Drainage
Downspouts & Drainage
Right-sized downspouts and discharge that carry roof water away from the foundation, not into it.
About downspouts & drainage
Gutters are only half the system — the water still has to get away from the house. On Kansas City's expansive clay soil, downspouts that dump at the foundation are a direct line to a wet basement and shifting slabs. We add or upsize downspouts where the roof sheds more than the outlets can handle, add extensions and splash blocks, and tie downspouts into buried drainage that carries the water out to daylight or the storm system. We size the discharge to the roof area and the grade so the water ends up where it belongs.
The problem we solve: Roof water pooling at the foundation, eroding beds, and finding its way into basements and crawlspaces.
Benefits
- Moves roof water away from the foundation and the clay soil around it
- Right-sized downspouts keep gutters from overflowing at the outlets
- Buried drainage clears walkways and beds of standing water
Signs you need downspouts & drainage
- Water pooling or eroding mulch beds at the downspouts
- A damp or leaking basement or crawlspace after rain
- Downspouts dumping right at the foundation
- Ice sheets forming on walks below the downspouts in winter
Process
Our 4-step downspouts & drainage process
- Trace the water. We check roof area, grade, and where the water currently lands and pools.
- Size the discharge. We add or upsize downspouts and outlets to match what the roof actually sheds.
- Carry it away. We run extensions or buried drain line to move water out past the foundation.
- Confirm the fall. We confirm the line falls to daylight or the storm tie-in and flows clear.
Typical timeline: Downspout work is usually same-day; buried drainage runs take one to two days.
Pricing
What downspouts & drainage costs
Most jobs run $250–$2,500 per job.
What affects the price
- Number of downspouts added or upsized
- Length and depth of buried drain line
- Yard grade and discharge point
- Surface extensions vs. underground tie-in
Quoted after we see the grade and discharge options. Underground drainage is priced per run.
Service area
Downspouts & Drainage by city
FAQ
Downspouts & Drainage FAQs
- Why does water pool at my downspouts?
- Usually the downspout discharges right at the foundation with no extension, or there aren't enough outlets for the roof area. We add or upsize outlets and carry the water away from the house.
- Can you bury my downspouts?
- Yes. We tie downspouts into buried drain line graded to daylight or a storm tie-in, with a pop-up emitter where it surfaces — so it actually falls and drains.
- Why does drainage matter so much here?
- Kansas City's expansive clay soil swells and shrinks with water. Roof water dumped at the foundation is a common cause of wet basements and slab movement, so getting it away from the house matters.