in Whatcom County and install and repair French drains for homeowners, builders and developers throughout Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish County.
Whatcom County
Home base
- Bellingham
- Ferndale
- Lynden
- Blaine
- Birch Bay
- Everson
- Nooksack
- Sumas
- Sudden Valley
- Deming
- Maple Falls
- Custer
Skagit County
- Mount Vernon
- Burlington
- Sedro-Woolley
- Anacortes
- La Conner
- Bow
- Concrete
Snohomish County
- Stanwood
- Arlington
- Marysville
- Lake Stevens
- Granite Falls
- Everett
- Snohomish
French Drain FAQs
Dealing with a soggy yard or a wet crawlspace? Call us and talk to the people who’ll actually do the work.
French drain installation covers everything needed to move water away for good: a drainage assessment, utility locates, trench excavation, filter fabric, drain rock, perforated pipe set to slope, connection to a safe outlet, then backfill and yard cleanup. We tailor the scope to your property and the problem you’re seeing.
Most residential French drains take one to three days, depending on length, depth, soil and site access. Larger systems or footing drains around a whole house can take longer. We give you a clear timeline in your written estimate.
You may need one if you have standing water that doesn’t dry up after rain, a soggy or spongy lawn, water pooling against your foundation, a wet or damp crawlspace, or mold and musty smells under the house. A free site visit will tell you whether a French drain is the right fix.
Cost depends on drain length, trench depth, soil conditions, site access, outlet type, whether it’s a new system or a repair, and yard restoration. Every property is different, so we visit first and give you a free, written, itemized estimate.
Yes. Older French drains can clog with silt and roots, or get crushed over time. We find the problem, then clean out, repair or replace the damaged section, or install a new system with fabric and clean drain rock so it stays clear for years.
The water is carried to a safe outlet away from your home, such as a roadside ditch, a dry well, a storm drain connection or a daylight point lower on the property. We pick the outlet that fits your lot and meets local drainage rules.
Let’s Keep Your Property Dry for Good
Free on-site estimate from Whatcom County’s local drainage and excavation crew.