Call Now Free Estimate
Central Florida's Dedicated Drainage Specialists

French Drain Installation in Oviedo, FL

A rock-and-fabric French drain collects water below the surface and moves it away from your foundation, downspouts, and low spots. We size it right, pitch it right, and price it on site.

Call (689) 399-7320
4.9★ Google Reviews (29)
1,000+ Jobs Completed
Fully Insured
Oviedo & Seminole County
How It Works • French Drain Installation

The fix for water coming from below

A French drain is a buried trench filled with rock and gravel, wrapped in filter fabric, with a perforated pipe at the bottom. Water that soaks into the ground collects in the trench, enters the pipe, and flows down the pitch to a drain or outlet away from the house. It solves the problem a surface drain cannot: water that is coming from below or seeping toward the foundation.

The single biggest mistake homeowners make is calling every pipe in the ground a French drain. Most of the time what a property actually needs is a simple yard drain - solid pipe moving surface water from point A to point B. When we install a French drain, it is because the situation genuinely calls for pulling water out of the ground, not because a sales pitch said so. We'll tell you which one you need, on site, before we quote anything.

French drains cost more per foot than solid pipe ($35 vs. $16 for a yard drain) because there is more material and more labor in the trench. That premium is worth it - when the diagnosis is right.

What's Included in Every Installation

  • Free on-site visit to diagnose where the water is coming from
  • Trench cut to the right depth and pitch so water actually flows
  • Filter fabric wrap so the pipe stays open and doesn't silt up
  • Washed rock or gravel fill back up the trench
  • A proper outlet - to a daylight point, dry well, or approved drain
  • Final grade and re-sod or topsoil where we dug, so your yard is left clean

Common Applications

Transparent Pricing

Starting Rates

Yard drain (solid pipe)Surface water moving point to point. Often all a property needs.
$16/lf
French drain (rock + fabric)Subsurface water collection. The right fix for foundation and low-spot water.
$35/lf
French drain + gradingWhere the lot pitch also needs correcting to give the water somewhere to go.
On-site quote
Starting prices only. Every yard is unique. Your final, firm price is provided on site during our free diagnosis visit.
Get Free On-Site Quote
Florida Conditions

Why Central Florida ground calls for French drains

Central Florida has two problems working against every yard: a high water table and ground that layers sand over clay. After a big afternoon storm, the water table can rise within a foot of the surface in low-lying areas, and water from a poorly pitched lot runs toward the foundation instead of away from it. That is exactly the situation a French drain is engineered for - pulling subsurface water out and giving it a path to leave.

In newer communities across Oviedo, Lake Nona, and the Seminole County towns, developers grade lots to a single low point. When that low point sits next to the house, you get a wet foundation. A French drain tied to the right outlet fixes the cause, not the symptom.

French Drain Installation in Central Florida
Complete Drainage Stack

Other Services We Provide

Yard Drainage by PMH French Drain Contractors

Yard Drainage

Solid-pipe yard drains that move standing surface water from point A to point B - the workhorse fix for most soggy yards.

View Service →
Channel Drains by PMH French Drain Contractors

Channel Drains

Linear trench drains set flush into pool decks, patios, and driveways, catching runoff before it reaches the house.

View Service →
Grading & Regrading by PMH French Drain Contractors

Grading & Regrading

Machine grading that reshapes a low or wrongly pitched lot so water physically runs away from the structure.

View Service →
PVC Drain Pipe Installation by PMH French Drain Contractors

PVC Drain Pipe Installation

Solid PVC runs sized to the water load and pitched right, carrying water off your property for good.

View Service →
Clear Answers

French Drain Installation FAQs

Most French drains start at $35 per linear foot installed, including the trench, fabric, washed rock, and pipe. The total depends on the length of the run, depth, and how far the water has to go to an outlet. We give you an exact price on site, not a guess.

A yard drain is solid pipe moving surface water from point A to point B. A French drain is a buried trench of rock and fabric that collects water soaking down from above and moves it away below ground. Most properties actually need a yard drain; when subsurface water is the problem, you need a French drain.

Not necessarily. A soggy yard that drains within a day is often a surface-water and low-spot problem a yard drain or regrade solves for less. We diagnose it on site and won't sell you a French drain you don't need.

No - if it's installed right. The filter fabric keeps soil out, the pitch keeps water moving, and the outlet gives it somewhere to go. We keep 6–8 inches of clearance off the foundation and route to a proper outlet so water never has a reason to sit against your home.

Surface French drains and yard drains that don't alter the structure normally do not require a building permit in Seminole County or the City of Oviedo. Anything touching the foundation or drainage tied into the sewer system may require one. We flag it if your job needs a permit and handle it with the right authority.

Yes. We're based in Oviedo and install French drains across Oviedo, Winter Garden, Lake Nona, Windermere, and all of Seminole County.

Get a Clear, On-Site Quote for French Drain Installation

Schedule your free site visit today. We diagnose the water path and provide an exact price before we leave.

Get a Free Estimate Call (689) 399-7320