What to Ask Before Hiring a Drainage Contractor in Collin County
A short list of questions that separate real drainage pros from landscapers who occasionally dig a trench.
Yard drainage work is one of those trades where the finished job looks the same whether it was done well or badly — until the next big storm. These are the questions worth asking before signing anything.
1. What kind of pipe do you use?
Smooth-wall PVC lasts longer and clogs less than corrugated black pipe. For downspout runs and French drain outfalls, PVC is almost always the right answer.
2. How deep is the French drain and what's the slope?
A French drain that's too shallow or too flat won't drain. Ask specifically about depth and the fall (slope) over the length of the run.
3. Where does the water actually go?
"Out into the yard" isn't an answer. Water needs to end somewhere lower than the collection point — a street, alley, drainage easement, or a pop-up in a low area.
4. Are you wrapping the gravel and pipe in fabric?
Without landscape fabric, silt clogs the pipe within a few years. This is a standard step and skipping it is a red flag.
5. What does the yard look like when you're done?
Sod replaced or reseeded, trenches compacted, cleanup done. Get this in writing so it isn't a surprise later.
6. Do you provide a written estimate?
A one-line quote scrawled on the back of a business card isn't a real estimate. You want scope, materials, and price in writing before work starts.