Stop Water Problems Before They Damage Your Property
Standing water in your yard is more than an inconvenience. It is actively damaging your property. Water that pools against your foundation creates hydrostatic pressure that forces moisture through basement walls. Saturated soil undermines walkways, patios, and driveways. Persistently wet areas kill grass and become mosquito breeding grounds that make your yard unusable during Ohio's warm months.
Central Ohio's glacial till clay soil is the root cause of most drainage problems in Union County. This clay is dense, slow to absorb water, and nearly impermeable when saturated. After a heavy rain, surface water has nowhere to go except to follow gravity toward the lowest point on your property, which is often your foundation, your driveway, or the middle of your backyard.
At Raileys Services LLC, we design and install drainage systems that solve these problems permanently. We combine proper grading with underground drainage infrastructure to move water where it belongs. Whether you need a simple downspout extension or a comprehensive French drain system with multiple collection points, we handle the entire project from assessment through installation and final grading.
Drainage Solutions for Every Situation
From simple downspout routing to complete yard drainage systems, we have the solution for your water problem.
French Drains
French drains are the most effective solution for subsurface water in Ohio's clay soil. We excavate a trench, line it with filter fabric, fill it with washed gravel, and lay perforated pipe at the correct slope to carry water to a discharge point. French drains intercept groundwater before it reaches your foundation and redirect surface water from saturated areas. We use 4-inch corrugated pipe for residential systems and can upsize to 6-inch for high-volume situations.
Catch Basins & Yard Drains
Catch basins are surface collection points that capture standing water and route it underground to a discharge point. We install them in low spots, at the base of slopes, and in areas where surface water naturally collects. Each basin connects to solid pipe that carries water away from the problem area. Combined with proper grading, catch basins eliminate standing water quickly and keep your yard usable even after heavy Ohio rainstorms.
Downspout Routing
Roof runoff is one of the biggest sources of foundation water problems. A single downspout can discharge hundreds of gallons during a storm. We connect downspouts to underground solid pipe that carries water at least 10 feet away from your foundation to a pop-up emitter, dry well, or storm drain connection. This is often the most cost-effective drainage improvement a homeowner can make and can be installed in a single day.
Swales & Surface Drainage
Swales are shallow channels graded into the landscape that direct surface water along a controlled path. They are effective for properties with larger drainage areas or where underground systems are not practical. We line swales with grass, river rock, or a combination to handle the expected water volume. Properly built swales look like natural landscape features while moving significant amounts of water during storm events.
Why Drainage Matters in Central Ohio
Union County receives an average of 38 to 40 inches of rain per year, plus significant snowmelt in late winter and early spring. That water has to go somewhere. If your property does not have adequate drainage, it goes into your basement, under your patio, and across your yard.
Ohio's freeze-thaw cycle makes drainage problems even more destructive. Water that collects in cracks, joints, and low spots freezes during winter nights, expanding by 9% and breaking apart concrete, shifting pavers, and heaving soil. By spring, the damage is done and the repair costs far exceed what a drainage system would have cost to install.
- Prevents basement water infiltration and mold
- Protects hardscaping from freeze-thaw damage
- Eliminates standing water and mosquito habitat
- Makes your entire yard usable year-round
Drainage Solutions FAQ
Drainage Solutions Across Central Ohio
We install drainage systems for residential and commercial properties throughout Union County and the surrounding region.
Tired of Standing Water in Your Yard?
There's a lot to mow over when diagnosing drainage problems. Let us assess your property and design a solution that works permanently.