The short answer
If water runs toward your house, regrading is usually the first fix, because it makes the ground slope away. If the slope is fine but water still sits in one low area, a French drain gives that water a path out. Many wet yards need a little of both, plus longer downspouts.
Regrading is best when
- Water flows toward the foundation after rain.
- The ground next to the house is flat or sinks toward it.
- Soil has settled over the years around the slab or piers.
A French drain is best when
- One area stays soggy for days, even though the yard slopes away.
- Water from a neighbor's yard or a hill keeps running into yours.
- There is a clear low place to send the water, like a street, ditch or coulee.
Try these cheap fixes first
- Extend every downspout so it empties several feet from the house.
- Clean the gutters so they don't overflow at the corners.
- Fill small low spots next to the house with soil that slopes away.
In flat, clay-soil areas like south Louisiana
Clay drains slowly and flat land gives water few places to go. A French drain only works if it has somewhere lower to empty. Ask the pro where the water will end up before you agree to one.
Questions people ask
- Is a French drain or grading cheaper?
- Light regrading near the house is often cheaper than a long French drain. Big regrading of a whole yard can cost more. Get both priced for your yard.
- Can I put in a French drain myself?
- A short one, yes, if you call 811 first to mark buried lines. Long runs, deep trenches and drains near the foundation are worth a pro.
- How long does a French drain last?
- Often decades when it uses fabric to keep soil out of the gravel. Drains without fabric clog much sooner.
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Last reviewed November 8, 2026.