Drainage Installation in Birmingham, MI

Explore Our Range of Yard Drain Installations

Our Drain & Drainage Installations address different sources of excess water. We recommend the right combination based on your property’s conditions.

French Drains
Recognizable by their drain tile, French drains consist of rock-filled trenches that guide water into a perforated pipe. Gravity then redirects the water to a more suitable location, such as a storm drain or dry well. French drain installation in Birmingham, MI, is a strong choice for managing groundwater movement and helping reduce the risk of basement flooding in yards with subsurface saturation.

Dry Creek Beds
Dry creek beds work well for Birmingham properties with shaded areas and minimal slope. They manage significant water flow, reduce erosion, and help reduce excessive soil movement. Designs range from simple to elaborate, allowing a well-executed dry creek bed to become a landscape feature rather than an eyesore.

Channel Drains
Ideal for hardscapes such as driveways, patios, and walkways, channel drains use long grates to collect surface water and carry it from problem areas. They’re practical where standing water creates drainage and safety problems under heavy foot or vehicle traffic.

Downspout Drains
Connected to your gutter system, downspout drains move concentrated roof runoff away from the house. Gutters collect water from the entire roof and deposit it at a single exit point, so downspout drainage can help reduce the risk of foundation water damage. Depending on your property’s slope, extensions or underground drain lines may be needed.

Direct Pipe
Direct Pipe connects to your gutter system and routes runoff from your home’s foundation through a sealed pipe. This option works well when debris-entry risk is low and no trees overhang the roofline.

Drainage Defender
Designed for properties with numerous overhanging trees, the Drainage Defender features an angled grate that allows water to flow through while keeping leaves and debris out, reducing clogs and maintenance needs.

Pop-Up Emitter
The pop-up emitter serves as the endpoint of the PVC piping in a drainage system, releasing water at a suitable location away from your home. It’s a discreet, efficient way to discharge excess water and help limit surface pooling at the pipe exit.

How Dry Wells Manage Surface Runoff

A dry well is an underground structure that receives stormwater runoff and allows it to infiltrate the surrounding ground through gravity. Water enters through connected pipes and collects in a pit containing gravel, riprap, rubble, or a perforated casing.

Dry-well performance depends on soil infiltration and the depth of the poorly draining layer. In areas with clay-enriched soil, sufficient depth can move water toward more permeable material below. Site conditions determine whether this type of outlet is appropriate.

Yard Grading & Runoff in Birmingham, MI

Yard grading uses the property’s slope to direct surface water from the foundation and low areas. A grading plan must also account for where the water goes after leaving the problem area.

Birmingham’s Builders Code of Conduct requires temporary and permanent grading to avoid creating drainage problems for neighboring properties. For new residential construction, the city also requires documentation showing that runoff from the proposed improvement won’t negatively affect adjacent properties.

Drainage Review for Construction & Site Work

Birmingham’s Engineering Department reviews plans for new development, provides technical drainage guidance, and issues permits for stormwater runoff and other site work. New residential construction requires an Engineering Site Evaluation Permit application addressing site drainage, sewer service, and water service through supporting construction documents.

These requirements don’t mean every landscape drain installation needs the same review. The applicable process depends on the project’s scope and its connection to other construction or site work. Birmingham operates its storm sewer system under a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permit issued by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

What to Expect During Drainage Installation

Yard drain installation requires trench excavation to place pipe and drain components at the correct depth and grade. Once our drainage work is complete, you may need a third-party landscaper to restore your property’s appearance. We can walk you through what to expect before work begins so there are no surprises.