What to bring to the conversation
- Property, dimensions or quantities you know
- Existing condition and items to retain
- Access, occupancy and scheduling constraints
FREE PREPARATION RESOURCE
Drainage observation-to-response workbook
Free fillable drainage worksheets to connect dated observations, area labels and existing records to provider assessment questions and follow-up.
View the checklist and download the fillable PDF ↗FIND HELP. COMPARE OFFERS. YOU CHOOSE.
Surface drains
Tell us what you need. Pros can review your request and send you offers. You decide who to hire.
Identify grates, connections and cleaning access.
Start my requestFree to request. No need to hire anyone.
What information helps?
Share what you know. You do not need to know every detail.
- The problem or the result you want
- Where you need the service
- When you would like help
- Your budget, if you have one
Do not guess measurements or costs. You can ask a pro to check them.
Want to learn more before you start?
Open the guide for costs, useful questions and planning tools. You can start your request without reading it all.
Construction · THE PROJECT GUIDE
Surface drains.
Get the details right.
Identify grates, connections and cleaning access.
Document where water starts, travels and collects. A drainage proposal should identify the route, discharge point and surface reinstatement.
Explore freely · Compare thoughtfully · You choose the professional
THE WORK BEHIND THE WORDS
Make this particular service clear.
Start with the distinction below, then define the deliverables and boundaries. If something is unknown, ask the provider to assess it.
Surface drains · the key conversation
Identify grates, connections and cleaning access.
What to ask for in return
A written description of surface drains, the assumptions behind the price and which items need further assessment. Ask the provider to explain water observations, drain route, discharge point, surface repairs in the context of your request.
| Detail | Get this in writing | Keep the comparison fair |
|---|---|---|
| Observation, mapping and design basis | Problem areas, runoff sources, contributing surfaces, spot elevations or survey control, soils, groundwater indications, existing drains, utilities, downstream constraints and design-storm or qualitative assumptions. | Compare the same documented water path and state which findings are field observations, public-data screening, measurements or professional design inputs. |
| Collection and interception | Inlets, channel drains, swales, roof leaders, subsurface interception limits, grate type and elevation, debris control, access and connections from each source. | List every collection point with dimensions, elevations, capacity basis, cleaning access and exclusions; do not compare only drain length. |
| Conveyance, infiltration and outlet | Pipe type, diameter and slope basis, fittings, cleanouts, aggregate and fabric, structures, infiltration or storage assumptions, overflow route, outlet, energy dissipation and approvals. | Require a plan from each source to each outlet or overflow, including lawful-discharge responsibility and the conditions that would trigger redesign. |
| Excavation, protection, restoration and acceptance | Utility locating, private-utility responsibility, excavation safety, dewatering, erosion and sediment controls, spoil handling, backfill, compaction, paving or landscape restoration, testing and closeout records. | Compare the same retained features and finish limits, then record inspections, test method, as-built route, photographs, maintenance and unresolved risks. |
UNDERSTAND THE PRICE
See the parts. Then compare the total.
A useful budget explains what the money covers. Keep these cost areas visible rather than relying on a package name or headline figure.
Preparation and investigation
Products and installation
Access, disposal and reinstatement
Approvals, testing and handover
What changes the scope?
Document where water starts, travels and collects. A drainage proposal should identify the route, discharge point and surface reinstatement.
Ask providers to explain how water observations and drain route affect their assumptions. Separate confirmed information from items still awaiting assessment.
What does the chart show?
The planning tool compares amounts you enter over the same period. Fixed charges, rate × quantity, monthly charges and extras stay separate. Its cumulative-cost graph makes different upfront and recurring arrangements easier to understand.
Published references, where available below, show their own units, source and period. They remain separate from your calculator inputs. Employee wages and producer-price indexes are context, not the price a provider will charge. Ask for current proposals for your actual scope.
YOUR PLANNING DESK
A clearer brief. A better starting point.
Build your request, compare entered costs and download a branded planning pack. Your selections stay here until you choose to continue.
