Best French Drain Near Ottawa County, MI | 5 Must-Haves Before You Install

Why Homeowners in Ottawa County Are Turning to French Drains

If you're reading this, you're probably fed up.
Fed up with the water that just won’t drain from your yard. Tired of soggy patches that kill your grass, or that one low spot by the house that turns into a mini swamp after every good rain. You’ve tried replanting. Maybe even regrading. But the problem keeps creeping back.

You’re not alone.
Here in Ottawa County—and all over Michigan—our soil doesn’t always make things easy. Between clay-heavy ground, shifting slopes, and our wild weather patterns, poor drainage is a common headache. For many local homeowners, the fix isn’t cosmetic. It’s foundational.

We’re Christ Dirt Excavating, based in Holland and serving Ottawa, Allegan, Kent, Muskegon, Montcalm, Barry, and Ionia Counties. French drains are something we help people with every single week. And if you’re considering one, we want to help you get it right from the start.

Before you hire anyone, here are the five absolute must-haves to make sure your French drain actually works—and keeps working.

Must-Have #1: A Drain That Matches Your Soil Type

Not all dirt is created equal.

Ottawa County has a mix of loamy sand, clay, and compacted fill depending on your location and how your property was developed. That matters—because the wrong type of French drain system in the wrong soil can actually trap water rather than move it.

For example:

• Clay-heavy soil doesn't drain fast, so your system might need wider trenches or more gravel.
  

• Sandy soil drains well but can shift, so pipe placement and fabric wrapping become critical.
  

• And in mixed soil types, you might need to customize the depth and slope in different parts of the yard.

A good contractor won’t guess. They’ll ask about water behavior after rain, check your soil in person, and explain what your yard needs—not just what’s in their playbook.

Must-Have #2: A Contractor Who Understands Local Drainage Issues

You don’t want a contractor who’s never dealt with the quirks of Michigan drainage.

We’ve seen it all—driveways sinking after a DIY trench job, basements leaking from misrouted runoff, or yards that look good for a month and then go right back to pooling. Most of those issues come down to one thing: someone didn’t think through the whole system.

The best French drain installer near Ottawa County isn’t just someone with a trencher. It’s someone who asks:

• Where does the water come from?
  

• Where does it need to go?
  

• How will this drain hold up in February? Or July?

If they’re not asking those questions, they’re not protecting your home.

Must-Have #3: A Design That Solves the Right Problem

A French drain isn’t just a pipe in the ground.
It’s a solution—but only when it’s designed with a purpose.

Ask yourself:

• Is your goal to protect your foundation?
  

• Dry out a soggy lawn?
  

• Stop a hillside from washing out?
  

• Prevent a flooded crawl space?

Each of those needs a different approach.
Some people need a curtain drain near a slope. Others need a trench drain by the driveway. And some yards need a combo of grading and drainage to get the job done.

The right design can make the difference between a one-time fix and years of repairs. This is where customized service really shines.

Must-Have #4: Quality Materials That Can Handle Michigan Weather

Let’s not sugarcoat it—Michigan weather is hard on everything.

You’ve got freeze-thaw cycles, downpours, and the occasional "what even was that?" weather event. Your French drain needs to survive it all.

That means:

• Perforated pipe that doesn’t collapse or clog
  

• Filter fabric to stop roots and dirt from filling the trench
  

• Gravel that’s the right size and packed properly
  

• A slope that doesn’t freeze solid or pool during spring thaw

A few bucks saved on materials up front can cost you thousands later. This is no place to cut corners.

Must-Have #5: A Clear Plan—Before the First Shovel Hits the Ground

If your contractor shows up and starts digging without a clear plan in place, hit pause.

Every French drain job needs a game plan, including:

• Where the trench will go
  

• How deep and wide it needs to be
  

• Where the water will drain to
  

• What’s being used to build it
  

• How the yard will be cleaned up afterward

You should see this plan before work starts.
Not a vague idea—a real plan. That’s how you protect your property, your time, and your money.

Red Flags to Watch Out For When Choosing a French Drain Installer

Not everyone claiming to install French drains knows what they’re doing. And sadly, we’ve cleaned up more than a few messes left behind by “cheap” jobs that didn’t last a season.

Here’s what to be cautious of:

• They quote you over the phone without seeing your yard
  

• They use cheap corrugated pipe (it crushes too easily)
  

• They suggest you run water toward your neighbor’s yard
  

• They don’t mention soil type, slope, or outlet location
  

• There’s no written scope of work

If it feels rushed, vague, or one-size-fits-all—it probably is.

Why Custom Solutions Beat Cookie-Cutter Fixes Every Time

Here’s the truth: no two yards are the same.
Even in the same neighborhood, your neighbor’s solution might not work for you. Maybe your slope is different. Maybe your downspouts feed into a different part of the yard. Maybe you’ve got a garden that can’t be disturbed.

That’s why, at Christ Dirt Excavating, we start every job with questions, not assumptions.

We listen to what’s happening.
We walk the property.
And we create a system that fits your land—not the other way around.

That might mean a simple French drain near the house, or it might mean integrating it with yard grading, gutter extensions, or other tools to really fix the problem for good.

Working with Christ Dirt Excavating: What to Expect

We care a whole lot about doing the job right, and that starts with making sure we’re a good fit for what you need.

When you reach out:

• We’ll listen to what you’re dealing with
  

• We’ll walk the site with you and look at problem areas
  

• We’ll talk through options—without pressuring you
  

• We’ll build a plan that solves the actual problem, not just covers it up

And yes, we’ll clean up after ourselves when we’re done.

Ready to Get Dry? Let’s Talk About Your Yard

A French drain might be just the thing your yard or home needs—but only if it’s done with care, experience, and the right materials.

You don’t need the biggest company.
You don’t need the cheapest quote.
You just need someone who gets it—someone who knows Ottawa County soil, who asks the right questions, and who builds drainage systems that last.

If you’re ready to stop worrying every time it rains, give us a call.
Let’s walk the yard together. We’ll figure it out—customized, just for you.