When water lingers in the yard or lawn, it doesn’t stay outside for long. Low spots, compacted clay, short downspouts, and poor drainage patterns allow runoff to rush toward your foundation and overwhelm basements during storms.
Dry Basement® designs exterior waterproofing and drainage systems that move water where it belongs (away from your home) without guesswork or temporary fixes.
Water that lingers around your home doesn’t just make a mess. It can create serious foundation issues. Saturated soils build pressure against basement walls, seep into cracks, and overload sump systems. Over time, that stress contributes to leaks and structural instability.
Poor exterior drainage also damages your property. Erosion under sidewalks, steps, and driveways can create voids and lead to settlement. Lawns thin out, mulch washes away, and landscape beds slump. In winter, standing water freezes, causing heaving, cracking, and trip hazards.
When surface water is not managed correctly, each storm worsens the problem. Runoff cuts deeper channels, carries sediment, and undermines your foundation’s defenses. Addressing grading and exterior drainage early is the simplest and most cost-effective way to protect your home and yard.
PROBLEMS Signs You Need Yard Grading & Drainage
Drainage problems typically appear after spring rains or snowmelt. Watch for these signs
We design complete exterior drainage and waterproofing systems that move water safely away from your home while restoring the health of your yard and lawn. Every project begins by understanding how water arrives on your property, where it collects, and how your soil behaves through Midwest seasons.
Typical solutions include:
Regrading soil and lawn areas to create proper slope away from the foundation
Extending and burying gutter downspout drains to carry water farther from the home
Installing French drains, curtain drains, or surface catch basins to intercept pooling water
Adding swales to direct flow naturally across the property
Stabilizing slopes with proper backfill, soil amendments, and turf reinforcement
Improving soil profiles to enhance absorption and reduce standing water
Integrating drainage around window wells, patios, and walkways to reduce pooling and icing
The result is a yard and lawn that shed water correctly, a foundation that stays dry, and a property that holds up through heavy rains and winter freezes.
We walk your yard and lawn after storms, noting low spots, measuring slopes, testing downspouts, and tracking how water flows across the property.
Plan and pricing
You’ll receive a clear plan that shows grading changes, drain locations, and discharge routing, along with straightforward pricing.
Installation
Our crew reshapes grades, installs drainage systems, adds buried downspout lines, and routes discharge away from the foundation to a safe outlet. We compact soils correctly and restore affected lawn or landscape areas.
Final walkthrough
We review the work, verify flow paths, and explain simple maintenance for drains and discharge lines. Every installation is backed by our lifetime transferable warranty.
WHAT SETS US APART
Why Work With Dry Basement®
Since 1975, homeowners across the Midwest have trusted us to manage water at its source: outside the home.
With more than 250 years of combined team experience, we use proven grading practices and drainage components that withstand Midwest rainstorms and winter freeze-thaw cycles.
We’re licensed in Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa, and our local crews are familiar with regional soils, lot layouts, and topography challenges. When you choose Dry Basement®, you receive engineered planning, meticulous installation, and lifetime, transferable warranties for lasting peace of mind.
Discover our range of financing options to make essential home repairs like waterproofing and foundation repair more affordable, ensuring every homeowner can maintain a safe and secure home.
Serving Kansas City, Wichita, Des Moines, and surrounding areas.
For homeowners in Kansas City, Wichita, Columbia, and Des Moines, Dry Basement® Foundation Repair provides specialized repair services to meet the unique needs of every home. View our service area below to find out if our specialists service your community.
How far should downspouts discharge from the house?
Downspouts should discharge at least 10 feet from the foundation, farther for flat lots or heavy clay soils. Buried extensions and pop-up emitters help keep water controlled.
Will regrading alone fix my drainage problem?
Sometimes. But many yards require additional solutions like buried downspouts, French drains, or curtain drains to manage water effectively.
What happens in winter when the ground is frozen?
Our systems account for freeze-thaw cycles. We set depths, slopes, and discharge points to reduce icing and ensure proper drainage even during cold snaps.
Do I need permits for drainage work?
Most residential grading and drainage upgrades don’t require permits, but rules vary by municipality. We’ll advise you and handle documentation if needed.
Yard Drainage Solutions From Dry Basement®
Protecting Homes With Drainage Services
Water should move away from your home, not toward it. If you’re dealing with pooling, washouts, or a wet basement after storms, we’ll map the flow and install a solution that lasts.
Schedule your free yard drainage assessment today. Serving Missouri, Kansas, and Iowa.
