Foundation Repair Services

Drainage & Grading Correction

Atlanta gets 50+ inches of rain a year, and Piedmont clay holds every drop against your foundation. French drains, downspout extensions, and correct grading are the cheapest and most effective foundation protection you can buy.

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Licensed & insured in Georgia · Free, no-pressure foundation inspection across metro Atlanta

About this service

What drainage and grading correction actually is.

Drainage and grading correction is exterior water management: making sure rain that hits your roof, your yard, and your neighbor's slope moves away from the foundation instead of pooling against it. In metro Atlanta this is essential because our clay soils don't drain — water sits, saturates, swells, and pushes against basement walls and slabs.

Most homes only need three things done right: gutters and downspouts that discharge at least 6 feet from the foundation, positive slope (6 inches of fall in the first 10 feet), and a French drain wherever surface fixes aren't enough. When we do foundation repair without fixing the water, the repair works — but the underlying condition keeps punishing everything else.

On the job

Drainage & Grading Correction — real Atlanta-area work.

Foundation drainage inspection along the perimeter of a metro Atlanta home after heavy Georgia rain — Walking the drip line after a rain — that's where drainage problems show.

Regraded soil and downspout extension routing water away from a foundation in Atlanta, Georgia — Regraded soil and extended downspouts — the water goes away from the house.

Atlanta-area home with corrected drainage and clean landscaping after foundation grading repair — Finished job — dry crawl, dry basement, dry yard.

Warning signs

Signs your foundation needs drainage work

Standing water or spongy soil against the foundation after rain
Damp crawl space, condensation on ducts, or musty smell
Efflorescence (white chalky stain) on basement walls
Downspouts that discharge within 3 feet of the foundation
Mulch or soil that slopes toward the house instead of away
Recurring basement seepage in the same wall or corner

Repair methods

How we fix foundation drainage

Exterior French Drains

Perforated pipe in gravel, wrapped in filter fabric, that intercepts groundwater before it reaches the foundation.

Downspout Extensions & Buried Drains

Rigid pipe that carries roof water 10+ feet from the foundation to daylight or a pop-up emitter.

Regrading & Swales

Reshaping the soil next to the house to create positive slope, plus swales to route surface water around the home.

Interior Perimeter Drain & Sump Pump

For chronic basement seepage: perimeter drain in the slab edge, sump basin, and battery-backup pump.

Our process

From wet yard to dry foundation.

01
Water path inspection
We walk the roof line, downspouts, grade, and yard low points during or right after rain when possible.
02
Written plan
Every drain, extension, and regrade priced per linear foot — no bundled mystery totals.
03
Install
Most drainage jobs are 1–3 days. We restore sod and mulch and haul off spoils.
04
Warranty
Workmanship warranty on drainage; sump pumps carry a manufacturer warranty.

Frequently asked

Common questions about drainage & grading correction.

Why does drainage matter for my foundation?＋

Water sitting against a foundation is the single biggest cause of foundation failure in metro Atlanta. Saturated Piedmont clay swells, exerts hydrostatic pressure on walls, and washes out fill under slabs. Fix the water and you often fix the foundation.

What does a French drain cost in the Atlanta area?＋

Exterior French drains typically run $30–$60 per linear foot depending on depth, discharge, and landscape restoration. Interior perimeter drains in a basement are $60–$100 per linear foot with a sump pump.

Do I really need gutters and downspout extensions?＋

Yes. Downspouts dumping water within 3 feet of the foundation cause a huge share of the crawl-space moisture and slab settlement calls we get. Extensions are the cheapest foundation protection you'll ever buy.

Can you fix a yard that holds water after every rain?＋

Usually — with regrading, surface drains (catch basins and channel drains), and sometimes a French drain to daylight or a dry well. We look at the whole water path, not just the puddle.

Service coverage: Davies Foundation Repair provides foundation drainage, French drain installation, downspout extensions, yard regrading, swale construction, sump pump installation, and interior perimeter drainage across metro Atlanta — Marietta, Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Decatur, Smyrna, Kennesaw, Dunwoody, Brookhaven, and East Point in Cobb, Fulton, DeKalb, and Gwinnett counties.

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