French Drain Installation in Oneida County & Central New York
Intercept the Water Before It Reaches Your Foundation
French drain and curtain drain installation in Oneida County and Central New York. Wet basements, yard drainage, foundation protection, and groundwater interception.
French Drain Services Across Central New York
French drains solve problems that surface grading alone cannot fix. When groundwater moves through the soil toward your foundation, it does not care what the surface grade looks like. The water is underground, and the only way to stop it is to intercept it underground with a drainage system designed to collect and redirect it before it reaches the structure.
Hale Excavation is a veteran-owned, licensed, and insured drainage contractor with over 35 years of construction experience. We install French drains using excavation equipment, which allows us to dig precise trenches at the correct depth and slope, place pipe and gravel to specification, and backfill without disturbing more of your property than necessary.
We serve homeowners, builders, and property managers throughout Oneida County, Herkimer County, Madison County, and surrounding communities. Central New York’s clay-heavy soils, high water tables, and spring snowmelt make French drains one of the most effective and most commonly needed drainage solutions in this region. Free estimates, free second opinions, and free consultations on every French drain project.
Signs You Need a French Drain
Water Seeps Into Your Basement After Rain or Snowmelt
Water appearing on your basement floor, along the base of the walls, or through cracks in the foundation is groundwater being pushed in by hydrostatic pressure. A French drain installed along the foundation intercepts this water before it reaches the wall, collecting it in a perforated pipe and redirecting it to a safe discharge point.
Your Basement Walls Are Damp, Stained, or Growing Mold
Chronic moisture on basement walls, even without visible standing water, indicates groundwater pressure against the foundation. Over time, this moisture causes efflorescence (white mineral deposits), mold growth, and deterioration of the concrete or block. A perimeter French drain relieves the pressure and keeps the walls dry.
Water Flows Downhill Toward Your House from Higher Ground
Properties at the base of a slope or below neighboring lots receive runoff and subsurface water from uphill. A curtain drain, installed across the slope above the house, intercepts this water before it reaches the foundation and diverts it around the structure.
A Section of Your Yard Stays Soggy or Waterlogged Year-Round
Persistently wet areas in the yard, even days after rain stops, indicate a high water table or underground water flow path. A yard French drain collects groundwater from the saturated zone and channels it to a discharge point, permanently drying out the area.
Your Sump Pump Runs Constantly and You Want a Permanent Solution
A sump pump that runs nonstop is managing a symptom, not solving the problem. The water is getting to the sump because there is no exterior drainage system intercepting it first. An exterior French drain reduces the water load on the sump pump and, in many cases, eliminates the need for the pump to run at all.
Types of French Drains We Install
- Foundation & Perimeter French Drains
Installed along the exterior of the foundation wall, at the level of the footing. A trench is excavated down to the footing, lined with filter fabric, filled with washed gravel, and fitted with a perforated pipe that collects groundwater and channels it to a discharge point (daylight outlet, dry well, or storm connection). This is the standard solution for wet basements caused by groundwater pressure.
- Yard & Property French Drains
Installed in low-lying or saturated areas of the yard to lower the water table and drain waterlogged soil. The trench is dug along the wet area at a depth that reaches the saturated zone, filled with gravel and perforated pipe, and graded to carry collected water to an outlet. Yard French drains are effective for soggy lawns, wet garden areas, and saturated ground near septic leach fields.
- Curtain Drains
A curtain drain is installed across the slope above the problem area to intercept subsurface water flowing downhill. It works on the same principle as a French drain (gravel trench, perforated pipe, filter fabric) but is positioned to catch water before it arrives at the foundation or yard, rather than collecting it after it gets there. Curtain drains are the first line of defense for properties that sit below a hillside or higher-elevation neighbors.
- French Drain Repair & Replacement
French drains can clog over time with sediment, root intrusion, or crushed pipe. If your existing French drain is no longer draining effectively, we excavate the old system, assess whether it can be cleaned and restored or needs full replacement, and install a new system with proper materials and filter fabric. Many older French drains were installed without filter fabric, which allows fine soil particles to clog the gravel and pipe over time.
Why Professional French Drain Installation Matters
It Has to Be at the Right Depth to Work
A French drain that is too shallow will not intercept the groundwater, causing the problem. A foundation drain must be installed at the level of the footing to relieve hydrostatic pressure. A yard drain must reach the saturated zone. We dig to the correct depth based on the specific conditions of your property, not a generic standard.
The Right Materials Prevent Clogging
A French drain built with the wrong gravel, no filter fabric, or solid pipe instead of perforated pipe will fail. We use washed drainage stone (not crusher run or dirty gravel), perforated corrugated or rigid pipe, and filter fabric to keep fine soil particles out of the system. The materials matter as much as the excavation.
It Needs the Right Slope to Move Water
A French drain that does not slope consistently toward its outlet will hold water instead of moving it. We grade the trench bottom to maintain a positive slope throughout the entire run, verifying with laser equipment on longer installations. Even a small dip or flat spot in the pipe can create a blockage point.
The Water Has to Go Somewhere
Collecting water underground is only half the job. The drain needs a proper discharge point: a daylight outlet at a lower elevation, a dry well, a catch basin, or a connection to an existing storm system. We plan the discharge as part of the installation so the collected water leaves your property without creating a new problem downstream.
What French Drain Installation Includes
The scope depends on the type and length of the drain, but a typical French drain installation includes:
Site evaluation: Assessing where water is entering, the soil type, the depth of the problem, and the best location and discharge point for the drain.
