[ Service ] Basement Waterproofing Est. 2009

Control Where Water Goes in Your Yard Before It Reaches Your Foundation

Licensed & Insured Workmanship Warranty Free On-Site Inspections
At a glance
Typical cost $500–$5,000+ depending on the scope of drainage improvements and linear footage of drains installed.
Process steps 4
Warranty Backed in writing
Inspections Free, no obligation

[ 01 ]  The Honest Answer

What you should know about yard drainage solutions

Why Yard Drainage Matters for Middle Tennessee Homes

Nashville's annual rainfall of 47 to 50 inches, combined with clay-heavy soils that drain slowly, creates chronic surface water management problems for many Middle Tennessee homeowners. Water that pools near the foundation, runs toward the home from higher ground, or drains from gutters against the basement wall is water that eventually ends up pressuring or entering your basement. Yard drainage improvements address these surface and shallow subsurface water sources at the exterior, before they become a basement problem.

Yard Drainage Solutions We Install

  • Grading corrections: Regrading the soil adjacent to the foundation to slope away from the home at the required minimum 6-inch drop over 10 feet
  • Downspout extension and drainage: Routing gutter downspouts away from the foundation via surface extensions or underground solid-pipe systems discharging at a safe distance
  • Surface channel drains: Linear drains installed in low spots, driveway aprons, or patio areas that collect and channel surface runoff to a proper discharge point
  • French drains: Subsurface drains that intercept shallow groundwater and reroute it away from the foundation perimeter
  • Drainage swales: Graded surface channels that route water flow around the home to a yard-level discharge point

How Bad Yard Drainage Drives Basement Water Problems

A single downspout discharging against the foundation can deliver hundreds of gallons of water per rain event directly to the soil adjacent to the basement wall. Negative grade, soil that slopes toward rather than away from the home, creates a collection zone for every rain event. Correcting these exterior conditions reduces the load on interior waterproofing systems and in some cases eliminates water intrusion without any interior work at all.

Call us at (615) 880-6449 for a free drainage assessment.

$500–$5,000+ depending on the scope of drainage improvements and linear footage of drains installed. Typical cost range for this service, depending on scope and site conditions.
When this isn't the fix: Yard drainage improvements reduce the exterior water load but cannot eliminate water intrusion through wall cracks or porous block if groundwater levels are high enough to pressure the foundation regardless of surface conditions. Interior waterproofing may be needed in addition to exterior drainage for complete protection.

[ 02 ]  How It Works

What to expect, start to finish

Exterior Drainage Assessment

We walk the property and evaluate surface grade, downspout discharge locations, drainage flow paths, low spots, and any existing drainage features to identify where water is collecting and where it is directed.

Drainage Solution Design

Based on the assessment, we design the appropriate combination of grading corrections, downspout routing, surface drains, or French drains needed to redirect water away from the foundation perimeter.

Installation

We complete the specified drainage improvements and verify that all discharge points route water to appropriate locations away from the home.

Final Verification and Site Restoration

Grade and drainage are verified with a level, discharge is tested, and disturbed landscaping and turf are restored.

Exterior drainage is always the first conversation in a basement waterproofing assessment. Before we talk about interior systems, we want to know whether we can reduce what's reaching the wall from outside. Sometimes correcting a downspout and regrading six inches of soil makes a dramatic difference.
DV
Derek Veselich
Derek Veselich, Owner, Ground Up Foundation Repair

[ 03 ]  Why Ground Up

The difference is in the diagnosis

Get several quotes and you'll see a wide range of prices. The gap isn't luck. It's whether the contractor finds the actual cause and stands behind the work.

  • In-house certified crews: we never subcontract your repair
  • Optional independent third-party engineer review on larger jobs
  • Honest three-tier triage: we tell you what can wait, in writing
  • Family owned from the same Shelbyville Highway address since 2009
Installing an exterior French drain system with perforated pipe.
[ 04 ]  FAQ

Yard Drainage Solutions questions

In some cases, yes. If the primary moisture source is surface runoff, negative grade directing water toward the home, downspouts discharging at the foundation, or a neighboring property draining toward yours, correcting those conditions can eliminate or dramatically reduce basement moisture without interior work. We tell you honestly what exterior improvements can and cannot accomplish during the inspection.

Downspout extensions should route water at least 6 to 10 feet from the foundation wall before discharging at grade. Underground solid-pipe extensions that terminate at a daylight outlet or pop-up emitter are the cleanest long-term solution.

Negative grade means the soil immediately adjacent to your foundation slopes toward the home rather than away from it. This creates a collection zone where rainwater pools against the foundation wall. Standard guidance calls for a minimum 6-inch drop over the first 10 feet away from the foundation.

A wet basement that occurs primarily during or immediately after rain events, especially if the moisture enters at the wall-floor joint or through wall cracks on the side facing higher ground or a downspout, is often related to exterior drainage.

Regrading and drain installation disturb turf and planting areas in the work zone. We restore soil and grade after installation, and most homeowners reseed or re-sod affected areas. The disruption is temporary and the benefit is permanent.

[ 06 ]  Customer Reviews

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Where we work

Headquartered in Murfreesboro,
serving Middle Tennessee

From red-clay Rutherford County soil to Nashville’s high water tables and Cookeville’s karst limestone, we know the ground beneath your home.

Also serving: La Vergne, Hendersonville, Gallatin, Lebanon, Clarksville, Tullahoma, Nolensville, Antioch + 100 more cities →

Found a problem? Get a straight answer

Free inspection, written estimate, honest triage. No pressure.