Persistent puddles and damp walls need a proper drainage fix, not guesswork. Our French Drains in New Cross move water away fast with correct falls, clean outlets and durable materials.
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If your patio holds water or the lawn stays boggy after rain, a French drain can relieve the pressure quickly and quietly. We install systems across SE14, including around New Cross station and Deptford Park, to intercept groundwater and redirect it safely. Each run is designed to suit your garden layout and where water naturally collects. The aim is simple: drier surfaces and less risk of damp near the house.
New Cross homes often include Victorian terraces, Georgian houses and converted flats with compact rear gardens and shared boundaries. That means access can be tight and drainage routes must be planned carefully to avoid undermining paths, steps or outbuildings. We’re used to working around existing paving, cellar lightwells and older brickwork where moisture can linger. For the french drains new cross area, we tailor depth and outlet positions to match your plot and levels.
Our process starts with a site survey and gradient design so water flows where it should. We carry out trench excavation, install perforated pipe, wrap with geotextile membrane, then backfill with clean gravel for long-term performance. Where needed, we add multiple runs and connect to a suitable outlet such as a soakaway or existing surface water line (where permitted). Homeowners choose us for clear written scopes, tidy working practices, and aftercare advice for easy maintenance.
In New Cross, gardens can sit lower than neighbouring plots and older paving often lacks a proper fall, so water lingers. We plan routes that work with tight access typical of terraces near Goldsmiths University and surrounding streets. Parking and loading can be restricted, so we schedule deliveries and spoil removal to minimise disruption. For french drains in London Borough of Lewisham, we also consider where existing gullies and surface water connections are located before we start.
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Costs vary with length, depth, access and where the outlet can go. As a guide, small garden runs often start around £900–£1,800, while longer or deeper installations with multiple runs and a new soakaway may be £2,000–£4,500+. Prices can rise if we must lift and reinstate paving, work around services, or dispose of large volumes of spoil. We provide a detailed written estimate after a survey.
Most single-run French drains take 1–2 days from excavation to gravel backfill, depending on length and access. More complex layouts with multiple runs, tight side passages, or reinstatement of patios and paths can take 3–5 days. Weather, ground conditions, and locating existing utilities also affect timescales. We’ll confirm the programme in advance and keep disruption as low as possible for neighbours and shared access routes.
In many cases, French drains within a private garden are permitted development and don’t need planning permission. However, rules can change if you’re working near a boundary wall, altering levels significantly, connecting into existing drainage, or if the property is listed or in a conservation area. We’ll advise on best practice and can help you check requirements with Lewisham Council where needed before any outlet connection is made.
Yes. Our French drain installations come with a 10-year warranty covering workmanship and correct installation of the system as specified, including pipe placement, membrane wrap, gravel backfill and falls. It’s designed to give you confidence the drain will perform as intended under normal conditions. The warranty doesn’t cover blockages caused by third-party damage, major ground movement, or misuse, but we do provide maintenance guidance and can return for inspections if required.
We can tailor the build to your garden and budget. Options include different pipe diameters, rigid or flexible perforated pipe, clean gravel grades, and geotextile membrane choices to reduce silt ingress. Outlets can be to a soakaway, an existing surface water point (where allowed), or a discreet pop-up emitter. We’ll recommend the best gradient design, depth and whether multiple runs are needed after assessing levels and where water collects.
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