Top Yard Drainage & Grading in Longmont, Colorado Ranked

Managing water on your property is a critical part of homeownership in Longmont. Effective yard drainage and proper grading prevent foundation damage, eliminate soggy lawns, protect your landscaping investment, and contribute to healthier local waterways by reducing polluted runoff. This guide outlines the common solutions for controlling surface water and subsurface moisture, helping you understand your options for creating a dry, stable, and beautiful outdoor space.

GKC Tree Care and Landscape Design Group

denver

GKC Tree Care and Landscape Design Group is a landscaping company based in Denver, CO, offering full-service landscape design, construction, and maintenance for homes and businesses. Founded in 2019 with over 15 years of experience from its founder, the company provides custom outdoor solutions including tree care, sod installation, fence and hardscape construction, yard drainage, sprinkler systems, and innovative jellyfish lighting installation. Their services emphasize tailored designs and functional outdoor living spaces, with capabilities like emergency tree removal and programmable permanent lighting. GKC also offers commercial landscaping and seasonal property maintenance, combining creativity and craftsmanship to transform outdoor areas.

4.9

94 Reviews

Grade A Excavation & Landscape Inc.

denver

Grade A Excavation & Landscape Inc. is a Denver, CO-based contractor specializing in yard drainage, grading, and hardscaping services. They provide solutions such as foundation drainage, retaining walls, and paving for residential and commercial properties. With nearly 20 years of experience, they focus on delivering durable and effective results.

4.9

37 Reviews

Pinnacle Landscaping & Xeriscape

13431 Sable Blvd, Brighton, CO 80601

Pinnacle Landscaping & Xeriscape is a family-owned landscaping company serving Aurora, CO, and the Denver/Frontrange area. With over 22 years of experience, they offer a wide range of services including landscape design, sod and artificial turf installation, sprinkler system installation, hardscaping with retaining walls and patios, and xeriscaping. Their expertise includes custom outdoor features such as fire pits, outdoor kitchens, water features, and pathways, all designed to enhance outdoor living spaces. Pinnacle Landscaping is known for working closely with clients from consultation through final installation to ensure tailored and functional outdoor environments.

5.0

10 Reviews

Arvada Excavating

6205 W 52nd Ave, Arvada, CO 80002

Arvada Excavating is a yard drainage and land clearing contractor based in Denver, CO. They provide services such as grading, brush removal, and excavation to support various outdoor projects. The company is known for its commitment to customer needs and has built a reputation around quality and fair pricing.

4.5

24 Reviews

Coal Creek Excavation Inc.

3715 Co Rd 12, Erie, CO 80516

Coal Creek Excavation Inc. is a contractor based in Denver, CO, specializing in site preparation, excavation, yard drainage, grading, land clearing, brush removal, and hardscaping services. They handle a range of projects including commercial development and residential building, offering capabilities such as drainage system design and installation, retaining walls, and streambed restoration for municipalities and federal agencies. Their experience covers general construction projects from new builds to renovations and road construction.

4.6

9 Reviews

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Understanding Longmont's Drainage Challenges

Longmont's climate, with its spring rains and occasional heavy downpours, can quickly turn a minor slope issue into a major headache. Water pooling near your home's foundation is the most urgent concern, as it can lead to costly structural damage and basement flooding over time. Beyond the foundation, poor drainage creates swampy areas that kill grass, promote mosquito breeding, and make yards unusable. Erosion is another silent threat, washing away topsoil and undermining patios, walkways, and retaining walls. Addressing these issues isn't just about fixing a wet spot; it's about protecting your property's value and integrity. Local guidelines often encourage solutions that manage runoff on-site through infiltration, which aligns with many effective drainage strategies ^{1 2}.

Core Solutions for Water Management

A variety of techniques exist to control stormwater and subsurface flow. The right approach often combines several methods tailored to your yard's specific slope, soil type, and problem areas.

Regrading and Slope Correction

Grading is the process of reshaping your yard's contour to direct water away from structures and toward a safe discharge point. The standard recommendation is a slope of at least 2% (a 2-foot drop over 100 feet) or about 5% for the first 10 feet immediately around your home ³. This is often the first and most fundamental step in solving drainage problems. Regrading can range from moving a few cubic yards of soil to fix a minor depression to a major excavation project that recontours the entire landscape. It establishes the primary path for surface runoff and is the foundation upon which other drainage systems are built.

Subsurface Drainage Systems

When water is moving underground or saturating the soil, surface grading alone may not be enough. This is where subsurface solutions come into play.

