Kenmore · King County
French Drain Installation in Kenmore, WA
French drains, curtain drains and downspout tightlines in Kenmore that collect water before it reaches the house and carry it to an approved outlet. Serving Downtown Kenmore, Inglewood, Moorlands and Arrowhead.
Why Kenmore yards hold water
Glacial till and outwash on the slopes, with soft, wet lake and river deposits along the shoreline. That is the root of most soggy lawns, wet crawlspaces and ponding patios we see in Kenmore: water that cannot soak in perches on the hard layer and runs to the lowest point.
A narrow flat strip along the lake and river, with steep wooded slopes rising north and east into neighborhoods like Inglewood and Moorlands. Slopes push water onto the next lot down, and flat ground leaves it nowhere to go, so the drain route and the grade around the house matter as much as the pipe.
Lake Washington shoreline, the Sammamish River, Swamp Creek and Little Swamp Creek carry shoreline and stream buffers. Many slopes are mapped critical areas. Where a drain can legally discharge depends on these features, so we plan the outlet first and the trench second.
Common french drains projects in Kenmore
Soggy lawns
French drains for Kenmore lawns that stay wet all winter because water perches on the hard till below.
Wet crawlspaces
Curtain and footing-side drains that keep water away from foundations and crawlspaces in Downtown Kenmore and Inglewood.
Downspout tightlines
Roof water carried in solid pipe away from Kenmore foundations to an approved outlet.
Hillside water control
Curtain drains across Kenmore slopes that stop water before it sheets over a bank or onto the next lot.
Flat-ground drainage
Drains, catch basins and ditch work for flat, low Kenmore properties where water has nowhere to go.
What our french drains work in Kenmore covers
- French Drains
- Curtain Drains
- Downspout Tightlines
- Catch Basins
- Yard Regrading
- Material Delivery
Permits & Rules
Drainage rules in Kenmore
Small yard drains usually do not need a permit, but connecting to a storm system, working near a stream or wetland, or changing how water leaves the property can need approval from the City of Kenmore. Outside city limits, the King County Department of Local Services handles it.
Water can go to an existing storm system, a dispersion area or an infiltration trench where the soil allows. It cannot be pointed at a neighbor or dumped over a slope.
Cost & Timing
What affects the cost of french drains in Kenmore
We do not publish flat prices because no two Kenmore sites are the same. These are the things that move the number most here.
Slope and access
Steep Kenmore lots take smaller machines, more careful staging and sometimes engineering, which adds time compared with flat, open ground.
Soft ground
Where Kenmore soils are soft or wet, over-excavation, fabric and imported rock are often part of the job, and we price that in up front.
Buffers and permits
Work near Kenmore's rivers, creeks, lakes or shoreline can need permits and limits on where machines go. That affects scope and schedule more than price.
Haul-off and disposal
How much material leaves the site, and what it is, drives cost. Our own trucks keep that predictable on Kenmore jobs.
When to schedule french drains in Kenmore
French Drains in Kenmore goes best in the drier months, when soil compacts properly and trenches stay open. Wet-season work is doable with erosion control and the right material, and we plan for it in the quote.
Kenmore's till soils hold water through the winter, which is when drainage problems show up. That is a good time to see where water goes, and the dry season is the time to fix it.
Where We Work
Drainage work across Kenmore
Kenmore sits at the north end of Lake Washington where the Sammamish River enters it. Much of the city is steep, wooded hillside above the lake and the Burke-Gilman Trail.
We install French and curtain drains, catch basins and downspout tightlines across Downtown Kenmore, Inglewood, Moorlands, Arrowhead, Uplands and Northshore Summit. Mostly 1950s to 80s homes on sloped, wooded lots, with newer infill and redevelopment near downtown.
Drain rock, fabric and pipe are delivered on our own trucks, and the excavated soil is reused for regrading or hauled away.
We also do french drains nearby in Lake Forest Park, Bothell, Brier and Mountlake Terrace. See everything we do in Kenmore, read our full guide to french drains, or browse all service areas.
Why DirtRaptor
Why Kenmore owners call us for french drains
Owner on the machine
On Kenmore jobs you talk to the person who walks the site, writes the quote and runs the equipment.
Trees and dirt, one crew
If trees are in the way of your Kenmore project, we take them down ourselves instead of waiting on a separate tree service.
Our own trucks
Haul-off and deliveries run on our schedule along SR 522 (Bothell Way) and Juanita Dr NE, not a subcontractor's.
Built for slopes
We plan machine placement, drainage and erosion control for Kenmore's sloped ground before we start.
How a french drains job runs
- 01
Find the Water
- 02
Plan the Outlet
- 03
Trench, Fabric, Rock & Pipe
- 04
Backfill & Grade
Real Jobs
Recent DirtRaptor work near Kenmore
Demolition · Edmonds, WA
Driveway Removal & Concrete Prep
Tearing out an old blacktop driveway and prepping the ground for a new concrete pour — broken material hauled off, base left clean and ready.
Demolition · Everett, WA
Condemned 100-Year-Old Shed Teardown
A 100-year-old shed, condemned and unsafe, brought down and hauled off — the site left graded flat and clean.
Questions
French Drain Installation in Kenmore: FAQs
Will a French drain fix my wet yard in Kenmore?
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Often, especially combined with regrading. Glacial till and outwash on the slopes, with soft, wet lake and river deposits along the shoreline. A drain plus better grading handles most of what that causes.
Where can drainage water go in Kenmore?
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To an approved outlet: a storm system, a dispersion area or an infiltration trench where the soil allows. Lake Washington shoreline, the Sammamish River, Swamp Creek and Little Swamp Creek carry shoreline and stream buffers.
Do I need a permit for a French drain in Kenmore?
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Usually not for a small yard drain. Storm connections or work near streams, wetlands or slopes can need approval from the City of Kenmore. We confirm before digging.
How much does french drains cost in Kenmore?
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It depends on the site, so we quote after a free site walk rather than guessing on the phone. The biggest drivers in Kenmore are usually slope and access, soft ground, buffers and permits. You get a written number with inclusions and exclusions spelled out.
When is the best time to schedule french drains in Kenmore?
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French Drains in Kenmore goes best in the drier months, when soil compacts properly and trenches stay open. Wet-season work is doable with erosion control and the right material, and we plan for it in the quote.
Can you remove a tree above my Kenmore house on a steep slope?
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Yes. On slopes we usually take trees down in sections and leave stumps and roots in the ground to hold the soil. If the slope is a mapped critical area, we flag what review is needed.
Do you work along the Kenmore shoreline?
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Yes, within the shoreline rules. Work near the lake or river can need approval, so we check before starting.
Will a French drain fix my wet yard?
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Often, especially combined with regrading. Most wet yards in this region are caused by water perching on glacial till, which a drain and better grading handle well. We look at where the water comes from before recommending a fix.
Ready for a real number in Kenmore?
Send the address and a few photos. We walk the site for free and come back with a written quote.
