Water moved the right way
Yard Grading & Drainage in Grand Rapids, MI
Grades and drains that fit your soil, whether it soaks water up or holds it.
- No-cost site visit and written quote
- MISS DIG ticket placed before every dig
- Erosion control where county rules call for it
Getting Water Off the Lot
Yard grading and drainage solve standing water, soggy lawns and wet basements by shaping the ground and adding drains that carry water somewhere useful. French drain installation is the most-searched excavation-related service in the Grand Rapids area, and the work makes sense here: snowmelt, spring rain and a seasonal water table in loamy till can keep yards wet for weeks.
Grading first
The ground next to a foundation should fall away from it, commonly about 6 inches over the first 10 feet, and then keep moving toward a swale, ditch or street. Backfill around homes settles for years, and many older homes have a grade that tips back toward the walls. Rebuilding that grade with compacted soil is often the cheapest fix. HomeGuide puts grading and leveling at $500 to $5,000.
French drains and swales
Where grading alone is not enough, a French drain collects water in a stone-filled trench with perforated pipe and carries it to an outlet. A grassed swale does the same on the surface. HomeGuide lists exterior French drains at $10 to $35 per linear foot, about $1,000 to $3,500 for 100 feet.
Sand versus till lots
On sandy lots, water usually soaks in fast, and drainage problems come from roofs and pavement dumping water in one spot. A dry well or a buried downspout line often fixes it. On loamy till, water soaks in slowly and the seasonal water table rises in fall and spring, so drains need a real outlet to daylight, a ditch or an approved connection.
Erosion rules near water
If your lot is within 500 feet of a lake or stream in Kent County, earth changes need a soil erosion and sedimentation control permit. Many lots around Reeds Lake, the Grand, Rogue and Thornapple rivers and smaller creeks fall in that zone. We check before grading and leave silt fence and seed as required.
Downspouts and sump lines
Roof water and sump discharge are often the biggest sources. Burying them in solid pipe to a proper outlet is quick and inexpensive, and it keeps water from cycling back to the foundation.
Services Included
Grading and drainage options for West Michigan yards.
Foundation regrading
Rebuilding settled grade to fall away from the house.
French drains
Perforated pipe in stone and fabric to an outlet.
Swales
Grassed channels that guide surface water.
Downspout and sump lines
Solid buried pipe to carry roof and sump water away.
Dry wells
Underground infiltration where sandy soil allows.
Topsoil and seed
Finish grade and restoration after drainage work.
What Yard Grading & Drainage Typically Costs
| Work | Published range |
|---|---|
| Land grading and leveling (HomeGuide) | $500 to $5,000 |
| Yard grading (HomeAdvisor) | $400 to $6,500 |
| Exterior French drain (HomeGuide) | $10 to $35 per linear foot |
| 100 ft exterior drain (HomeGuide) | $1,000 to $3,500 |
| Dry well, installed (HomeGuide) | $50 to $3,000+ |
| French drain permits (HomeGuide) | $100 to $375 |
Ranges come from the published guides named in each row; HomeBlue's are for Grand Rapids, the rest are national. Soil, depth, access and hauling change the total. The written quote for your property is the price.
Step by Step
1. Find the source
Roofs, sump, neighbors, slope or groundwater: we figure out where the water comes from.
2. Pick the fix
Grade, drain, swale, dry well or a mix, with an outlet chosen first.
3. Build
Excavation, stone, pipe and compacted soil to the planned grades.
4. Restore
Topsoil, seed and erosion control as needed.
Yard Grading & Drainage Questions
Will a dry well work on my lot?
On sandy soils, often yes. On loamy till that drains slowly, a dry well can fill and stay full, so we usually recommend an outlet instead.
Why is my yard wet every spring?
Snowmelt and spring rain on till soils with a seasonal water table 2 to 6 feet down leave little room for water to soak in. Grading and drains help move it off.
Do I need a permit to regrade?
Near a lake or stream in Kent County, an SESC permit may be required. Otherwise, small regrades often do not need one. We check for your address.
Can you connect my sump to the drain?
Yes, with solid pipe to the same outlet, as long as local rules allow the discharge point.
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Get a Yard Grading & Drainage Estimate
No-cost drainage visits in Grand Rapids.