- A landscape contractor is your first call for yard drainage — they handle French drains, catch basins, regrading, and swales.
- Plumbers handle clogged gutters, downspouts, and underground pipe repairs — not landscape-level water management.
- Waterproofing specialists address basement intrusion and foundation cracks — a separate problem from yard drainage.
- In Seattle clay-heavy soils, French drains and regrading are the most common solutions for standing water.
- Get a site assessment before committing to a solution — the right fix depends on slope, soil type, and water source.
Yard drainage problems are easier to solve when you know who handles what
Standing water, soggy soil, and flooded basements all fall under “drainage problems” — but they involve different contractors with different expertise. Calling the wrong one adds weeks to your timeline and money to your bill. Here is how to sort it out quickly.
Who handles yard drainage — landscape contractor, plumber, or waterproofing specialist?
The short answer depends on where the water is coming from and where it is going. Water pooling in your lawn points to a landscape contractor. Water backing up through a floor drain points to a plumber. Water seeping through basement walls points to a waterproofing specialist. Most of the calls we get at Classic Landscaping are the first category — yard drainage — and that is what we will focus on here.
When should you call a landscape contractor for drainage?
What they assess
A landscape contractor starts by walking your property to understand how water moves across it. They look at slope, soil composition, and the spots where water consistently pools or saturates after rain. In the Greater Seattle area, clay-heavy soils are the most common underlying cause — water sits on the surface rather than percolating through, especially on flatter lots where there is nowhere for it to go.
They will also check any existing drainage infrastructure: catch basins, area drains, and downspout tie-ins. These often become clogged with debris or roots over time and stop functioning without anyone noticing until a wet winter makes the problem obvious.
What they install
The solution depends on what the assessment turns up. Common approaches include:
- French drains — a perforated pipe set in gravel that intercepts groundwater and redirects it to a lower point or discharge location. These are the workhorse solution for soggy lawns and saturated planting beds.
- Catch basins — surface inlets that collect runoff from low spots and move it through underground pipe to a safe discharge point.
- Regrading — reshaping the ground so water flows away from structures rather than toward them. Often combined with French drains on problematic sites.
- Swales — shallow vegetated channels that slow and redirect surface flow. A good option where there is enough room and a natural path for water to travel.
- Permeable paving — allows water to infiltrate through hardscape rather than sheet-flow across it. Worth considering on driveways and patios where runoff is contributing to the problem.
In our experience on Greater Seattle properties, most residential drainage problems involve a combination of French drains and regrading. Plant selection — species like native sedges or red-osier dogwood that tolerate wet conditions — can support a drainage system, but they rarely solve the underlying problem on their own.
Cost ranges vary considerably. A straightforward French drain on a smaller property might run $2,000 to $4,000. A system with multiple catch basins, regrading, and a connection to a municipal drain can reach $15,000 or more. A site visit is the only way to give an accurate number.
When should you call a plumber for drainage?
Pipe clogs vs. landscape drainage
If water is backing up through a floor drain, your gutters are overflowing despite being clear of debris, or an underground pipe has failed, the issue is inside the pipe rather than around it. Landscape contractors work with soil, grade, and surface water — they do not clear pipe blockages or repair fractured lines.
Plumbers address these situations using drain snaking, which breaks up and removes blockages mechanically, or hydro jetting, which clears lines with high-pressure water. Hydro jetting tends to be more effective for mineral buildup and grease accumulation that snaking cannot fully remove.
Root infiltration is more common than most homeowners expect
On Seattle-area properties with mature trees — and most established yards here have them — root infiltration into underground drain lines is a recurring issue. Roots find the moisture inside pipes and work their way in through joints over time. If you have a spot that drains slowly year after year in the same location, a camera inspection from a plumber is worth doing before a landscape contractor starts digging. It rules out a pipe problem before you spend money on a drainage system that would not have fixed the issue anyway.
When should you call a waterproofing specialist?
How to tell this is your problem
If water is entering through basement walls, floor cracks, or window wells — rather than coming in from the yard surface — the issue is hydrostatic pressure against your foundation. A landscape contractor can redirect surface water away from the house, which often reduces basement moisture, but it does not address water moving through the foundation itself.
What they do
Waterproofing specialists assess where water is entering and why. Solutions range from sump pump installation and interior drainage channels to exterior membrane coatings applied at the foundation wall. Foundation cracks get injected with epoxy or polyurethane — a permanent seal rather than a surface patch. These repairs address the source of the problem rather than managing symptoms.
Not sure which contractor you need?
Start with a landscape contractor if you have standing water in your yard or water pooling near your foundation after rain. They can assess whether the problem is a grading issue, a failed drain, or something that needs a plumber or waterproofing specialist — and refer you accordingly if it is outside their scope.
Classic Landscaping has been diagnosing and solving drainage problems across Greater Seattle since 1985. If you are not sure where to start, reach out for a site consultation and we will walk the property with you.
