Fine Landscaping provides Drainage Contractors in Crystal Palace to tackle flooding, pooling and soggy lawns. From French drains and soakaways to channel drains and CCTV surveys, we design fixes that last. Expect tidy working, clear reporting and results you can see after the next downpour.
Response within 24 hours
Crystal Palace’s hilltop setting brings fast run-off, and it doesn’t take much for patios and paths to start holding water. If your garden near Crystal Palace Park or the National Sports Centre is turning into a sponge, we can help with targeted surface drainage, land drains and gutter connections. We pinpoint where water is coming from and where it should go. Then we install discreet systems that protect planting, paving and foundations.
Homes across SE19 and SE20 often include Victorian villas, Edwardian houses and period conversions with older drainage layouts. Downpipes may discharge into shallow gullies, and rear gardens can sit lower than the house, trapping water after heavy rain. In Upper Norwood, Anerley, Penge and Gipsy Hill, access can be tight and levels can change quickly from front to back. Our drainage contractors Crystal Palace area plan routes and falls carefully so water moves away efficiently without spoiling the look of your garden.
We start with a site visit, level checks and, where needed, CCTV surveys to confirm blockages, breaks or poor falls. You’ll receive a clear recommendation—French drain, soakaway, channel drain or a combined approach—plus an itemised scope. Installations are completed with minimal disruption and proper reinstatement of lawns, borders and paving. Local homeowners choose us because we turn up when we say we will, keep you informed, and back workmanship with a 10-year warranty.
Crystal Palace sits across the London Borough of Bromley, Croydon, Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham, so drainage rules and site constraints can vary street by street. Steep gradients, clay-heavy pockets and mature tree roots can all affect soakaway performance and pipe routing. We plan for restricted side access, resident parking controls and skip placement, and we choose solutions that suit period properties. Our base is around 15 minutes away, so follow-up visits are straightforward.
Rated 4.9/5 from over 280 verified reviews
Costs vary with access, depth, and how much water needs managing. As a guide, small surface drainage fixes or channel drains often start around £450–£1,200. French drains typically range from £1,200–£3,500 depending on length and reinstatement. Soakaways commonly fall between £1,800–£4,500, especially if excavation is deep or spoil removal is complex. CCTV surveys are usually £180–£350, depending on pipe length and reporting.
Many jobs are completed in 1–3 days, such as installing a channel drain, connecting gutter drainage, or adding a short French drain run. Larger schemes—multiple land drains, a new soakaway, or extensive regrading—often take 3–7 days. Timescales depend on ground conditions, depth of excavations, access through period properties, and weather. If we uncover collapsed pipes or root ingress during a CCTV survey, we’ll explain options and revised timings before proceeding.
Most garden drainage improvements are permitted development, especially where you’re managing surface water within your property using soakaways or permeable solutions. However, rules can change if you’re altering a driveway, working near boundaries, connecting to public sewers, or if the property is in a conservation area. Because Crystal Palace spans multiple boroughs, we check the relevant council guidance and advise on any permissions, build-over agreements or drainage consents before work starts.
We provide a 10-year warranty on workmanship for our drainage installations, including French drains, land drains, channel drains and soakaway construction. The warranty covers defects arising from installation issues such as incorrect falls, poor connections or inadequate bedding and backfill. It doesn’t cover damage caused by third-party works, extreme ground movement, or blocked gutters that overload the system. We also explain maintenance steps to keep everything flowing properly.
We install perforated land drain pipes with graded aggregates and geotextile wraps, plus discreet inspection points for future maintenance. For surface water, we fit polymer or galvanised channel drains with a choice of grates to match paving styles. Soakaways can be built using modular crates or traditional rubble-filled pits, depending on space and soil. We also integrate gutter drainage upgrades and silt traps. We’ll recommend the best combination after level checks and, if needed, percolation testing.
Get your free, no-obligation quote today.