Start with the details that matter.
No account needed to plan. Keep private documents, account numbers, credentials and sensitive case details out of this brief.
Also consider: Access, occupancy and scheduling constraints. Leave unknown details for the provider to assess.
Review your starting brief
Review before continuing. You can edit the wording below. Manual edits stay in place until you choose to regenerate from your answers.
355 characters
Next, review the request in PickYourPro.ai. An account is required to complete it. This step does not send invitations or commit you to a provider. Service availability and provider participation vary.
Opt-in saves form answers only. Manual brief edits, comparison values and checklist selections are not saved. Download a copy to keep them; avoid saving on shared devices.
FROM FIRST QUESTION TO HANDOVER
Know what happens next.
- 1
Define
Describe the outcome and current condition. Mark unknown measurements rather than guessing.
- 2
Assess
Agree any visit or diagnostic fee. Ask what must be checked before the price can be final.
- 3
Compare
Use the same drawings, selections and boundaries for each proposal.
- 4
Complete
Approve changes in writing and collect the agreed completion records.
A planning sequence, not a promised duration. Actual timing depends on the service, the information available and the provider's agreed scope.
WHEN YOU WANT THE DEEPER VIEW
The details worth resolving early.
Start with the water path, not a product name. A useful drainage proposal identifies where runoff is generated, how it reaches the problem area, what happens during representative storms, and where water may lawfully and safely go. French drains, catch basins, solid conveyance pipe, swales, grading, infiltration and detention solve different conditions. Keep roof drainage, plumbing, foundation waterproofing, grading, landscape restoration, retaining structures, municipal systems and professional civil or geotechnical design as explicit interfaces rather than hiding them inside a generic drain allowance.
For this particular project
Identify each area that must shed water to an inlet and mark the surrounding finished elevations, expected debris, pedestrian or vehicle loading and retained finishes. Compare catch basins, area drains, channel drains or swales by collection geometry and maintenance access, not by grate appearance alone. Require grate and basin type, rim elevation, sump or debris capacity, outlet connection, conveyance slope basis, cleanouts, overflow path, traffic rating where relevant, freeze and corrosion considerations, and pavement or landscape restoration. Ask how positive flow will be checked and how ponding around the inlet, settlement, clogging and bypass during larger storms will be handled.
Use these questions to write my brief ↗- 01Observe one or more rain events when practical; map runoff sources, flow paths, ponding, erosion, building symptoms, existing drains and downstream impacts.
- 02Investigate grades, soils, groundwater indicators, buried systems, utilities and outlet options; obtain survey, civil, geotechnical, plumbing or structural input when the decision requires it.
- 03Choose and document the collection, conveyance, infiltration or storage strategy; confirm property, easement, connection, permit, erosion-control and discharge requirements.
- 04Lay out and protect the work; locate utilities, control sediment and water, install to documented elevations and connections, and record concealed conditions before backfill.
- 05Inspect and test accessible components, restore surfaces, document the as-built route and outlets, explain overflow and maintenance, and monitor performance during later rainfall.
What evidence defines the drainage problem?
Map roof areas, paved surfaces, slopes, low points, erosion, staining, sediment, wet soil, crawlspace or basement symptoms and affected neighbors. Ask for dated photos or video during rain, approximate storm timing and duration, prior work, buried-system records and any survey or elevation information. Standing water can result from surface routing, restricted soil infiltration, a blocked or failed outlet, high groundwater, leaking utilities or several causes; the proposal should state what is observed, measured and assumed.
Collect, convey, infiltrate or temporarily store?
Compare the proposed function before comparing components. Surface drains and inlets collect concentrated water; solid pipe conveys it; perforated systems can intercept subsurface water; swales and grading route surface flow; bioretention, dry wells or other practices may infiltrate or detain water only where soil, groundwater, setbacks, overflow and local rules allow. Require the provider to explain why the selected system matches the diagnosed water path and what happens when its capacity is exceeded.
