French Drain vs Surface Yard Drain: Which One Do You Need?
A French drain and a surface yard drain solve different problems. A French drain catches water moving through or across the ground and carries it away underground. A surface drain, such as a catch basin or channel drain, collects water that is already pooling on top and pipes it off.
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French drain or surface yard drain: which one do you need?
Use a French drain when water travels across your lot from higher ground, seeps along a slope, or soaks the soil beside a foundation. A gravel trench with perforated pipe intercepts it before it reaches the problem spot.
Use a surface drain when water collects in one place, such as a low patch of lawn, the bottom of a driveway or a patio, and simply needs a way out. A grate at the low point feeds a solid pipe that carries the water to the street, a ditch or a pop-up outlet.
How Shreveport clay changes the choice
On the very slowly draining clay found across much of the Shreveport and Bossier area, a French drain cannot rely on the soil to absorb water. It has to be built as a conveyor, with enough fall to carry water to a real outlet. Without an outlet, a French drain in clay just becomes a buried bathtub.
Surface drains work well here because they deal with the water before it has to soak anywhere. They do need cleaning: leaves and grass clippings can block a grate after one storm.
When you need both
Many yards need a combination: a catch basin at the low point, plus a French drain along the side where run-off arrives from the neighbor's lot. Both can usually share the same outlet line.
Common questions
Which costs more?
It depends on length and depth. A short catch basin run is often cheaper than a long French drain, but the right choice is the one that matches how the water moves. See our French drain cost guide for ranges.
Can I connect my downspouts to a French drain?
It is better to give downspouts their own solid pipe. Roof water arrives fast and can overload a perforated French drain line.
Related services
Get a drainage look at your property
Call (318) 216-6513 or use the callback form. Tell us where the water stands and when it shows up, and we will talk through what is likely causing it.