Subsurface drainage strip of pea gravel framed by river rock alongside a freshly sodded lawn

Our Services

French Drains

Subsurface drainage that handles groundwater right.

Subsurface drainage that handles groundwater right.

A French drain is a perforated pipe in a stone envelope that pulls subsurface water away from a problem area — wet basements, soggy yards, slopes that won't dry out. Done right, it's invisible and works for decades. Done wrong, it's a clogged trench full of mud.

We use clean washed stone, filter fabric, and the right pipe slope so your French drain actually drains. We tie it into a daylight discharge or sump point that can handle the volume.

If you're seeing water in the basement during heavy rains in Grand Rapids, we'll evaluate whether a perimeter French drain is the right fix.

What's Included

Every french drains project from Bernal Landscape Management includes the following as standard.

  • Perimeter and yard-style French drains
  • Filter fabric and washed stone envelopes
  • Proper pipe slope and discharge planning
  • Tie-ins to sump systems where needed
  • Hand and machine excavation
  • Clean restoration of turf and beds

Recent Work

Examples of our french drains projects

A look at recent french drains work completed across Grand Rapids and West Michigan.

Long tan block retaining wall with cap stones and a river rock strip running alongside a black aluminum pool fence, bare dirt on the uphill side, wooded hillside with early spring trees in the backgroundL-shaped brown block retaining wall with white stone planter fill and small plants next to concrete steps with a metal handrail, a teal house and yellow house visible across the street in a residential neighborhoodStepped brown block retaining wall with white stone planter fill along the side of a gray-sided two-story house with a satellite dish, concrete sidewalk below, and residential homes across the streetCorner view of a tall brown block retaining wall with white stone planter fill at the top, black rocking chairs on the elevated porch above, concrete sidewalk and green lawn below in a residential neighborhoodCurved segmental block retaining wall with stairs and fresh sod lawn in a West Michigan backyardNatural stone retaining wall with built-in stone steps on a wooded slopeLarge stamped concrete patio with an irregular stone pattern behind a dark gray house with stone veneer accents, an Adirondack chair and metal patio furniture, a grill, and a wooded hillside behindCurved retaining wall with mulched planting beds, a flagstone patio, and a fire pit in a sloped backyardThree Bernal plow trucks lined up at night with headlights on and plows lowered on a snowy lot

Frequently Asked

What is a French drain?

A French drain is a perforated pipe installed in a clean washed stone envelope beneath the surface. It captures subsurface water and redirects it away from problem areas like wet basements, soggy yards, or slopes that will not dry out.

How does Bernal Landscape install French drains?

We use clean washed stone, filter fabric, and properly sloped perforated pipe. Each drain is tied into a daylight discharge or sump point engineered to handle the volume. We offer both perimeter and yard-style French drains.

Can a French drain fix water in my basement?

A perimeter French drain can help redirect subsurface water away from your foundation, which is a common cause of basement water during heavy rains in Grand Rapids. We will evaluate your property and tell you whether a French drain is the right fix.

Ready for french drains done right?

Tell us about your project and we'll get back to you within one business day.