Drainage & French Drain Installation in Wilmington, NC
French drains and yard drainage built for storm runoff, sandy soil, and low-lying coastal lots. 15 years across Wilmington and the Carolina coast.
NC GC License #100844 · NC Landscape Contractor #1400 · NC Stormwater BMP Certified · Permits Handled In-House
We Size Coastal Drainage for Storms, Not Average Rain
Coastal water problems are volume and soil problems. Sandy subsoil drains unevenly, the water table sits high, and a tropical system can dump more in an afternoon than a yard was ever built to move. We design for that storm, then give the water a stable place to go. The result holds up when the next storm rolls through, not just on an average rainy day.
French Drain Installation in Wilmington
French drains are the most-requested fix we install on the coast, and for good reason. On a flat, low-lying lot with sandy soil and a high water table, water has nowhere to go on its own. A properly built french drain pulls that water out of the ground and carries it to a discharge point so it stops pooling against your foundation, your patio, or the low corner of the yard. We dig to the right depth, set perforated pipe in clean gravel wrapped in filter fabric, and pitch it so it keeps draining for years instead of silting up. Every french drain is sized to the water it actually has to move.
Drainage Solutions for Coastal North Carolina
French drains are one piece. We figure out where the water collects and where it can safely go, then build the system around your lot.
French drain installation for foundation and crawlspace protection
Channel drains for driveways, patios, and pool decks
Surface drains and catch basins at low spots
Dry wells and sump pump systems for the lowest lots
Downspout extensions and tie-ins
Yard regrading to move water away from the house
If your drainage ties into a patio or pool deck, we build it into the hardscape so it disappears into the design. (Link to the Wilmington paver patios and pool decks pages.)
Stormwater, Retention Ponds, and Rain Gardens
Low coastal lots and new construction often come with stormwater rules to meet, not just puddles to fix. We design and build to handle storm volume the right way: retention and detention ponds, rain gardens, and grading that holds and releases water instead of dumping it on the neighbor. The work is done by an NC Stormwater BMP certified contractor and an NC Rain Garden Professional (Cert #372), so it stands up to inspection as well as to the weather.
Thorpe Landscape’s Drainage Process
Free on-site consultation. We walk the yard, look at where water collects, check the soil, and scope the build.
Design and proposal. You'll see the plan, the discharge point, and a clear written proposal before committing.
Permits and materials. Permits pulled in-house, materials locked in.
Build. Most drainage projects take 1 to 3 weeks from start to walkthrough.
Where We Work
Coastal Hardscapes by Thorpe Landscapes installs french drains, stormwater systems, and yard drainage in Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Leland, Hampstead, and Wrightsboro.
FAQ
My yard floods every time it rains. What can you do?
First we find out why. On the coast it's usually some mix of a high water table, sandy soil that drains unevenly, and a flat lot with no low point for water to escape to. We catch the water with a french drain or surface drains, then carry it to a spot where it can safely discharge. The goal is a yard that drains on its own, not one you have to wait out after every storm.
What does a french drain cost in Wilmington?
It depends on the length, how deep we dig, the soil, and where the water can discharge. A short run protecting one downspout is a different job than a full-yard system on a low lot. We give a firm price after walking the site, free, so you know the number before any work starts.
Will drainage even work in sandy soil with a high water table?
Yes, but the design has to account for it. Sandy subsoil drains inconsistently and a high water table limits how much the ground can absorb, so we lean on capturing the water and moving it out, with a sump pump where the lot is too low to drain on its own. We pick the method to fit your lot, not the other way around.
Do you handle stormwater requirements and permits?
Yes. We're NC Stormwater BMP certified and pull all permits in-house, so retention ponds, rain gardens, and new-construction stormwater work meets code as well as it handles the rain.
“Garrett Lee and his whole crew did a terrific job on our hardscape and grading project. They were remarkably responsive to our requests, listened well when we had questions. The lot needed a significant amount of grading which they did to our specifications. They laid two different gravel and stone paths, repaired masonry, created parking areas, and also bushhogged a large, uneven area with efficiency and skill. Overall, I would highly recommend them without reservation.”
– Mimi Mattis, Black Mountain
Let's Solve Your Water Problem
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