• French Drains: A classic and highly effective solution, a French drain is a gravel-filled trench containing a perforated pipe. It collects groundwater and excess subsurface moisture, channeling it away from problem areas. They are ideal for relieving hydrostatic pressure against foundation walls or draining a perpetually soggy low spot in the yard ^{4 5}.
• Catch Basins and Channel Drains: These are inlets installed at low points or along paved surfaces to capture large volumes of surface water quickly. The water flows into an underground pipe system that carries it to a storm sewer, dry well, or other outlet. They are crucial for managing runoff from driveways, patios, and gutter downspouts.

Surface Water Management and Rainscaping

"Rainscaping" refers to attractive, landscape-based methods that absorb, filter, and slow down runoff, turning a problem into a resource ⁶.

• Swales: These are shallow, vegetated ditches designed to move water across a slope while allowing it to soak into the soil. They are a more natural and landscaped alternative to concrete ditches.
• Rain Gardens: A rain garden is a strategically placed depression planted with deep-rooted native plants. It collects runoff from roofs or paved areas, holds it temporarily, and allows it to infiltrate the ground, filtering out pollutants in the process ^{7 8}. The City of Longmont provides resources that can help in planning such features ¹.
• Downspout Management: Simply disconnecting downspouts from the sewer and directing them onto a splash block or into a buried pipe that discharges into a rain garden or swale can significantly reduce the volume of water hitting problem areas near your foundation ^{7 9}.

Permeable Surfaces and Vegetative Strategies

Replacing solid concrete or asphalt with permeable pavers, gravel, or other porous materials allows rainwater to seep through into the ground below, reducing immediate runoff ⁵. Additionally, strategic planting with trees, shrubs, and deep-rooted perennials helps stabilize soil, increase absorption, and reduce erosion. A healthy lawn with good soil structure is itself an effective sponge for light rainfall.

The Professional Installation Process

Tackling significant grading and drainage work is a multi-stage process best handled with careful planning.

1. Site Assessment and Diagnosis: A professional begins by thoroughly inspecting your property during or after a rain event. They identify pooling water, erosion, improper slopes, and the overall flow path of runoff. This often involves using laser levels or transit tools to map precise elevations ³.
2. Design and Planning: Based on the assessment, a comprehensive plan is created. This plan selects the right combination of solutions-such as regrading, a French drain system, and a rain garden-to address all issues efficiently. For larger projects, this step may involve checking local requirements or utilizing city planning tools ².
3. Excavation and Earthmoving: This is the physical implementation phase. Using equipment like skid-steers or mini-excavators, the crew reshapes the land (grading) and digs trenches for drainage pipes or rain garden basins. Proper compaction of fill soil is critical to prevent future settling.
4. System Installation: Drainage pipes are laid in trenches with a bed of gravel, catch basins are set and connected, and any necessary filter fabrics are installed to prevent clogging. For rainscaping projects, specific soil mixes are often added to rain gardens to ensure proper infiltration and plant health.
5. Final Grading, Landscaping, and Restoration: The surface is finely graded to the specified slopes. New topsoil is spread, and grass seed is sown or sod is laid. In rain gardens and swales, the selected native plants are installed. The final step is an inspection, often during a hose test, to ensure water flows exactly as intended.

Investment and Cost Considerations

The cost for drainage and grading solutions in Longmont varies widely based on the scale of the problem, the solutions chosen, and whether you undertake it as a DIY project or hire professionals.

• Basic Downspout Management: Extending downspouts or installing rain barrels can be a very cost-effective starting point, with rain barrels typically costing between $50 and $200 ^{7 9}.
• Landscape-Based Solutions: A DIY rain garden or swale might cost $200-$800 in plants and materials, while a professionally designed and installed system can range from $1,500 to $5,000 or more, depending on size and complexity ^{7 8}.
• French Drains and Catch Basins: This is where costs increase due to excavation, materials (pipe, gravel, basins), and labor. Professional installation of a French drain system commonly ranges from $1,000 to $5,000+, heavily dependent on length, depth, and site accessibility ^{4 5}.
• Yard Regrading: Minor grading adjustments might cost a few hundred dollars. Significant recontouring of a yard to correct major slope issues can be a substantial project, often ranging from $500 to $3,000 or more ³.
• Permeable Paving: As a replacement for existing hardscape, this is a premium option, with materials and installation typically costing $10 to $30+ per square foot ⁵.

While DIY can save on labor for simple projects, miscalculations in slope or pipe installation can lead to system failure. Professional installers bring expertise in diagnosis, proper slope calculation, and knowledge of local soils and best practices, ensuring the solution is effective and long-lasting.

Frequently asked questions

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