# Regrade the yard or install a French drain? (Kansas City)

> Premier Gutters KC - NDS-certified drainage contractor, Kansas City metro. (816) 469-9563.

**Short answer:** If the problem is SHAPE (soil sloping toward the house), regrading fixes the cause - quoted per site. If the problem is SATURATION (soggy ground, water from uphill, established landscaping you can't bulldoze), a French drain collects and moves the water - $25-$60/LF installed, most systems $1,500-$3,800. Many KC yards need a little of both.

## The decision test
- Water moves across the yard but soil drains between storms -> grade problem (regrade, or catch basin $350-$750 at the low point)
- Ground squishes for days, or fixing slope would wreck landscaping -> French drain
- Roof water dumping at the wall -> bury the downspouts first ($300-$700/line) - the actual cause in most KC wet-foundation calls

KC clay note: regraded soil settles and clay holds shape imperfectly - our default moves water to a real discharge point instead of betting on surface shape.

Full page: https://premiergutterskc.com/answers/regrade-yard-or-french-drain-kansas-city/