Service · Denham Springs & Greater Baton Rouge
Drainage Solutions
Drainage work is grading, ditching, and installing culverts so water moves off a property instead of sitting on it. We build drainage for homes, driveways, and rural tracts across the Baton Rouge area, where flat terrain and heavy seasonal rainfall mean a lot of standing-water problems come down to a few inches of missing fall between the trouble spot and the nearest ditch.
What's Included
What we handle on a drainage job
- Culvert installation at driveway and road frontage crossings
- Ditch cleaning, re-grading, and new ditch construction
- Swale grading to route surface water away from structures
- Yard and lot re-grading to correct standing water
- Drainage tied to new construction, pads, and driveways
- Diagnosing the actual cause of a wet spot before recommending a fix
Our Process
How a drainage job runs
Walk it after it's wet
We look at the property, ideally after recent rain, to see exactly where water pools and where it should be going instead.
Written scope & quote
A written estimate covering the grading, ditch, or culvert work needed — within 48 hours.
Build the drainage path
We cut ditches, set culverts, or re-grade to establish real fall toward an outlet.
Verify it drains
We check the finished grade and, where possible, watch it perform in the next rain.
Pricing
What affects the price
- Length of ditch or swale neededMore linear footage means more excavation and grading time.
- Culvert size & countPipe diameter and how many crossings are needed affect material and labor cost.
- Existing grade & elevation changeHow much cut is needed to establish proper fall toward the outlet.
- Outlet availabilityWhether there's an existing ditch, easement, or public drainage nearby to tie into.
- PermittingWork tied into a public road ditch or new construction may require permit coordination.
- Soil & access conditionsWet ground or tight access can slow equipment down.
Local Know-How
Why local experience matters
South Louisiana gets intense, fast-moving rain events, and this area's flat terrain gives water very little natural gradient to work with. A property that looks fine most of the year can flood in a single hard rain if the drainage path was never properly established, which is why we grade for the worst rain, not the average one.
Gumbo clay soil compounds the problem — it absorbs water slowly, so surface drainage carries more of the load here than it would in sandier soil elsewhere. Getting the ditch, swale, or culvert sized and sloped correctly matters more in this soil than most homeowners expect.
We also know that draining water onto a neighbor's property or into a public ditch without proper permitting can create real disputes and liability, so we check what East Baton Rouge, Ascension, or Livingston parish requires before tying into any public drainage system.
FAQ
Common questions
Why does my yard hold water after every rain?
Usually it's a lack of fall — the grade isn't sloped enough toward a ditch, swale, or storm drain to move water off. Heavy clay soil makes it worse because it absorbs water slowly. We check existing elevations to find the actual cause before recommending a fix.
Do I need a permit to install a culvert or change my drainage?
Many parishes require a permit for a new culvert, especially where it ties into a public road ditch, and some drainage work tied to new construction needs approval too. We'll tell you what applies before we start, since draining water onto a neighbor's property or blocking a public ditch can create real problems.
What's the difference between a ditch, a swale, and a culvert?
A ditch is an open channel that carries water along a route, usually beside a road. A swale is a shallow, graded low point that directs water across a yard without a hard channel. A culvert is a pipe that lets water pass under a driveway or road while keeping the ditch continuous. Most drainage plans use some combination of the three.
Can drainage work fix standing water near my foundation?
Often, yes, if the cause is surface grading rather than a plumbing or gutter issue. We check where the water is coming from and pooling before recommending re-grading, a swale, or a French drain-style solution.
How often does drainage work need maintenance afterward?
Ditches and swales silt in over time and should be checked yearly, especially after a major storm. Culverts can clog with debris and need occasional clearing. We can point out what to watch for so small maintenance doesn't turn into a bigger regrading job later.
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