French Drains in Brockley that move groundwater away from lawns, patios and foundations. We design the right gradient, install cleanly, and connect to a safe outlet for reliable drainage.
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If your garden stays soggy after rain or water pools by the patio, a properly designed French drain can solve it. In Brockley, we often see runoff issues around Victorian terraces and shared side returns. We work across SE4, including routes near Brockley Market and Hilly Fields, installing discreet drainage that protects planting and paving. The aim is simple: capture water below ground and move it to a suitable discharge point.
Fine Landscaping is based just 25 minutes away, so we can respond quickly and plan around local access. Many homes here are Victorian terraces, Edwardian houses and mansion conversions, where narrow passages and mature gardens demand careful excavation and reinstatement. We regularly support clients in Honor Oak, Crofton Park and New Cross, tailoring drainage runs to suit boundaries, levels and existing landscaping. Our approach keeps disruption low while delivering long-term performance.
We start with a site survey to confirm where water is coming from and where it can safely go. Your system is then built with trench excavation, geotextile membrane, gravel fill and a perforated pipe laid to a calculated fall, with an outlet connection where appropriate. We can install multiple runs to treat larger lawns or problem borders, and we finish with neat making-good. Homeowners choose us for clear specifications, tidy workmanship and a 10-year warranty.
Brockley gardens often sit behind period homes with tight access, so we plan spoil removal, deliveries and parking carefully. Ground conditions can vary from compacted clay to made-up soils, which affects trench depth, gravel choice and fall calculations. For french drains in London Borough of Lewisham, we also consider surface water discharge options and keep work aligned with local guidance. If you’re near Ladywell or Brockley Cemetery, we’ll map levels precisely to avoid sending water towards neighbouring plots.
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Costs depend on length, depth, access and where the outlet can connect. As a guide, many Brockley installations start around £900–£1,800 for a short run, with larger or multi-run systems typically £2,000–£4,500+. Narrow side access, extra excavation, and reinstatement of paving or planting can increase costs. We provide a written breakdown after a site visit so you can compare like-for-like.
Most single-run installations take 1–2 days, including excavation, membrane, gravel, pipework and reinstatement. Larger gardens, multiple runs, or complex gradient design can take 3–5 days. Timescales also depend on access (common with terraces), the amount of spoil to remove, and whether we’re tying into an existing outlet connection. We’ll confirm a programme before starting and keep the site tidy each day.
In most cases, French drains in gardens are permitted development and don’t require planning permission. However, rules can change if you’re in a conservation area, working near protected trees, altering levels significantly, or connecting to certain drainage systems. We’ll advise on best practice and check any relevant London Borough of Lewisham guidance before work begins. If needed, we can help you gather information for approvals.
Yes. We provide a 10-year warranty on our French drain installation workmanship, covering issues such as incorrect falls, poor connections, or installation-related failures. The warranty assumes normal use and that the drain isn’t damaged by later building works or landscaping alterations. We’ll also explain simple maintenance steps to keep performance high, such as keeping surface inlets clear and avoiding soil fines entering the system.
We tailor each system to the site, but common options include 80–110mm perforated pipe, clean angular gravel for fast flow, and a geotextile membrane to prevent silting. Outlet choices may include a soakaway, existing surface water line (where appropriate), or discharge to a suitable point on-site. We can also design multiple runs or link to channel drains near patios. For french drains Brockley area homes, we’ll recommend the best combination after checking levels and soil.
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