Should You Regrade Your Yard or Install a French Drain?

Start by tracing where the water comes from

Before choosing a fix, figure out the source. A lot of yard water is runoff from hard surfaces like roofs, driveways and walks, which shed rain instead of letting it soak in. Pennsylvania's stormwater booklet notes that replacing woods or meadow with houses, pavement and even lawn means more rain turns into runoff.

• The DEP stormwater booklet says wooded or meadow areas in most of Pennsylvania need about an inch or more of rain before runoff starts.
• The same booklet says about 95% of the state's rainfall volume comes in small storms, under roughly 2.4 to 3.2 inches depending on location.
• Turning a downspout onto lawn lets grass filter it and soil absorb it.
• Where a downspout lets out, a splash guard or small pile of rocks can slow the water and help prevent erosion.
• Trees, shrubs and decorative grasses take up and hold more rain than a grass lawn does.

When grading is part of the answer

Grading is one kind of work B&K has been asked to estimate. One customer contacted B&K to grade an area that diverts a lot of rain runoff from their house, where 13 large hemlocks were being replaced with inkberry holly.

On that job, Kurt wanted to see the area before the stumps were ground and explained that at times it's best to remove stumps entirely. Reviewers also recall a time Kurt said a homeowner needed a landscaper, not an excavator.

Check this before any digging

Before digging, check whether your home was built after 2010. Under Pennsylvania rules, stormwater features built with newer homes may be recorded with the deed, and the owner may be legally responsible for keeping them working.

• For homes built after 2010, the developer records any post-construction stormwater features with the property deed.
• To see whether that applies to you, review your property's records with your county's Recorder of Deeds.
• Recorded features must stay in place. For example, you can't level a rain garden and plant lawn over it.
• Skipping required maintenance can mean a bill from your municipality or a summary offense with daily fines.

What getting an estimate from B&K looks like

Reviewers describe a few paths. Sometimes no visit is needed: Ralph Smith got a fair estimate by phone within 15 minutes because Bob knew the area. Other times Bob and Kurt come out, and Nancy Saxton-Mattie had her estimate the same evening as the visit. These are reviewers' accounts from B&K's Google reviews, not promises.

• Ralph Smith's final bill came in slightly under the estimate, with no hidden costs.
• Susanna Hummer says they will work with you on what you can afford.
• Dan Keeley lists the crew as on time for both the quote and the start of the job.
• B&K is licensed/registered and insured.

Common questions