Where is the lawful discharge point?
Identify every outlet, overflow and connection on a plan. Confirm who verifies easements, property lines, public right-of-way work, storm-sewer connections, curb outlets, receiving areas and restrictions on changing flow toward adjacent property. A lower point is not automatically an approved outlet, and connecting roof or site water to a sanitary sewer, foundation drain, street or municipal structure may be prohibited or require permission.
How will performance and restoration be accepted?
Define trench alignment and depth basis, inlet elevations, pipe material and joints, bedding, filter fabric or aggregate where applicable, cleanouts, outlet protection, erosion controls, compaction, surface restoration and plant replacement. Agree how slope and flow path will be checked, whether water testing is appropriate, what cannot be proven without a real storm, and which maintenance tasks, access points and remaining limitations belong in the handover.
What changes with location and conditions?
- Rainfall intensity, snowmelt, freeze depth, wildfire runoff, coastal exposure and seasonal storm patterns can change routing, material and overflow decisions; use current local criteria rather than a national rule of thumb.
- Soil-survey, groundwater and flood-map tools are screening resources. Field infiltration, seasonal water, fill, compaction, buried layers and site elevations may require project-specific investigation.
- Confirm local rules for storm-sewer or curb connections, dry wells, sump or foundation discharge, right-of-way work, erosion control, protected areas, water reuse and changes to flow across property lines.
- Dense lots, shared drives, retaining walls, septic or well systems, pools, mature trees and neighboring low points can make a seemingly small outlet change a multi-discipline design problem.
Documents to collect at completion
- Dated pre-work condition and rain-observation record; runoff-source and flow-path map; survey or spot-elevation information; reviewed soil, groundwater, flood and utility records; assumptions and design calculations when included
- Approved layout showing collection points, pipe or swale routes, structures, inverts or control elevations, cleanouts, infiltration or storage area, overflow and final outlet; permit, easement, connection and right-of-way records
- Utility tickets and private-locate record; product and aggregate information; delivery and installation photographs before concealment; inspection, compaction, infiltration, flow or water-test records required by the agreement
- As-built sketch and photographs; restored-area acceptance; cleaning and maintenance instructions; warranty terms; monitoring plan for future storms; written notice of unresolved groundwater, capacity, neighboring-property or downstream limitations
Compare these promised records before choosing a provider. Keep the originals alongside your planning pack.
PICKYOURPRO.AI · YOUR NEXT STEP
Explain it once.
Compare with more clarity.
Turn what you have learned into a focused request. Give providers the same starting information, review their responses and ask questions about differences in scope, timing and fees.
- 1
Build a clear brief
Describe the service, your priorities and what needs assessment.
- 2
Review responses
Compare what each provider proposes and clarify open questions.
- 3
Choose your provider
Consider relevant experience, scope and terms—not just the lowest number.
Requesting and comparing proposals is free for clients. Provider participation, availability and response times vary. Confirm any separate consultation or inspection charge. Review project unlock terms for later project stages.
GOOD QUESTIONS, CLEARER CHOICES
Before you choose.
What should I include in a surface drains request?
Identify grates, connections and cleaning access. Include water observations, drain route, discharge point, surface repairs where known. Leave unknowns for the professional to assess.
Can I compare prices before an assessment?
You can compare the stated assumptions, scope and fee basis. Ask what must be checked before an offer is final and whether a consultation, inspection or diagnostic visit has a separate charge. For this service, start by clarifying water observations.
How should I handle a lower price?
Ask which tasks, deliverables and terms differ. Use the cost tool to compare the same period and quantities, then review exclusions and professional fit. The smallest calculated number is not a recommendation.
Does the planning pack create an agreement?
No. It records your brief and entered scenarios. You still need to review and agree the provider’s actual proposal and terms. Keep original documents and approvals.
What happens after I continue to my request?
Your reviewed brief enters the existing PickYourPro.ai request process. You will need an account and can confirm the remaining details before completing the request. Provider participation and availability vary.
Are these live market prices?
