The True Cost of Builder-Grade Drainage
Most homes built in the 90s were designed to minimum standard. Here's what it actually costs when those systems fail—and how to fix them permanently.
When most subdivisions on the Eastside were built in the 1990s and 2000s, landscapers were the last trade on site. Budgets were tight, and the goal was to pass inspection, not to build a system that would manage 60 inches of rain a year for decades.
The Clay Soil Problem
Eastside clay doesn't drain. It holds water. When builder-grade black corrugated pipe was laid in shallow trenches without proper gravel or fabric wrapping, it was doomed to fail. Over time, these pipes crush, clog with roots, or simply fill with silt.
Doing it Right
A real drainage system involves deep trenching, smooth-wall PVC pipe, washed drain rock, and professional-grade filter fabric. It costs more upfront, but it's the only way to permanently protect your property.