Drain Tile, Grading & French Drains in Des Moines, IA
Buried drain tile with pop-up emitters, positive grading that pushes water away from the house, and French drain systems that keep large amounts of water from pooling around your foundation.
Recent Drainage Projects
Real drain tile, grading, and French drain work from yards across the Des Moines metro — no stock photos.
Des Moines — Buried drain tile
Central Iowa — French drain
Des Moines — Regrade & drain line
Central Iowa — Catch basin
Get Your Free Drainage Assessment
Tell us where the water sits. We'll walk the property, find the source, and put honest pricing in writing — no pressure, no obligation.
- Response within 3 mins
- Licensed & insured Iowa crew
- Free on-site assessment & written quote
Get the Water Away from Your House
Des Moines gets over 35 inches of rain a year and sits on dense clay that barely absorbs it. When roof water dumps at the foundation and the yard slopes the wrong way, that water has one place to go — down against your block and into the basement. We fix it at the source with buried drain tile, corrected grading, and French drain systems built for Iowa soil.
Buried Tile, Pop-Up Emitters, Real Grade
Our standard drainage package is simple and it works: downspouts tied into buried drain tile, discharged through pop-up emitters far from the house; the first 10 feet of grade rebuilt with compacted clean soil so it falls away from the foundation; and French drain lines through the low spots so large amounts of water never get the chance to pool around the house.
Serving Every Wet Yard in Central Iowa
We serve homeowners throughout Des Moines, Ankeny, West Des Moines, Urbandale, Johnston, Clive, Waukee, Altoona, Pleasant Hill, and all surrounding Central Iowa communities. Call (515) 461-8107 for a free on-site drainage assessment.
We Don't Stop Till You Love It
Your satisfaction isn't just a goal—it's our promise. We'll work with you until every detail is exactly right. That's the Green Thumb difference.
Why Des Moines Homeowners Choose Us
Proper drainage doesn't just dry out your yard — it protects your entire property from costly water damage.
Drainage Projects Near Des Moines
Real projects completed for homeowners across Des Moines and Central Iowa. No stock photos — this is our actual work.
Tired of Standing Water?
Get your free drainage assessment today. We'll find the source of the problem, design a lasting solution, and give you honest pricing with no pressure.
Drainage Systems We Install
Buried drain tile, positive grading, and French drain systems — the right combination for your specific water problem, never a cookie-cutter fix.
Buried Drain Tile with Pop-Up Emitters
We take your downspouts underground. Solid buried drain tile carries roof water 15–40 feet away from the foundation and releases it through a spring-loaded pop-up emitter that sits flush with the lawn — no more splash blocks in the flower bed, no more gushing water dumping at the corner of the house. Every run is pitched for gravity flow, glued at the joints, and buried below mower depth so you can cut grass right over the top of it.
Downspouts underground • Flush pop-up emitters • Mow right over it
Positive Grading with Soil Away from the House
Water problems almost always start at the grade. We haul in clean fill soil and rebuild the first 6–10 feet around your foundation so it drops roughly 6 inches over the first 10 feet — a true positive grade that pushes water away from the house instead of letting it settle against the block. We compact in lifts, feather the new grade into the existing lawn, and finish with seed or sod so it looks intentional, not patched.
6" fall over 10 ft • Compacted clean fill • Seeded or sodded finish
French Drain Systems in the Yard
For yards that hold large amounts of water, we install French drain systems — perforated pipe bedded in washed rock and wrapped in filter fabric — that intercept groundwater and surface runoff before it can pool around the house. We map the low spots, trench the collection lines through them, and daylight the discharge at a safe outlet so heavy Iowa rains move off the property instead of sitting against your foundation for days.
Stops pooling near the house • Washed rock + filter fabric • Daylighted outlet
Catch Basins & Surface Collection
Low spots in the middle of a lawn, at the base of a driveway, or in a fenced side yard need somewhere for water to go. We set catch basins at the collection points and tie them into the buried line so standing water disappears in minutes instead of days. Grates sit at turf height, so they collect water without becoming a trip hazard or an eyesore.
Clears low spots fast • Turf-height grates • Ties into buried line
Dry Creek Beds
Dry creek beds handle heavy runoff and look like they belong there. Rock-lined channels guide stormwater along a controlled path, stop the washouts that carve ruts through the lawn after every downpour, and add a real landscape feature at the same time. They pair perfectly with a buried line underneath for storms that overwhelm surface flow alone.
