French Drain Design & Installation
Serving the Twin Cities & Surrounding MN Suburbs
Minnesota's Most Experienced French Drain Installation Company
KG Landscape has been specializing in French drain design and installation services for over 22 years now. We know exactly when, where, why and how French drains should be used, and also when other drainage solutions options might be a better fit. We educate our customers on what their options are and why we feel the solution we end up selecting is the best fit to accomplish their goals.
What Makes KG Landscape Different
- Precision measurements of site elevations during site evaluation & installation
- Custom-designed drainage systems with elevations mapped for our crews (not one-size-fits-all)
- Good, better & best solution options
- Systems designed by our founder, a University of Minnesota Landscape Design program Graduate.
- High-quality installation, no shortcuts
- Respect for your lawn and property
- Built for Minnesota soil and climate conditions
- Focused on long-term performance, not quick fixes
What Is a French Drain?
A French drain is a subsurface drainage system designed to collect and redirect excess water away from problem areas in your lawn, landscape, or near structures. For some designs, a French drains can also be used to hold and absorb water elsewhere in the yard after redirecting the water safely away from a problem area. We design these French drain sections for absorption, when there are no other water outlet options in a yard, such as: these more ideal options to outlet water collected by a French drain include: a pop-up emitter or a daylight end that could empty into the street, a rain garden or down hill out of the yard.
A properly installed French drain includes:
- Precise planning for elevations along the length of the French drain
- A precisely sloped trench
- Measuring the pipe with an transit or altimeter to ensure the slope was installed to plan
- Perforated drain pipe / with a silt sock cover
- Filtration fabric wrapped completely around the pipe and rock to prevent clogging
- Clean drainage rock(no fines) typically 3/4" size
- A properly designed outlet or absorption area
When designed and installed correctly, French drains provide a long-term, low-maintenance drainage solution.
Signs You May Need a French Drain
- Standing water after rain
- Soggy or muddy lawn areas
- Problems related to a yard being lower in elevation than neighbors (low point in the neighborhood)
- Water pooling in a narrow side yard
- Water pooling near your home’s foundation
- Dead grass or moss growth from staying wet too long
- Water flowing toward patios, retaining walls, or structures
- Basement or crawlspace moisture issues
- Wet basement problems for homes with a hill running toward your house
If any of these sound familiar, a French drain may be the right solution.
Below are real-world drainage problem situations where a French drain may be the right solution
The Two Primary Functions of French Drains
Every French drain we install is designed to serve one or sometimes both of these two specific functions, depending on site conditions and the intent our expert French drain design team. We determine which function is the best possible fit for your property based on elevation, soil, drainage options, and budget.
1. French Drains That Collect & Send Water Away
- Used near foundations, patios, retaining walls, and structures
- Designed to quickly collect subsurface water and move it away from problem areas
- Rock is installed above the perforated pipe
- Can sometimes be lined along the bottom and sides with waterproof liner instead of filtration fabric, as part of a larger foundation landscaping drainage system
2. French Drains That Hold & Absorb Water
- Primarily Used when no discharge outlet is available
- Designed to store water temporarily and allow it to absorb into surrounding soil
- Rock is installed primarily below the perforated pipe
- Often installed deeper to function year-round in Minnesota’s climate
We determine which function is right for your property based on elevation, soil, drainage options, and budget.
Our French Drain Installation Process
We take a careful, step-by-step approach to ensure long-lasting results.
- Skilled Planning & Elevation Points: Our designer plans our French drains precisely and our install crews, that have been employed by KG for over 10 years, execute these plans with precision.
- Lawn & Property Protection
We protect your lawn by installing plywood access paths to minimize damage during construction. - Irrigation & Utility Awareness
Irrigation systems are marked and accounted for to avoid damage, our team has lots of irrigation experience. - Careful Sod Removal
Sod is removed and set aside to be reinstalled after the drain is complete. - Precision Trenching & Measurements
We trench to the correct depth and precisely measure elevations to ensure proper slope throughout the system. - Fabric, Pipe & Drainage Rock Installation
Filtration fabric lines the trench, followed by a 4” perforated drain pipe with silt sock and clean drainage rock. - Drain Encapsulation & Outlet Installation
The system is fully wrapped with filtration fabric liner to protect against silt, and the outlet is installed per the design. - Irrigation Repairs: KG Landscape will repair irrigation lines / heads if needed, then test the system to ensure everything is working great
- Lawn Restoration: Depending on the project scope, either sod will reinstalled or seed and blankets applied, leaving your yard restored.
