Basement moisture often starts outside the home. Rain, melting snow, roof runoff and groundwater collect near the foundation when the surrounding property doesn’t drain properly. Over time, that wet soil can lead to basement seepage, damp walls, musty odors and extra strain on your sump pump.
A properly designed exterior drainage system collects this water and sends it to a safe discharge area. H2O Drainage Systems installs exterior drainage for homes throughout Traverse City and Northern Michigan. Every recommendation is based on your property’s slope, soil conditions, runoff patterns and existing drainage problems.
We assess your property’s slope, soil conditions, and water entry points before recommending any system. No two properties drain the same way, and the right solution depends on where water is coming from and where it needs to go.
A footing drain is a pipe system installed around the outside perimeter of the foundation at footing level. It captures groundwater where pressure against the wall is highest and diverts it before it can push through. It’s a good fit for homes with chronic wet basements caused by saturated soil.
A French drain is a gravel-filled trench with a perforated pipe. It intercepts groundwater moving toward your foundation and carries it to a safe discharge point. It works well for chronic seepage along foundation walls and for wet, low-lying areas of the yard.
Low spots, driveways, patios and walkways can hold standing water after rain. Catch basins and surface drains collect that water and send it through underground pipe to a safe outlet.
Roof runoff released next to the foundation is one of the biggest causes of soil saturation. We route downspout water well away from the home, often through buried pipe to a safe discharge point. For simple above-ground fixes, see our gutter extensions.
Near Traverse City’s lakes, rivers and wetlands, groundwater is often high. In those areas, exterior drainage works best as part of a layered approach. Exterior systems reduce the amount of water that reaches your foundation. An interior drainage system and a properly sized sump pump handle any water that still gets through.
We’ll tell you honestly whether your home needs one system or both. If you also have a crawl space, see our crawlspace drainage service.
H2O Drainage Systems is a locally owned drainage and waterproofing company serving Traverse City and Northern Michigan. Homeowners choose us for:
Our approach is simple: find out how water moves across your property, then design a system that manages it. See the materials we use and browse our project gallery for recent work.
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We’ll contact you to schedule a free estimate and inspection with one of our specialists.
We’ll examine the problem areas and present customized solutions based on our findings.
we are in Traverse City
Improve the way rainwater, snowmelt and groundwater move around your property with an exterior drainage system designed for your home. H2O Drainage Systems provides inspections and drainage installation throughout Traverse City and surrounding Northern Michigan communities. Call 231-392-6350 or submit the form below to schedule your free on-site estimate.
In high-permeability soil, water doesn’t linger — it funnels downward quickly. Without proper exterior drainage, that water concentrates at the foundation footing, increasing pressure during snowmelt and storms.
Exterior drainage helps reduce:
It manages water before it ever reaches the wall.
Some disruption is expected, but professional grading restoration is part of a proper installation plan.