Controls runoff erosion • Adds curb appeal • Low maintenance
Foundation & Window Well Protection
If water is finding its way into the basement, we treat the exterior first. That means correcting the grade, extending discharge lines well past the drip line, adding drainage rock at problem corners, and draining window wells into the buried system. Fixing the water outside is almost always cheaper than chasing it once it's inside.
Protects basements • Window well drains • Exterior-first approach
Proudly serving Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, West Des Moines, Johnston, Clive, Waukee, and all surrounding Central Iowa communities.
5.0 stars from 36 verified Google reviews.
How It Works
From first call to finished project — here's exactly what to expect.
Assessment
We walk the property, check the grade at the foundation, trace where every downspout dumps, and find the low spots holding water. The assessment is free and you get a straight explanation of what's happening and why.
Design
We lay out the system on your yard — buried tile runs and emitter locations, how much soil the grade needs, and where French drain lines and catch basins should sit. Transparent pricing up front, no hidden fees.
Installation
Our crew trenches, sets pipe at proper fall, beds French drains in washed rock and fabric, hauls in and compacts fill soil for positive grade, then backfills and restores the turf. We leave the yard clean.
Water Test & Walkthrough
We run water through every line, confirm the emitters pop and discharge, verify the grade falls away from the house, and walk the whole system with you before we call it done.
Drainage Solutions FAQ — Des Moines & Central Iowa
What is buried drain tile with a pop-up emitter?
It's solid PVC or corrugated pipe buried underground and connected directly to your downspouts. Instead of dumping roof water at the corner of the house, the pipe carries it 15 to 40 feet out into the yard, where a spring-loaded pop-up emitter sits flush with the lawn. When water flows, the lid pops open and releases it; when it stops, the lid closes so you can mow right over the top. It's the single most effective fix for water sitting against a foundation.
What is a positive grade and why does my house need one?
A positive grade means the soil around your foundation slopes away from the house — the standard is about 6 inches of fall over the first 10 feet. Many Des Moines yards have settled over the years so the soil now slopes back toward the block, which funnels every rainfall straight down the foundation wall. We haul in clean fill soil, build the grade back up in compacted lifts, and blend it into the existing lawn with seed or sod.
What is a French drain?
A French drain is a trench containing perforated pipe bedded in washed rock and wrapped in filter fabric. It collects groundwater and surface runoff across a wide area and carries it by gravity to a safe discharge point. In Central Iowa's clay soil, French drain systems are the most reliable way to stop large amounts of water from pooling in the yard and around the house.
How much does drainage installation cost in Des Moines?
Costs depend on scope and site conditions. Burying downspouts with pop-up emitters typically starts around $500 to $1,500 per run. French drain systems usually range from $2,000 to $6,000. Full regrading around a foundation or a combined system with multiple drain lines and catch basins can run $3,000 to $12,000. Every estimate is free and in writing.
How do I know if I have a drainage problem?
Common signs: standing water more than 24 hours after rain, soggy or mushy spots in the lawn, water pooling against the foundation, basement moisture or musty odors, erosion channels cut into the soil, mulch washing out of beds, and dead grass in low areas. Any one of those is worth a free assessment before it gets worse.
How long does installation take?
Most residential drainage projects take 1 to 3 days. Burying downspouts with emitters is often a single day. French drain systems, regrading, and combined projects usually run 2 to 4 days. We give you a clear timeline before we start and work to keep disruption to a minimum.
Will this fix my flooded basement?
In most cases, yes. Basement water almost always starts outside — roof water dumping at the foundation and a grade that slopes the wrong way. Burying the downspouts, rebuilding the grade, and adding French drains removes the water source before it reaches the wall. For severe cases we'll tell you honestly if interior waterproofing is also needed.
Related Services
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Get Your Free Drainage Assessment Today
Free estimates for Des Moines, Ankeny, West Des Moines, Urbandale, Johnston, and all Central Iowa communities. No obligation — just expert advice from local professionals.
Drainage Solutions Across the Des Moines Metro
We provide drainage solutions services to every community within 20 miles of Des Moines. Pick your city for local pricing, project examples & FAQs.