Downspouts, Grading & Yard Drainage in Burlington County, NJ
Much basement water starts in the yard. Fixing where roof and surface water goes is often the first and least invasive step. A partner contractor can look at the whole picture.
Free referral service. A partner contractor contacts you directly.
The roof is a big funnel
A typical roof collects a large amount of water in a single inch of rain, and gutters deliver all of it to a few downspouts. If those downspouts empty right at the foundation, or into old underground lines that are crushed or clogged, much of that water ends up against the basement walls. Making sure every downspout discharges well away from the house is one of the simplest things a homeowner can check.
Common drainage fixes
- Downspout extensions or buried lines that carry roof water away from the foundation to a safe outlet.
- Regrading the soil next to the house so it slopes away from the walls, often after years of settling around the foundation.
- French drains: a gravel-filled trench with a perforated pipe that intercepts surface or shallow groundwater and carries it away.
- Dry wells that let collected water soak into the ground, where soils allow it.
- Swales, shallow grassy channels that steer runoff around the house.
Know where the water will end up
New Jersey's stormwater rules and local ordinances generally do not let you solve your drainage problem by sending concentrated water onto a neighbor's property. Townships may also regulate grading changes, discharge to the street, and work in flood hazard areas or near streams. Ask the contractor how they will handle the outlet, and check with your township's construction or engineering office for larger projects.
Call 811 before digging
Burying downspout lines and installing French drains means digging. New Jersey requires a call to NJ One Call (811, or 1-800-272-1000) at least three full business days before excavation. Private lines such as sprinklers, lamp post wiring, pet fences and septic lines are not marked by utilities, so point them out to the contractor.
Townhouses and HOAs
In many townhouse and condominium communities, the association controls landscaping, grading and sometimes gutters and the foundation exterior. Check your governing documents and talk to the association before hiring anyone to dig.
Burlington Basement Pros is an independent referral service, not a contractor. We do not perform waterproofing, sump pump or foundation work ourselves. When you send a request, we share it with an independent partner contractor serving Burlington County, NJ, who contacts you directly. Any estimate, contract, pricing, licensing, insurance and workmanship are between you and that contractor. Please verify their credentials before you hire.
Where this service is available
Requests for downspouts, grading & yard drainage are accepted from across Burlington County, including Burlington City, Burlington Township, Mount Laurel, Moorestown, Marlton, Willingboro, Delran, Cinnaminson, Medford, Mount Holly. See all areas.
Related services
Water in the basement?
Tell us your town and what you are seeing. We refer your request to a partner waterproofing contractor serving your area, who contacts you directly.