Real Examples of French Drains We've Installed
We've installed over 500 French drains and countless more outdoor drainage systems, through the twin cities over the past 22 years. We've never installed a French drain that doesn't work properly. Check out of google reviews, our customers are very happy with out work!
Our goal is always to solve your outdoor drainage problem, never to just install a one size fits all French drain. We guarantee our French drains will do exactly what we said they would do. If you were to ever have any issues, please let us know and we'll fix it right away. We stand behind our work and build long terms relationships with our customers, because they know how passionate we are about our work and their satisfaction. You can trust that we will always give great advice, design and install plans precisely so they work great and do the right thing, no matter what
Check out the French drain installation photos below. Each French drain will be uniquely designed to fit the site conditions and the overall drainage plan for each project. But, these pictures will give a great overview of how we install French drains the right way.
Helpful Links to More Detailed French Drain Project Examples
Over 20 Years of Proven French Drain Results: Dry Basements & Functional Yards
Our professional French drain installation services provide long-term solutions for homeowners dealing with basement water issues and poor yard drainage. We’ve helped countless customers eliminate water intrusion, prevent flooding, and reclaim their outdoor spaces after heavy rain.
Homeowners who once worried about water seeping into their basement or yards staying saturated for weeks now enjoy dry, functional properties year-round. By directing excess groundwater away from foundations and low-lying areas, our French drain systems dramatically improve drainage performance and protect your home from water damage.
Real Results from Our French Drain Systems:
- Dry, protected basements – Reduces basement flooding, moisture buildup, and foundation damage
- Improved yard drainage – Eliminates standing water and muddy lawns after rain events
- Faster soil recovery – Lawns and landscapes dry more quickly, making yards usable again
- Long-lasting drainage solutions – Professionally installed systems built for durability and performance
- Increased property value – Proper drainage helps preserve your home and landscape investment
Our customers consistently report greater peace of mind knowing their basement waterproofing and yard drainage problems are solved. With a properly designed French drain system, your home stays dry, your yard stays usable, and water is moved safely away from your property.
French Drain Installation — Technical Process & Best Practices
1. Detailed Site Evaluation & Engineering
Before digging, we perform a detailed site evaluation to:
- identify the source(s) of excess water
- measure elevation changes using laser instrumentation
- determine the proper drain alignment and slope
- select the optimal discharge point, such as a daylight outlet, pop-up emitter, storm drain tie-in, or absorption zone
This phase differentiates custom performance from one-size-fits-all installations. Planning accounts for soil type, existing utilities, nearby irrigation, structures, and groundwater flow lines.
2. Utility & Irrigation Marking + Lawn Protection
We locate and mark all underground utilities and irrigation lines before any excavation.
Protective measures include:
- laying plywood paths to protect the lawn from equipment access
- marking irrigation lines and components
- covering landscape features to minimize disruption during trenching and heavy equipment movement.
3. Precision Trenching
The trench is excavated to the engineered depth—typically 12–24″ deep or more, depending on drainage needs and soil conditions. The key is a consistent, gravity-driven slope toward the outlet, commonly at least 1-3% grade (≈1-3 inches of drop per 10 feet) to ensure reliable water flow.
During this stage we:
- measure slope frequently with transit or altimeter tools
- adjust excavation in real time to achieve design grades
- shape the trench to avoid dips or flat pockets that trap water
4. Fabric Lining
The trench is lined with non-woven geotextile drainage fabric, extending up both sides. This critical layer:
- prevents soil particles from entering the gravel and pipe
- significantly reduces clogging and maintenance needs
- prolongs system life
The fabric should overlap and wrap completely around the drain materials for maximum protection.
5. Pipe & Rock Installation
Perforated drain pipe (standard 4″ or larger, depending on water volume) with a silt sock is centered in the trench. The pipe perforations allow water entry from all sides.
