Drainage Assessment in London & Southwestern Ontario: What We Look For
Understanding how water moves on and around your property is the first step to the right solution.
Not Every Wet Yard Needs the Same Fix
When water keeps showing up in your yard or near your foundation, your first instinct might be to jump to a solution: a French drain, a catch basin, or a sump pump discharge line. But the right fix depends on what's actually happening with your property.
That's why we start with an assessment. We look at where the water is coming from, where it collects, how the ground drains, and what constraints affect your yard. Some properties need more infrastructure. Some need less. The difference is what we learn during the assessment.
An assessment doesn't commit you to anything. It clarifies what's happening and what the right next step actually is—before you get a quote, before you invest in a solution.
Here's What We Check During an Assessment
Where the Water Is Coming From
Roof water is bulk water. We check where your downspouts discharge and whether that water is being sent into a low area, close to the foundation, or into poorly draining soil. If water is pooling near your foundation edge, roof water is often the culprit.
Where the Water Is Collecting
We look at the low areas in your yard—places where water naturally settles. Some yards have one obvious puddle. Others have areas where the turf stays wet and doesn't dry up even after the rain stops. That tells us whether we're dealing with surface water movement or subsurface saturation.
How the Ground Is Draining
A lot of yards have clay soil or compacted areas that don't drain well. We assess whether the ground is holding water because of soil type, grading, or both. This directly affects whether a French drain makes sense.
Downspout & Sump Discharge Paths
If your sump pump is running, we check where that water is discharging outside. If it's going into a low area or back near the house, that's creating a problem. Same with downspouts—we confirm whether they have a controlled path away from the foundation.
Foundation & Site Constraints
We look at what else is happening on the property: deck footings, patios, fence lines, utility boxes, or existing landscaping. These affect what solutions are actually possible and practical for your specific yard.
Water Problems We See Often & What We Look For
Standing Water in Your Yard or Low Areas
Symptom: You see puddles or wet turf in the same spot after rain or melt.
What We Assess: Is the ground staying saturated and failing to dry? Are downspouts contributing? Is surface grading directing water toward or away from this spot? Are there underground flow patterns we need to understand?
Why It Matters: Surface water pooling is often solvable with grading, downspout correction, or a catch basin. But we need to see the pattern before we recommend the fix.
Downspout Drainage Problems
Symptom: Water is coming out of your downspouts and either pooling nearby or disappearing into the ground with no controlled path.
What We Assess: Where exactly does each downspout terminate? Is the water going into a low area, close to the foundation, onto poorly draining soil, or into a bowl-shaped zone where it can't move? Is that water affecting the foundation edge or any structures?
Why It Matters: Downspout mismanagement is often the root cause of foundation-edge problems. Correcting downspout discharge is usually step one.
Water Near the Foundation and Wet Basement Concerns
Symptom: You're seeing staining on the foundation, cracks, efflorescence, or interior moisture concerns.
What We Assess: Is exterior water collecting near the foundation? Where is that water coming from—roof discharge, sump pumping, surface grading, or subsurface flow? Are there cracks that could be letting water in? Is the sump pump working and discharging safely?
Why It Matters: Interior water problems almost always have an exterior cause. We assess the outside first so you know what needs to be fixed and why.
Assessment → Understanding → Right Solution
After the assessment, here's what happens:
1. We explain what we found. You'll understand where the water is coming from, where it's collecting, and where it's trying to go. No jargon—just clear explanation.
2. We recommend the right solution. Based on what we learned, we'll explain what approach makes sense for your property. That might be downspout correction, grading adjustment, a French drain, a catch basin, sump discharge work, or a combination. The recommendation matches the property, not a standard template.
3. You get a detailed quote. We'll walk through exactly what the work is, why it solves the problem, and what the investment is. You'll know what you're paying for and why.
Why an Assessment Matters Before You Decide
- Clarity before commitment. You understand the problem and the solution before you invest anything.
- Property-specific recommendations. You're not following a one-size-fits-all plan. The recommendation is based on your actual conditions.
