
Natasha Maerz
Owner/Office Manager

Why does the budget come first?
Your system can be built many ways
The beauty of having a French Drain installed is that if your system is built properly and with the right materials (read “The best French Drain system you can get”), that section of your yard will be dry. If you let the contractor know what system you would like (How much pipe you want in the ground etc.) the contractor will make you the biggest, best system that they can think of. This might mean replacing your clay soil with sandy soil, adding in drainage pipe everywhere, and doing a full lawn renovation on your landscape, so that your grass is super healthy (healthy grass helps take surface water away from your yard). You might be thinking that this option is great because you want your drainage problems solved, however, the largest, best system, is going to cost substantially more. ( This is due to having tested filter fabric, not just landscaping fabric, perforated pipe called baughman tile) This might be something that you are okay with, but before the contractor prices out your job, they need to know that you are willing to spend that type of money on a project. If you are not, time will be wasted, and you can end up disappointed.
Let’s say you are wedding dress shopping. Unless money is no object, you have budgeted for your dress, and have a limit you are willing to spend. When you go to try on dresses, two questions are always asked, what type of dress do you want? (In our case it would be what are you wanting your French Drain to do?), and what is your budget? You would not try on any dress that meets the style you like and want, and hope that it is within your budget. It would be extremely disappointing if you fell in love with a dress that was out of your budget, and would have to put back on the rack. For this reason, the sales person finds you dresses that are within your budget, so that when you find one you love, you know that you are able to afford it.
Now, we know that French drain systems are not as exciting as buying a wedding dress, and are not as useful as having a patio put in that you can enjoy, but they are an important part of your yard if you cannot use it due to surface water issues. When buying a home and looking at the backyard, you probably envisioned BBQs on the patio, and playing outside with your children enjoying the landscaping. When the reality is that you cannot use your space, it can be disappointing and frustrating. French drains help you regain your yard by eliminating ground water and surface water, and your free time, but if your contractor designs a system that is over your budget, your time will have been wasted, and you will still be left with a soggy, unusable yard.
What if you tell your contractor what type of system you want, and they design it with that in mind?
Can the contractor actually stay within my budget?
What to think about when choosing a budget?
When choosing a budget for your French Drain system you have many things to consider.
- What can I afford? (No project should put you in debt, or make you feel uncomfortable with the amount of money you are spending)
- What are my realistic expectations for my project?
- Will I be okay if my budget and my system do not provide me with everything I am wanting?
- If my budget is not realistic, does my situation allow for me to put this project off? (In some cases, the project must happen, such as when a basement is flooding).
By providing a budget before having a French Drain system installed, you will be able to have a system designed for your own individual needs, and will ensure that you will get what you are looking for, at a price you are comfortable spending. Remember, if you are not comfortable giving a budget to a contractor, you may need to reconsider working with them!