Yard Drainage & Erosion Control in Central New Jersey
Central New Jersey sits on dense clay and shale. Water doesn't percolate — it runs, ponds, and finds foundations. Drainage is the least glamorous work we do and the work that most often saves homeowners the most money.
Quick answer
We diagnose and fix standing water, soggy lawns, eroding slopes and water entering basements using French drains, dry wells, catch basins, channel drains, downspout extensions and regrading. Most residential drainage projects in Central NJ run $2,500–$12,000 depending on run length and outfall options.
Diagnosing where the water actually comes from
Before proposing a fix we walk the property, check roof area and downspout discharge points, shoot grades, and look at how neighboring lots drain onto yours. Most wet-yard complaints turn out to be a combination of roof water dumped at the foundation and negative grade in the first ten feet around the house — both fixable without a large system.
The tools we use
Every property needs a different combination. What matters is having an outfall — a place the water can legally and physically go.
- French drains: perforated pipe in clean stone wrapped in fabric, for intercepting subsurface flow
- Dry wells: buried chambers that store and infiltrate roof water where no daylight outfall exists
- Catch basins and trench drains: for surface collection at low points, patios and garage aprons
- Downspout extensions: solid pipe carrying roof water 10+ feet from the foundation
- Regrading and swales: reshaping the ground so water leaves before it needs a pipe
- Erosion control: terracing, retaining walls and plantings on failing slopes
Drainage and your hardscape
Every patio, walkway and wall we build is designed with pitch and subsurface drainage from the start. If you are already planning a hardscape project, folding the drainage work into the same excavation is dramatically cheaper than retrofitting it later.
Drainage Solutions: common questions
How much does a French drain cost in NJ?
Typically $60–$120 per linear foot installed, depending on depth, access, and whether the trench crosses lawn, hardscape or roots. Most residential projects land between $2,500 and $12,000.
Will a French drain fix my wet basement?
Exterior drainage plus proper grading and downspout extensions solves many basement water problems that originate outside. If water is entering through the foundation itself, that needs a waterproofing contractor — we'll tell you when that's the case.
Where does the water go?
To daylight at a lower point on the property, to a dry well where the soil allows infiltration, or to a municipal stormwater structure where permitted. We identify the outfall before designing the system.
Drainage Solutions across Central New Jersey
We install drainage solutions throughout Somerset, Hunterdon and Mercer County: