Drainage Solutions in Houston, TX
Inside the loop, drainage problems usually trace back to one thing: the lot was platted before modern stormwater design existed. The original sheet-flow paths got paved over by 1965, and the soil has been compacted for two or three generations since. We solve drainage for Memorial, the Heights, Bellaire, River Oaks, West University, and the surrounding inner-loop neighborhoods.
What Makes Houston-Proper Drainage Different
Most of our inner-loop work happens on lots that were graded a long time ago. The drainage assumptions baked into those lots no longer hold:
- Compacted clay: Decades of foot traffic and construction have packed the topsoil tight. Even sandy-loam sections of the Heights and Memorial have a stiff clay layer 6 to 12 inches down that water can't penetrate.
- Reduced pervious area: Rebuilds, pool additions, expanded driveways, and bigger footprints mean less ground available to absorb runoff than the lot was designed for.
- Older infrastructure: Street drains in older neighborhoods can be undersized for modern rainfall totals. Some streets back up before the curb does its job.
- Pier-and-beam foundations: A lot of pre-1960 homes still have crawlspaces. Drainage near these homes has to keep the crawlspace dry, not just the lawn.
- Floodplain proximity: Buffalo Bayou, White Oak Bayou, and Brays Bayou all run through inner-loop neighborhoods. Yard drainage doesn't stop bayou events, but it does stop the everyday ponding that damages foundations between them.
Drainage Services We Install in Houston
Inner-loop jobs almost always combine more than one system. The typical install includes some mix of these:
French Drains
Buried gravel and pipe trenches that intercept subsurface water before it reaches the foundation or saturates the lawn.
Catch Basins
Surface inlets placed at low points in the yard to grab runoff before it pools or sheets toward the house.
Channel Drains
Linear drains set flush into driveways, patios, and pool decks to catch hardscape runoff.
Downspout Extensions
Buried PVC runs that move roof water 10 to 20 feet from the foundation, the single highest-impact change on most older Houston homes.
Pop-Up Drains
Flush emitters that discharge collected water to the lawn or curb, opening under pressure and closing flat when dry.
Drain Cleaning & Repair
Clearing silt, roots, and blockages from existing French drains, or rebuilding sections that have collapsed.
Houston Neighborhoods We Serve
We work across the inner loop and the close-in neighborhoods. If you don't see your area below, call us — we likely work there too.
- Memorial
- The Heights
- Bellaire
- West University Place
- River Oaks
- Tanglewood
- Briargrove
- Spring Branch
- Garden Oaks
- Oak Forest
- Montrose
- Rice Military
- EaDo
- Museum District