Trench excavation: Digging the trench to the required depth and width using excavation equipment. For foundation drains, this means excavating down to the footing alongside the foundation wall. For yard drains, this means reaching the saturated soil layer.
Filter fabric placement: Lining the trench with geotextile filter fabric to prevent fine soil particles from migrating into the gravel and clogging the system over time.
Gravel and pipe installation: Placing a bed of washed drainage stone, setting the perforated pipe at the correct slope, and filling the trench with additional stone around and above the pipe.
Discharge connection: Connecting the pipe to a daylight outlet, dry well, catch basin, or storm drain. The discharge must be at a lower elevation than the drain inlet and positioned to move water away from the property.
Backfill and restoration: Filling the remaining trench depth with topsoil or the specified backfill material, grading the surface, and restoring any disturbed landscaping or hardscaping.
Excavation and Site Work Across Every Job Type
Seven service types covering every excavation need — residential, commercial, municipal, and industrial. If it involves moving earth, managing water, or building infrastructure, Hale handles it.
Site Preparation
Land clearing, building pad prep, topsoil work, subgrade, and final cleanup
Grading
Rough and finish grading, lot leveling, slope correction, drainage grading, and retaining walls
Drainage Solutions
French drains, catch basins, culverts, dry wells, and stormwater management
Septic Systems
New installation, repair and replacement, leach field work, and emergency service
Underground Utilities
Water and sewer lines, HDPE pipe fusion, utility trenching, and storm drains
Commercial Maintenance
Site maintenance, snow plowing, commercial mowing, and landfill maintenance
Related Services
French drains are part of our full drainage service offering. We also install catch basins, culverts, stormwater systems, and property drainage solutions.
French drains often work best in combination with regrading. We correct the surface grade and install the subsurface drain together for a complete solution.
French drains handle subsurface water. Catch basins handle surface water. Many properties need both to solve the full drainage problem.
Get in touch
Three Decades of Major Project Experience
Hale Excavation LLC is a new venture led by Eric Hale, who brings extensive experience in landfill construction, environmental remediation, road construction, and federal projects. He has worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Forest Service, the Air Force, and major environmental firms throughout his career.
1991
Laborer & Surveyor
- Auburn, NY · Cayuga County
Eric returned from the Army to work full-time in construction while staying in the Army Reserves. Joined the apprenticeship program to become a certified operating engineer during this project (completed 1997, a certification he still holds).
1993
Laborer · Surveyor · Heavy Equipment Operator
- Malone, NY · Franklin County
Eric took on expanded field responsibilities on this project, working across three trades: laborer, surveyor, and heavy equipment operator.
1994
Laborer · Surveyor · Heavy Equipment Operator
- Frankfort, NY · Herkimer County
Constructed leachate collection and site drainage in 1994–95. Landfill closure completed in 1996. Gas removal windmill built in 1997. Eric worked across all phases of this multi-year project.
1998
Superintendent (First Time)
- Sodus, NY · Wayne County
Eric’s first job as a project superintendent — the beginning of his transition from the field to project leadership.
2008
Superintendent
- Wampsville, NY · Madison County
Cell 7 liner system construction on the Madison County Landfill. By this point Eric was running full field operations independently.
2012
Project Manager (First Time)
- Stanley, NY (Ontario County) + Morrisonville, NY (Clinton County)
Two of the largest projects Eric managed in his first year as a project manager. He worked on several other projects that year, but these were the biggest. Marks his transition from field superintendent to full project management.
2022
Senior Project Manager
- Middlesboro, KY + McGuire Air Force Base, NJ
2022 marked the first time Eric ever worked outside of New York State. He worked as senior project manager on both federal projects, plus several others that year.
2025
Founder · Owner · Director of Operations
- Sauquoit, NY · Oneida County
Eric founds Hale Excavation LLC — bringing 35 years of experience home to Central New York. From here we serve Oneida County, the Mohawk Valley, Herkimer, Madison, and surrounding counties. The scale is more personal now. The standards, work ethic, and project management discipline are exactly the same.
Projects listed above were completed under previous employers. They represent Eric Hale’s personal project resume and experience. Hale Excavation LLC was founded in November 2025.
Serving Central New York and the Mohawk Valley
From Utica and Rome through the Mohawk Valley, north into Lewis County, west across Onondaga, south into Chenango and Cortland — we work the full Central New York region. Our home base is Sauquoit, and our standard service radius is one to two hours from Utica. For the right project, we travel further.
How much does a French drain cost?
Cost depends on the length, depth, soil conditions, and discharge method. A 50-foot yard drain and a full perimeter foundation drain are very different scopes. We provide free on-site estimates with a clear breakdown of excavation, materials, and labor.
What is the difference between a French drain and a curtain drain?
Both use gravel and perforated pipe. A French drain is typically installed at or near the problem area (alongside a foundation, through a soggy yard) to collect water that is already there. A curtain drain is installed uphill from the problem area to intercept water before it arrives. Many properties benefit from both.
How long does a French drain last?
A properly installed French drain with washed stone and filter fabric can last 20 to 30 years or more. Drains installed without filter fabric or with dirty gravel tend to clog within 5 to 10 years. Material quality and installation technique directly determine the lifespan.
Can a French drain fix a wet basement?
In most cases, yes. An exterior foundation French drain installed at the footing level is the most effective solution for wet basements caused by groundwater pressure. It intercepts the water before it reaches the wall, which is more effective than interior solutions that only manage water after it has already entered.
How do I get a free estimate for a French drain?
Call us at (315) 982-3673 or contact us online. We evaluate where the water is coming from, where it needs to go, and what type of drain system will solve the problem permanently.
French Drain Questions
