French Drains in East Dulwich that quietly move water away from your home and garden. We design the right gradient, install clean runs, and connect to a safe outlet. Expect tidy excavation, robust materials, and a finish that suits period properties.
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If your lawn stays waterlogged after rain or your patio puddles for days, a properly built French drain can make a dramatic difference. In SE22, we’re often called out around Lordship Lane and near Dulwich Park where heavy downpours overwhelm compacted ground. Our drains intercept surface and sub-surface water and carry it to a suitable discharge point. The result is a drier garden, fewer muddy patches, and less risk of damp around the base of the house.
East Dulwich homes—Victorian terraces, Edwardian houses, and period conversions—often have narrow side returns and established planting that need careful protection. We plan access and spoil removal to keep disruption low, even when working behind terraces or through alleyways. Gardens in Peckham Rye, Dulwich Village and Nunhead can have mixed ground conditions, from clay-heavy soil to made ground. We tailor depth, pipe size and run layout to suit the site rather than forcing a one-size solution.
Every installation starts with a practical survey: where the water collects, where it can go, and what falls are achievable. We then carry out trench excavation, lay a geotextile membrane, install perforated pipe, and backfill with clean gravel for long-term flow. Where needed, we design multiple runs to protect lawns, borders and patio edges. Fine Landscaping is trusted locally because we work neatly, explain options clearly, and stand behind the build with a 10-year warranty.
The french drains East Dulwich area needs are often shaped by clay soil, compacted lawns, and older garden layouts. In the London Borough of Southwark, we also factor in parking, access restrictions and considerate working hours on residential streets. Many SE22 properties have limited side access, so we plan trench lines, spoil handling and reinstatement carefully. We also check safe discharge routes so water is directed away from walls and boundaries.
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Costs vary with length, depth, access and where the outlet can connect. As a guide, many SE22 garden installations come in around £900–£2,500 for a single run, while longer or multi-run systems with tougher excavation can be £2,500–£6,000+. Tight access through Victorian terraces, extra reinstatement (turf/paving), and deeper falls can increase costs. We provide a clear, itemised quote after a site visit.
Most straightforward installations take 1–2 days, including trench excavation, membrane, pipe, gravel fill and tidy reinstatement. Larger gardens, multiple runs, or deeper trenches to achieve the right gradient can take 3–5 days. Timescales also depend on access (side return vs through-house), the amount of spoil to remove, and whether patios or paths need lifting and relaying. We’ll confirm a realistic programme before starting.
In many cases, French drains in gardens are permitted development and don’t need planning permission, as they’re below ground and don’t alter the building’s appearance. However, rules can change if you’re in a conservation area, dealing with listed buildings, or altering drainage near boundaries or shared structures. We’ll advise on best practice, check any relevant constraints, and recommend contacting Southwark if there’s any uncertainty before work begins.
Yes. We provide a 10-year warranty on our French drain installation workmanship, covering correct pipe placement, membrane use, gravel backfill and stable reinstatement. It’s designed to protect you against failures caused by installation defects. Like any drainage system, performance also depends on reasonable use and maintenance, such as preventing soil and debris from entering inspection points. We’ll explain what’s covered and how to keep the system flowing well.
We can tailor the design to your garden and the water problem. Options include different perforated pipe diameters, gravel grades for faster flow, and heavier-duty geotextile membranes where silting risk is higher. We can also add multiple runs, inspection points for easier maintenance, and discreet channel links near patios. If an outlet connection is limited, we’ll discuss alternatives and the best gradient design to achieve reliable drainage.
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