Oregon gets a lot of rain. Most years the Portland Metro and Yamhill County see 35-45 inches annually — and it falls almost continuously from October through March. For properties with poor drainage, this means saturated lawns, eroding slopes, and water that creeps toward foundations.
5 Signs You Need a French Drain
- Standing water that persists 24-48 hours after rain ends
- Soggy, spongy turf that doesn't dry out during dry spells
- Water pooling near your home's foundation or crawl space
- Erosion channels or ruts forming on slopes during heavy rain
- Retaining wall that's leaning, cracking, or showing mineral deposits — a sign of water pressure behind it
What Is a French Drain?
A French drain is a gravel-filled trench containing a perforated pipe that redirects groundwater and surface water away from problem areas. Water enters through the gravel and pipe, then flows by gravity to a safe outlet — a storm drain, ditch, dry well, or daylight outlet on a lower part of your property.
French Drain Installation in the Portland Metro
The process starts with identifying where water is coming from and where it needs to go. We excavate the trench, line it with filter fabric, fill with drain rock, install the perforated pipe, and cover with more rock and fabric before backfilling. The outlet point must be carefully chosen to ensure water doesn't just become someone else's problem.
The Yard Artisan LLC installs French drains and drainage systems across Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Newberg, and all of Yamhill County. If your yard stays wet when it shouldn't, call us for an assessment.