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How area drains work
Grated inlets are set at the low points where water actually collects, connected by solid pipe pitched to carry the collected water to a safe discharge point away from the home. The design starts with how your lot sheds water: where it enters, where it stalls, and where it can legitimately go. Area drains handle surface water; where water is moving through the soil itself, a french drain intercepts it, and many yards need both working together.
Area drains and your foundation
Standing water beside a slab feeds the swell side of the expansive clay cycle, and a low spot that never dries writes that moisture imbalance directly into the foundation. Correcting surface collection is often one of the most cost-effective protections a property can buy. If your foundation is already showing symptoms, the evaluation covers what the water has done, not just where it pools. Residential drainage work carries a transferable workmanship warranty, terms vary by service, with financing available.
Cardinal performs this work across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and the Houston area.
Frequently asked questions
Area drains collect water you can see on the surface; french drains intercept water moving through the soil. The design follows where your water actually comes from, and some yards need both.
To daylight at a lower elevation, a storm drainage path, or another approved outlet that carries water genuinely away from the home.
Start with an engineer
Tell us about your property and we'll schedule a free, no-obligation inspection. Your request routes to the right team: commercial, residential, or new construction.