If water is moving downhill toward your house, the best drainage system usually starts with intercepting that flow before it reaches the foundation, patio, driveway, or other low areas. On sloped properties, that often means a curtain drain, a French drain, or a combination of the two.
The right setup depends on how the water is moving, where it is collecting, and where it can safely be redirected.
Is a curtain drain or French drain better for a sloped yard?
A curtain drain is usually better when shallow runoff is moving across a wide section of the slope. A French drain makes more sense when water is collecting in a more defined path or low area.
The deciding factor is where the water is traveling through the property.
Where should the drain go if the water is coming downhill toward the house?
The drain should usually be placed uphill from the area you want to protect. The goal is to catch the water before it reaches the house, not after it has already collected near the foundation.
Placement matters just as much as the type of drain.
Do I need more than one drainage system on a steep property?
Sometimes, yes. A larger sloped property may need one system to intercept runoff higher up and another to manage water closer to the house.
Using more than one system can make sense when the property has multiple water paths or several low areas.
Can a dry well be used with a French drain or curtain drain?
Yes. A French drain or curtain drain can collect and redirect water, while a dry well gives that water a place to disperse underground.
This combination is especially useful when there is no practical surface discharge point nearby.
How do I know if the runoff is already threatening my foundation?
Watch for water collecting near basement walls, erosion along the house, soggy soil close to the foundation, or runoff consistently moving toward the same side of the home.
Those are signs that the drainage problem should be addressed sooner rather than later.
Should I fix the drainage before doing landscaping, a patio, or other work?
Yes. Drainage should come first.
If the water problem is not solved before new landscaping, paving, or masonry goes in, that new work may end up sitting in the same wet conditions that caused the original problem.
Who should I hire to fix drainage on a sloped property in Greenwich?
Look for a drainage contractor who understands grading, runoff, soil conditions, excavation, and how different drainage systems work together.
F. La Rocca & Sons installs French drains, curtain drains, dry wells, and perimeter drains throughout Greenwich and surrounding areas. If water is moving downhill toward your home, the next step is figuring out where to intercept it and where that water should go.
How do I know if a dry well will actually solve my drainage problem? >