The planning calculator uses your entered figures. Published references elsewhere on the page are separate, dated observations with their own sources and limitations. Neither is a live provider quote. Employee wages are not billable labor rates, and a producer-price index is not an installed project price.
TRANSPARENT BY DESIGN
Sources and editorial notes.
Prepared by PickYourPro.ai with AI assistance · Framework published October 7, 2026. Expanded research review: Expanded research reviewed October 10, 2026. These service-planning questions have not been independently reviewed by a licensed specialist. Local requirements and professional suitability need individual verification.
- FTC: hiring a contractor ↗
Background on written estimates and checking a contractor. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
- EPA: Types of Green Infrastructure ↗
Federal overview distinguishes bioretention, rain gardens, permeable pavement, downspout disconnection and other practices by how they store, infiltrate, filter or convey stormwater. It is not a parcel-specific design or local approval. Source checked October 10, 2026. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
- EPA: Disconnect or Redirect Downspouts ↗
Federal homeowner background says redirection may reduce runoff but may not be appropriate everywhere and should avoid property damage or unsafe conditions. EPA marks this page as no longer updated, so it is historical guidance rather than current local authority. Source checked October 10, 2026. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
- EPA: Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities ↗
Federal construction-stormwater background identifies regulated earth disturbance, common-plan coverage, erosion controls and stabilization. EPA authority and current permit scope vary by jurisdiction and do not replace state or local review. Source checked October 10, 2026. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
- EPA: Storm Water Management Model ↗
Federal modeling resource shows that drainage analysis may include runoff, infiltration, groundwater interaction, pipes, channels, storage, controls, ponding and overflow. Public software is not a substitute for qualified inputs or project-specific design. Source checked October 10, 2026. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
- DOE Building Science Education: Foundation Drain, Gutters and Downspouts ↗
Federal building-science teaching material connects roof runoff, grading, foundation saturation, perimeter drainage and overflow planning. Its program examples are not universal retrofit specifications. Source checked October 10, 2026. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
- DOE Building Science Education: Final Grade Slopes Away from Foundation ↗
Federal new-construction teaching material explains grading, swales and drains as parts of foundation water management. Confirm existing-site geometry and locally adopted criteria rather than applying its example dimensions automatically. Source checked October 10, 2026. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
- USDA NRCS: Web Soil Survey ↗
Federal soil maps provide authoritative survey information for screening. Mapped units do not verify parcel fill, compaction, seasonal groundwater or field infiltration performance. Source checked October 10, 2026. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
- USGS: National Ground-Water Monitoring Network ↗
Federal portal compiles current and historical groundwater data from participating networks. Nearby wells may inform context but do not establish the water level or drainage feasibility at a specific property. Source checked October 10, 2026. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
- FEMA: Flood Map Service Center ↗
Federal portal is the official public source for National Flood Insurance Program flood-hazard mapping. Flood maps are not a survey, local drainage plan or prediction of every stormwater pathway. Source checked October 10, 2026. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
- 811 Before You Dig ↗
National state-center directory explains public-utility notification before digging. The project must separately identify owner-controlled private lines and follow current state requirements. Source checked October 10, 2026. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926.651: Specific Excavation Requirements ↗
Federal workplace requirements address underground installations, water accumulation, access, inspections and other excavation hazards. They govern employer safety duties and are not a residential drainage design specification. Source checked October 10, 2026. This resource does not endorse PickYourPro.ai. See any price-reference chart for the exact unit, scope and observation date.
Methodology and updates
Scope questions are organized by service and buying process. The planning calculator uses only entered values. Separately labelled reference charts use public source observations; no private PickYourPro project history is used. A permanent page address does not make a dated reference permanently current. Substantive changes should update the editorial record.
October 7, 2026: initial guide, service-specific scope, planning worksheet and cost-comparison tools published.
Expanded research reviewed October 10, 2026: expanded option comparisons, project-specific buying questions, regional considerations and completion records.
KEEP EXPLORING