Drainage
Effective drainage solutions that stop waterlogging and protect your garden and property.
About this service
Poor drainage is one of the most damaging problems a garden can have — waterlogged lawns, flooded patios and saturated borders that kill plants and cause structural damage. We diagnose the root cause (compaction, high water table, blocked soakaways, inadequate surface falls) and install the appropriate solution, from French drains and channel drains to soakaways and sump pumps.
French Drains
A perforated pipe in a gravel-filled trench intercepts groundwater and directs it to a soakaway or watercourse. Most effective for sloping sites with a defined flow path.
Channel & Linear Drains
Surface water from patios, driveways and paths is collected via a linear channel set flush with the surface and discharged to a drainage point.
Soakaway Installation
A gravel-filled or crate-system soakaway allows water to percolate into the subsoil. We carry out a percolation test first to confirm the soakaway will function in your ground conditions.
Lawn Aeration & Slit Drainage
For waterlogged lawns on clay soils, slit drainage — narrow trenches backfilled with sharp sand — creates vertical pathways for water to escape past the impermeable clay layer.
Sump Pumps
For sites with a high water table where gravity drainage is not viable, a sump pump provides active water removal — we size, supply and install the complete system.
Permeable Paving
Block paving with open-jointed aggregate or permeable concrete allows water to pass through the surface layer and into a sub-base reservoir — meeting SuDS requirements for new driveways.
Our process
A clear, professional approach on every project — so you know what to expect at every stage.
Drainage Survey
We assess the site during or after rain to observe flow paths, identify blocked or undersized drains and determine whether the issue is surface, sub-surface or structural.
Percolation Testing
For soakaway design we dig a test pit and time how quickly water drains — this calculation determines the required soakaway size and confirms viability.
System Design
A drainage scheme is drawn up showing pipe routes, gradients, inspection chambers and outfall. We confirm it meets the requirements of Approved Document H where applicable.
Installation
Trenches are excavated, pipes laid to gradient, inspection chambers installed, and the system back-filled and compacted. All pipe connections are push-fit with full gaskets.
Testing & CCTV
On larger installations we camera-inspect the completed pipework to confirm joints are clean and gradient is consistent before backfilling is completed.
Common questions
Practical answers to the questions we hear most often about drainage.
Why does my lawn flood after heavy rain?
Usually a combination of clay soil, compaction and insufficient surface gradient. In Hampshire, many gardens sit on London clay or Barton clay which has very low permeability. Aeration and slit drainage resolves most cases; severe sites may need a French drain or sump.
Can I connect a French drain to the sewer?
No — surface water drainage must not be connected to the foul sewer. It should be directed to a soakaway, watercourse, or surface water drain (with consent from the water authority or Environment Agency).
How deep does a French drain need to be?
Typically 600–900 mm for a garden French drain. The pipe needs to sit below the level of the waterlogging and drain to a lower outfall point — gradient of minimum 1:200 is needed to keep water flowing.
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Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote on your drainage project. We cover Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire.