French Drains in Blackheath that tackle soggy lawns, damp borders and pooling patios. We design the right gradient, install cleanly, and connect to a safe outlet for lasting drainage.
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Water pooling after heavy rain is a common frustration around SE3, especially near Blackheath Common where ground can stay saturated. A properly built French drain collects excess water below the surface and moves it away before it reaches patios, paths and foundations. Fine Landscaping installs discreet drainage that protects planting beds and hard landscaping without spoiling the look of your garden. We can also add multiple runs where water gathers in several low spots.
Blackheath’s Georgian townhouses, Victorian villas and period conversions often have mature gardens, raised terraces and older boundary walls that need careful drainage planning. We’re used to working with narrow side returns, shared access routes and delicate finishes such as York stone and brick edging. Our team understands how to route drainage so it complements established planting and respects heritage-style layouts. If you’re close to Blackheath Village or Lee, we’ll tailor the system to your plot levels and existing surfaces.
We start with a site survey to map flow paths, identify the lowest points and confirm a viable outlet connection. Then we carry out trench excavation, install a perforated pipe wrapped in a geotextile membrane, and backfill with clean gravel for fast filtration. Every run is set to a calculated gradient design to keep water moving and reduce silt build-up. Homeowners choose us for tidy workmanship, clear communication, and a 10-year warranty on our installation.
We regularly work across the Royal Borough of Greenwich/London Borough of Lewisham, where access and parking can affect how materials are delivered and spoil is removed. Blackheath’s period properties often have stepped gardens and older drainage that needs careful integration. We plan trench routes to avoid tree roots and protect existing paving, with safe reinstatement afterwards. If councils require specific discharge methods, we design the outlet connection accordingly.
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Costs vary with length, depth, number of runs and how hard access is. As a guide, small installations for a single problem area often start around £900–£1,800. Medium systems for longer borders or multiple low spots typically fall between £2,000–£4,500. Larger, multi-run drainage with more excavation and reinstatement can be £5,000+. We provide a written quote after a site visit in SE3.
Most residential French drain installations take 1–3 days, depending on trench length, depth and how many runs are needed. A short run along one border can be completed in a day, while multi-run systems with careful reinstatement may take several days. Timescales are affected by access (side alleys, steps), ground conditions, and whether we’re connecting into an existing outlet or creating a new discharge point.
In most cases, French drains are classed as garden works and don’t need planning permission, especially when they’re below ground and don’t alter the appearance of the property. However, rules can change for listed buildings, conservation areas, or if you’re altering levels significantly or discharging water in a way that affects neighbours or public drains. We’ll flag any concerns during the survey and advise on the best compliant approach.
Yes. Our French drain installations come with a 10-year warranty covering workmanship and the correct installation of the system components, including the perforated pipe, membrane wrap, gravel backfill and connections. It’s designed to give peace of mind that the drain will perform as intended when built to the agreed design. The warranty doesn’t cover blockages caused by external factors such as tree root intrusion or misuse, but we can advise on prevention and maintenance.
We tailor the build to your garden and the volume of water. Options include different pipe diameters, rigid or flexible perforated pipe, and varying gravel sizes for faster filtration. We can add inspection points for easier maintenance, or design multiple runs feeding a single outlet. Where discharge is limited, we’ll discuss alternatives such as soakaway integration. We’ll recommend the best combination after checking levels, soil type and available outfalls in the french drains blackheath area.
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