Problem · foundation
Water standing near your foundation?
Water against the slab after every storm usually comes from the roof and the grade, not bad luck. Causes, the cheap fix first, and what the bigger fixes cost.
Free yard inspection within 48 hours · written price before we dig
Water that stands against the foundation after every storm is the drainage problem homeowners worry about most, and on a Jacksonville house the cause is usually close at hand. In most cases it is roof water dumped at the wall and soil that slopes the wrong way — both of which are fixable without digging up the whole yard. Only after those are dealt with does it make sense to talk about a French drain around the house.
Here is how water reaches the slab on Northeast Florida lots, what you can check yourself, and the fixes in the order we apply them.
Why it happens
Downspouts ending at the wall
Every inch of rain on a 2,000 square foot roof is more than a thousand gallons, and most of it leaves through downspouts that end on a splash block about 18 inches from the slab.
Soil sloping toward the house
Beds and patios added after the house was built, or a lot that settled, send surface water back to the foundation instead of away from it.
Hardpan under the sand
At about 12 to 36 inches most lots hit hardpan. Rain soaks in, stops and runs sideways — sometimes straight to your foundation.
Overflowing or missing gutters
A clogged or undersized gutter dumps the roof along the whole wall, no matter where the downspout ends.
A neighbor's lot that sits higher
Runoff from the next lot crosses yours and collects at the first obstacle: your house.
What you can check this week
- Walk around the house in a storm and watch every downspout.
- Look for the wettest spots: within six feet of the house, usually at a corner, points to the roof.
- Check the soil next to the slab — it should fall away from the house, not toward it.
- Look for an algae or stain line on the stucco near the ground and mulch that washes out of the same bed every storm.
The fixes, from the cheapest up
Which one you need depends on where the water comes from and where it can legally go — that is what the free inspection is for.
Gutters and more downspouts
Seamless gutters on the side that floods and enough downspouts for the roof, so the water reaches the downspouts in the first place.
$6 – $12 / ftGutters & Downspout Extensions
Downspouts piped underground
Each downspout tied into solid pipe and carried to the street, a swale or a dry well. The cheapest fix and often the whole one.
$300 – $800 per pointDownspout & Underground Drainage
Regrade around the house
Re-shape the soil so it falls away from the foundation into a grassed swale that carries the water off.
$1,000 – $5,000Yard Regrading & Swales
French drain to intercept
Where water arrives below the surface along the hardpan, a French drain intercepts it before it reaches the house.
$20 – $45 / ftFrench Drain Installation
What will it cost?
Add up drain length, downspout lines, catch basins and dry wells with the same ranges as our price guide.
Water near the foundation: FAQ
Do I need a French drain around my foundation?
Usually not first. On most Jacksonville houses the water at the foundation comes from downspouts and the grade, and piping the downspouts and correcting the slope fixes it for a fraction of the cost. A French drain is the answer when water still arrives underground along the hardpan after that.
How much does a foundation French drain cost?
French drains run $20 to $45 per foot installed in our area; a typical 50 to 100 foot run is $2,000 to $6,000. Downspout lines are $300 to $800 per point and regrading $1,000 to $5,000, which is why we check those first.
How much does regrading around the foundation cost?
Regrading or a swale runs $1,000 to $5,000 in our area, about $2,500 typical, depending on the area moved and the sod replaced.
Is water near the foundation an emergency?
A puddle that clears within a day after a big storm is common on sand over hardpan. Water that stands against the slab after every storm, or gets into the house or garage, is worth an inspection — it is free and we come within 48 hours.
Other problems we fix
Prefer a call back?
Name and number. That's it.
We call back during service hours to set your free inspection — usually within the hour. Free yard inspection within 48 hours · written price before we dig.
Raining right now? Take a photo.
Water standing where it shouldn't?
The best time to see a drainage problem is during the storm. Snap the puddle, note where the downspouts end, and send it — we schedule a free inspection within 48 hours.
(904) 561-1816Free inspection
Book your free inspection
Tell us what happens when it rains and attach a photo if you have one. We inspect within 48 hours and write the price down before we dig.
(904) 561-1816- Free yard inspection within 48 hours
- Insured · NDS-trained drainage crew
- Written price before we dig
- Mon–Sat: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
