Fine Landscaping provides Drainage Contractors in Forest Hill to fix flooding, pooling and soggy lawns. From French drains and soakaways to CCTV surveys, we diagnose the cause and install the right solution for long-term results.
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If your garden is holding water after rain, drainage is usually the missing link. We design and install surface drainage, channel drains and land drains to move water away from lawns, patios and foundations. Homeowners around SE23, near Forest Hill station and the Horniman Museum, call us to stop puddling, slippery paths and damp-prone borders. Our solutions are tidy, discreet and built to cope with London downpours.
Forest Hill’s Victorian and Edwardian houses, plus period conversions, often have older gullies, shallow falls and compacted ground from years of use. Rear gardens can be long and narrow, with limited access for machinery, especially towards Honor Oak and Sydenham borders. We tailor drainage layouts to suit existing patios, steps and outbuildings, keeping disruption low. Whether it’s a waterlogged lawn or overflowing gutter drainage, we match the fix to the property.
We start with a site visit, levels check and, where needed, CCTV surveys to locate blockages, collapsed runs or poor connections. You’ll receive a clear plan covering French drains, soakaways or channel drains, with where the water will discharge and why. Our team works cleanly, reinstates surfaces properly and tests flow before sign-off. Local homeowners choose us for straight answers, durable installations and workmanship backed in writing.
We’re used to the mixed ground conditions across SE23, from compacted clay pockets to made-up soil in older gardens. Access can be tight behind period terraces, so we plan spoil removal, material deliveries and parking to minimise disruption. We also factor in existing combined drainage and older gutter runs common in Victorian streets. If you’re near Devonshire Road Nature Reserve or Blythe Hill Fields, we’ll design falls and discharge points to suit the site’s natural gradients.
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Costs vary by depth, access, soil type and where water can legally discharge. As a guide, small surface drainage or channel drain installs often start around £600–£1,500. French drains for a typical garden edge are commonly £1,500–£4,000. Soakaways can range from £1,800–£5,500 depending on size and excavation. CCTV surveys and minor repairs may be £200–£600.
Many jobs complete in 1–3 days, such as adding channel drains, improving gutter drainage connections, or installing a short French drain. Larger schemes—multiple land drains, a new soakaway, or extensive regrading—often take 3–7 days. Timescales depend on access (especially through period conversions), depth of excavation, weather, and whether we’re reinstating paving or lawns. We confirm a schedule after the site survey.
Most garden drainage improvements are permitted development, particularly when you’re managing rainwater on your own land with soakaways, land drains or channel drains. However, rules can change if you’re altering a driveway, working near boundaries, connecting to public sewers, or your property is listed or in a conservation area. We check the practical requirements, advise on compliant discharge options, and can liaise with relevant parties if needed.
Yes. Our drainage installations come with a 10-year workmanship warranty, covering issues caused by installation defects such as poor falls, incorrect connections, or faulty assembly of drainage components. It doesn’t cover misuse, third-party damage, or blockages caused by external factors like building debris tipped into gullies. We also use reputable drainage materials with manufacturer guarantees where applicable, and we test flows before completion.
We offer several proven options: French drains with perforated pipe and clean gravel, modular soakaway crates, land drains for lawns, and surface/channel drains with discreet grates. For gutter drainage, we can upgrade downpipe connections, add leaf traps, or reroute to a soakaway where suitable. Material choices include uPVC, twinwall and heavy-duty channels depending on load and location. We recommend the best design after checking levels and soil permeability.
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