- Confidence in the next step. You know whether you need a French drain, downspout work, grading correction, or something else—because we explained the reasoning.
- Prevent wasted money. A lot of homeowners install fixes that don't address the real problem. An assessment prevents that.
Why Lawn Drainage London for Your Assessment
- NDS Certified
- 4+ years serving London and Southwestern Ontario
- 15+ Google reviews focused on clear assessments, detailed quotes, and property care
- Detailed written quotes — you know what you're paying for and why
- Care for grass, plants, and existing landscaping during every job
- Clear communication and reliable scheduling from quote to completion
“The detail of the quote really caught my eye... No pooling in yard after one of the biggest melts...”
The detail of the quote really caught my eye. Everything went as timed in the quote no delays.
Now a full season later I have absolutely no pooling in my yard after one of the biggest melts we have seen in years and a lot of rain this spring.
If you have drainage issues, I highly recommend Chris!
— Tom D., London, ON ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Chris was very knowledgeable... fair and open with pricing.”
Chris was very knowledgeable. The work was completed promptly and he was fair and open with pricing. Would recommend.
— Keith L., Woodstock, ON ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“...great care taken for our grass and plants... We have had to wipe 0 paws this spring as no water has pooled!”
Chris did an amazing job - his quote was thorough, work started and finished on schedule with great care taken for our grass and other plants and no mess was left behind. 10/10 would recommend to anyone. We had some serious water pooling in our backyard...Every spring we would be constantly wiping our dogs paws when they came in. Happy to report that we have had to wipe 0 paws this spring as no water has pooled!...I wish we did this years ago!
— Nicole D., London, ON ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ready to Understand Your Property?
An assessment is no cost and gives you the clarity to move forward confidently. No obligation to proceed with work—just clear answers about your property.
Questions?
What does a drainage assessment cost?
Assessments are no cost. If a camera inspection of underground drainage lines is needed to fully diagnose the issue, we'll discuss that upfront and let you know the cost before proceeding.
How long does an assessment take?
Typical assessments take 45-90 minutes depending on the size of the property and complexity of the water patterns we're observing.
Do I have to book work after the assessment?
A: No. An assessment gives you clarity about what's happening and what the right next step is. You're under no obligation to proceed with work. Many homeowners book an assessment to better understand their property.
What if I don't need a major solution?
Every property is different. We assess what makes sense, not what's most expensive.
Can you help with both inside (basement) and outside problems?
We specialize in exterior and interior water drainage. Exterior waterproofing examples include:
- lawn/yard drainage
- french drains
- window well drainage
- catch basins
Interior waterproofing examples include:
- sump pumps
- foundation crack repairs
- weeping tile
During the assessment we will look at the symptoms, the cause and the solution.
We assess the outside first to help solve inside problems.
What's the difference between a free estimate and a paid assessment?
A free estimate is typically a visual walkthrough with a ballpark quote. An assessment includes detailed water movement analysis, measurement, evaluation of site constraints, and a specific recommendation based on your property. It's the depth of understanding that sets assessments apart.
What areas do you serve?
Lawn Drainage London provides drainage assessment and solutions for homeowners across Southwestern Ontario including:
Aylmer
Chatham
Delaware
Dorchester
Exeter
Goderich
Grand Bend
Ingersoll
Ilderton
Kilworth
Komoka
London
Lucan
Mount Brydges
Port Stanley
Sarnia
St. Thomas
Stratford
Strathroy
Thamesford
Tillsonburg
Woodstock
Zurich
Areas We Serve
Lawn Drainage London provides drainage assessment and solutions for homeowners across Southwestern Ontario including:
Aylmer
Chatham
Delaware
Dorchester
Exeter
Goderich
Grand Bend
Ingersoll
Ilderton
Kilworth
Komoka
London
Lucan
Mount Brydges
Port Stanley
Sarnia
St. Thomas
Stratford
Strathroy
Thamesford
Tillsonburg
Woodstock
Zurich
Request Your Drainage Assessment
We’ll look at how water is moving across your property and help identify the right next step for your drainage concerns.