Need reliable Drainage Contractors in Kensington to stop flooding and soggy lawns? We design and install French drains, soakaways and surface drainage that suit period gardens and tight access. Book a CCTV survey and get a clear plan before any digging starts.
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Kensington gardens and courtyards can suffer from standing water after heavy rain, especially around paved areas and basement lightwells. Fine Landscaping installs surface drainage, channel drains and land drains to move water safely away from your home. We work across W8 and W14, including routes near Kensington Palace and Kensington High Street. If your lawn is soft underfoot or your patio is constantly wet, we’ll pinpoint the cause and fix it properly.
Homes in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea often include stucco townhouses, mansion blocks and period conversions with mature planting and limited side access. That means drainage upgrades must be precise, tidy and sympathetic to existing stonework, tiles and heritage-style detailing. In areas such as Holland Park and South Kensington, we regularly resolve problems caused by compacted soil, older gullies and poorly connected downpipes. Our solutions are designed to protect foundations while keeping the garden looking premium.
We start with a site visit and, where needed, CCTV surveys to confirm blockages, breaks or misaligned pipework. You’ll receive a clear recommendation covering French drains, soakaways, gutter drainage connections or channel drain runs, with sensible options for different budgets. Our team protects paving and planting, works cleanly, and tests flows before sign-off. Homeowners choose us for straightforward communication, documented workmanship, and a 10-year warranty on qualifying installations.
Kensington properties often have confined access, basement levels and shared front areas, so drainage must be planned around neighbours, deliveries and parking restrictions. We factor in local ground conditions, existing Victorian pipework and the way roof water is currently discharged. Where required, we coordinate waste removal and keep disruption low for mansion blocks and period conversions. Our approach suits the expectations and standards common across the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
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Costs vary with access, depth, and whether you need excavation or a CCTV survey first. As a guide, CCTV surveys often start from £180–£350. Small surface drainage or channel drain sections may be £600–£1,500. French drains commonly range £1,800–£5,000 depending on length and reinstatement. Soakaways are often £1,500–£4,500, higher if space is limited or spoil removal is complex.
Many jobs are completed within 1–3 days, such as installing a short channel drain run or reconnecting gutter drainage. French drains and land drains typically take 2–5 days depending on length, depth and reinstatement of paving or turf. Soakaways can take 1–3 days, but longer if access is restricted or there’s a lot of excavation spoil to remove. Weather and underground obstructions can also affect timings.
Most garden drainage improvements, including French drains, land drains and soakaways, are usually permitted and don’t require planning permission. However, rules can change for listed buildings, conservation areas, works near party walls, or if you’re altering levels and hardstanding significantly. We’ll advise what’s likely to apply in your situation and can help you check any council guidance. If permissions are needed, we’ll plan the work accordingly.
Yes. We provide a 10-year warranty on qualifying drainage installations covering workmanship and the correct installation of specified components, such as pipe runs, connections, and properly built soakaways. The warranty is subject to normal use and excludes damage caused by third-party works, severe ground movement, or misuse (for example, pouring fats or debris into gullies). We also test flows on completion and can provide maintenance advice to keep systems performing.
We offer perforated land drain systems with graded aggregates, geotextile-wrapped French drains, and modular soakaway crates or traditional rubble soakaways where suitable. For surface water, we install slimline channel drains with galvanised, stainless or discreet composite grates to match stone or porcelain paving. Gutter drainage can be upgraded with new underground pipework and rodding access points. We’ll recommend the best option based on soil, fall, aesthetics and maintenance needs.
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