The Woodlands & Greater Houston
Drainage and Grading Around Lots and Slabs
Drakon Builders handles lot grading, swales, French drains and positive drainage away from slabs across The Woodlands, Conroe and Greater Houston. Our fleet of dozers, excavators and a compact track loader is operated by our own operators. Work is shown in machine-days with operator.
Start with where water collects, where it comes from and the route it needs to take. A low area beside a slab, an interrupted swale and a new building pad are different situations. The grading or drain scope should address the site layout rather than begin with a preferred pipe or machine.
We work across Montgomery County, The Woodlands, Conroe, Magnolia, Willis, Spring, Lake Conroe and Greater Houston. Bring available site plans and explain any planned construction. Drainage work needs to fit the ground that exists now and the work intended to follow, including access roads, pads and concrete.
Understand the water path before moving dirt
Point out the areas where you see standing water and the direction water takes across the lot. Photos showing the problem can help explain it, especially when the ground is dry during a discussion. Include the slab edge, driveway and surrounding ground so the concern is not viewed as an isolated low spot.
Identify the intended outlet or drainage route in the available plans. Moving water away from one area is only part of the scope; the next part is where it travels. Discuss that route before deciding which grading or drain work to include. Filling a low point without considering the surrounding ground can leave the larger question unanswered.
Lot grading and swales
Lot grading changes the ground surface to support the planned drainage route. A swale gives surface water a defined path through the site. Discuss the beginning, end and surrounding grades of that path so the work has clear limits. Include existing fences, entrances and areas that need to remain usable.
Positive drainage away from slabs belongs in that same discussion. Show the relationship between the slab and adjacent ground, including any planned fill or concrete. If a new pad is being built, consider surrounding grading alongside it. If the slab is already there, explain what has changed around it and where you observe the problem.
French drains and surface drainage
French drains can be part of the drainage scope, but a drain should be discussed with its collection area and outlet. Tell us where the concern occurs and bring any drain details already supplied for the site. The trench route, access and connection to the wider drainage layout all belong in the conversation.
A French drain and a surface swale address different parts of a drainage layout. Avoid choosing one solely because it worked somewhere else. Review the water path and the intended result first, then define which work belongs in this project. Lot grading, swales and drain installation can be discussed together without assuming every property needs all three.
How the job runs
- 1.Review the reported problem, available plans and intended water path. Walk the slab edges, low areas and proposed route with the wider lot in mind.
- 2.Define the grading, swale or French drain scope. Identify the collection area, outlet and limits of disturbance before planning excavation.
- 3.Plan access and earthmoving around existing structures and the agreed drainage route. Show machine work in machine-days with operator and identify related pad or driveway work.
- 4.Carry out the agreed grading and drain work, then review the route and transitions against the scope. Discuss any remaining site work that could change the surrounding ground.
We call Texas 811 for utility locates before digging. For sites that disturb an acre or more, we put the required stormwater controls (SWPPP) in place. In unincorporated Montgomery County, we handle the county development permit and drainage sign-off when a job needs them.
Equipment we use
Our Kubota KX080 excavator, in the 8-ton class, handles digging for drains and shaping excavated drainage features. Our Kubota SVL95 compact track loader moves material and supports grading around the work area. Our Cat D6 dozer handles broader lot grading where the site has room and the earthmoving scope calls for it.
These machines are operated by our own operators. Our Cat D1 dozer works close to slabs and in tight yards for finish grading, and our John Deere 240 excavator handles larger drainage cuts. Access beside a slab or through a gate can limit the working area, so equipment selection follows the actual layout. Tell us about those constraints when sharing the drainage concern.
Straight answers
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you grade water away from an existing slab?
Positive drainage away from slabs is part of our scope. Show where water collects, the surrounding ground and the intended drainage route. The work needs to be considered with both the slab edge and the rest of the lot.
Do I need a French drain or a swale?
That depends on the water path and the intended drainage layout. Share the problem and any available plans before choosing a solution. We offer lot grading, swales and French drains and can discuss which work belongs in your scope.
Can drainage work be combined with pad preparation?
Yes. Discuss pad preparation and drainage together so the proposed building elevation and surrounding ground are considered in the same site plan. Keep the work limits clear for each stage, including the later concrete scope.
What should I document when water is standing?
Photos of the affected area and the path water takes can help explain the concern. Include nearby slab edges, driveways and low ground. Bring available site plans and describe any recent or planned changes to the lot.
Will you handle county drainage sign-off?
In unincorporated Montgomery County, we handle the county development permit and drainage sign-off when a job needs them. Share the property location and planned work so that step is considered as part of the site scope.
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