Standing water, washed-out beds and puddles at entrances are more than an eyesore. In Central Florida, heavy summer storms can send a lot of water across a property fast, and when it has nowhere to go it damages landscaping, stains sidewalks, creates slip hazards and can work its way toward buildings. Oakcrest Outdoors installs French drains, catch basins, channel drains and other water diversion systems, and regrades problem areas, that move water where it belongs, for commercial properties and communities across Orlando, Kissimmee and Central Florida.
Signs Your Property Needs Better Drainage
- Puddles that stay on walkways, entrances or parking areas long after it rains
- Soggy, muddy lawn areas that never dry out
- Mulch and soil washing out of landscape beds
- Gutter downspouts dumping water next to the building or onto sidewalks
- Water pooling against foundations or walls
- Dead or struggling plants and grass in low spots
- Erosion along slopes, walkways or curbs
Our Drainage and Water Diversion Services
- French drain installation: a gravel-filled trench with perforated pipe that collects water from low, soggy areas and carries it away
- Downspout drainage: connecting gutter downspouts to buried pipe so roof water is carried away from the building instead of pooling at the base
- Catch basins: drain boxes set at low spots in lawns, beds and paved areas that collect surface water and send it into underground pipe
- Channel drains (trench drains): long, narrow grated drains installed across walkways, entrances, driveways and paved areas to catch water before it spreads
- Grading and regrading: reshaping the ground so water naturally flows away from buildings, walkways and problem spots
- Rerouting water away from problem areas: moving water away from walkways, entrances, buildings and landscape beds
- Fixing standing water and puddles in lawn and landscape areas
- Landscape restoration: replacing sod, plants and mulch once the water problem is solved
How a French Drain Works
A French drain is a shallow trench lined with fabric, filled with gravel and fitted with a perforated pipe. Water from the surrounding ground flows into the gravel, enters the pipe, and is carried by gravity to a better place to drain. Once the trench is covered, the system is mostly out of sight, and the area above can be finished with sod, rock or mulch.
Choosing the Right Solution
Every drainage problem is a little different, and many properties need a combination of fixes:
- Soggy ground that stays wet: a French drain
- Water collecting in one low spot: a catch basin tied into buried pipe
- Water running across pavement or into an entrance: a channel drain
- Roof water pooling at the building: downspout drainage lines
- Ground that slopes the wrong way: regrading
Our Process
- Site visit: we look at where the water comes from, where it collects and where it can safely go
- Clear plan and price: you get a written estimate before any work starts
- Installation: trenching, grading, drains, basins, pipe and connections done carefully around existing landscaping, irrigation and utilities
- Restoration: we put the area back together with sod, mulch or rock and plants, and clean up the site
Properties We Serve
- HOA and CDD communities
- Apartment complexes
- Office buildings and retail centers
- Commercial and industrial properties
Drainage work pairs well with our HOA landscape maintenance, landscaping and installation and commercial pressure washing services.
Areas We Serve
Oakcrest Outdoors installs drainage systems across Central Florida, including:
Orlando, Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Winter Garden, Winter Park, Lake Nona, Oviedo, Sanford, Apopka, Ocoee, Clermont, Altamonte Springs, Maitland, Casselberry, Longwood, Winter Springs, Celebration, Lake Mary, Davenport, Doctor Phillips and Windermere. See our full service area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a French drain and a downspout drain?
A French drain collects water that soaks into or sits on the ground. A downspout drain is a solid pipe that carries roof water from a gutter downspout away from the building. Many properties benefit from both.
Will a French drain damage my landscaping?
We work carefully around existing plants and irrigation, and we restore the area with sod, mulch, rock or plants when the job is done.
Can you fix puddles on a commercial property?
Yes. We look at why the water is collecting and recommend the right fix, often a French drain or rerouting downspout water away from the problem area.
When do I need a catch basin or a channel drain?
A catch basin works best where water collects in one low spot. A channel drain works best across a paved surface, such as an entrance, walkway or driveway, where water sheets across a wide area. We will recommend the right one after looking at the site.
Can regrading fix standing water?
Often, yes. When the ground slopes toward a building or holds water in a low area, reshaping it so water flows away can solve the problem on its own or alongside a drain.
Get a Free Estimate
Water collecting where it shouldn’t? Call or text (407) 686-6244, or request a quote using our contact form. We are open Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm.
Related services: landscaping and installation · sod installation · HOA landscape maintenance · CDD landscape maintenance · all services