Installation grades include:
- bedding the pipe in a base layer of clean drainage rock (typically ¾″ minus)
- surrounding the pipe with rock up to or slightly above pipe height
- ensuring the pipe remains centered and level on grade within the trench
We never use solid pipe for a French drain —only perforated pipe oriented correctly for optimal intake.
6. System Encapsulation
After the rock is placed:
- the geotextile fabric is folded over the rock and pipe
- this “burrito wrap” seals the system from surrounding soil
- this encapsulation minimizes fine soil infiltration that can eventually clog the drain.
7. Outlet Connection
A properly engineered outlet is critical. Options include:
- Daylight outlet discharging to a lower lawn or natural grade
- Pop-up emitter for hard surface discharge
- Storm sewer tie-in where permitted
- Dry well or absorption area when no gravity outlet exists
- outlets are sized and placed to prevent backup, ponding, or erosion at the exit point.
8. Backfill & Surface Restoration
Once the drain is complete:
- backfill is placed and compacted
- sod, seed, or landscape material is reinstalled
- irrigation lines repaired and tested as part of site restoration
- the site is left tidy, stable, and ready for use
Why KG Landscape’s Process Works Better
Where some companies provide basic French drain installation, our process goes beyond the basics to ensure:
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Engineered grading based on precise measurement
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Quality materials installed to technical standards
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Fabric-protected drains with long-term performance
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Proper outlets to truly move water away
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Expert handling of irrigation and utilities
This results in a structural, long-lasting solution— not just temporary water relocation.
Ready to Get Started? How Our French Drain Installation Process Works
Would you like to have an experienced and specialized outdoor drainage expert come to your home, to professionally evaluate your drainage problem and make expert recommendations as to how to fix your specific drainage concerns the right way?
We charge a drainage consultation fee ranging between $90 - $120, depending on the type of service and location, for one of our extremely experienced drainage experts to walk your property with you, learn about your drainage concerns, see what's happening for ourselves and provide expert recommendations on how we'd go about solving the issues and why.
We'll give you the information and answers you need to feel confident that whatever solution you decide to proceed with, is the best possible fit for you given your specific goals, site conditions and budget.
How Much Do French Drains Cost?
How much do French drains cost? It varies drastically between projects, but we do have a $3,500 minimum project size for our French drain and drainage solution projects. We'll do our best to provide "ball park" costs for the options we discuss during the onsite drainage consultation. We do this to help propose solutions that fit with your budget and educate you regarding the pros and cons of each option we think will help.
It's Easy to Get Started - Request a Drainage Consultation Today
When you schedule a drainage consultation with us, an experienced member of our team will meet with you at your home to evaluate your yard as a whole and provide holistic advice as to how we feel your yard drainage problems can best be solved.
We'll discuss good, better and best solution options and "ballpark" costs that can help guide us to the best solution for you, given your long vs. short term plans (is this your forever home or are you planning to move next year?).
Sometimes we recommend French drains and sometimes we don't, it depends completely on the issues we see and the circumstances we find at each property. But no matter what, rest assured we will have recommendations for the outdoor drainage solution options that we feel will best meet your needs.
Assuming the work we feel will best meet your needs fits within our specialty, we will provide an estimate that includes a fixed price for our crews to complete the recommended drainage solution work. If you hire us to perform the recommended work, we credit back 100% of your outdoor drainage consultation fee!
- Our goal, is for our team at KG Landscape to actually do the drainage solution work we propose, fix your drainage issues once-and-for-all, and keep or talented crews busy doing what they're best at.
- We do not offer consultation services for people that want to do the work themselves or for customers outside of our service area.
Our French Drain Project Steps - From Start to Completion
- Call or complete a Quote Request Form to set up a consultation
- Meet with our expert onsite and discuss options
- We'll make recommendations and provide a written estimate for our team to install the recommended solutions
- To book installation work, submit deposit payment and sign the estimate
- We'll schedule your project for our next available opening
- Our office team will communicate by email with updates on project timing
- We'll call to have all public utilities marked in your yard
- Then we complete project and ensure you are 100% happy with our work
- Lastly, we'll send out the final invoice after work has been completed