Service · Drainage
Drainage Solutions & Water Management
French drains, trench drains, catch basins, downspout tie-ins and regrading corrections that stop water damage before it starts.
Water is the number one killer of pavement, concrete and foundations in Northeast Ohio. Every crack that grows into a pothole, every dip that becomes a puddle, every wet spot in a basement started with water going somewhere it wasn't supposed to. Fixing drainage isn't glamorous, but it's the single most valuable investment you can make in preserving everything you've built above ground.
Rendon Paving designs and installs drainage corrections for homes and businesses across Painesville, Mentor, Willoughby, Concord Township, Eastlake, Chardon and Cleveland. Whether the problem is a puddle at the end of the driveway, ice forming in the same spot every January, water backing up against a foundation, or a commercial lot that ponds every time it rains, we diagnose the cause and fix it, not just the symptom.
How We Diagnose Drainage Problems
Fixing drainage without understanding where the water is coming from wastes money. Our first visit is always about diagnosis, not a sales pitch for a specific fix.
1. Site walk during or shortly after rain when possible. Nothing tells us more than watching how water actually moves across the property. If we can't be there during rain, we look at stains, silt lines, erosion patterns and where existing drains discharge.
2. Elevation and slope check. We measure elevations with a laser or level to find low points, reverse slopes and pinch points that concentrate water.
3. Downspout and gutter audit. A surprising percentage of driveway and foundation water problems come from downspouts dumping right at the corner of the house. Extensions or tie-ins are often part of the fix.
4. Written recommendation with options. We propose a fix — usually with two options: the minimum work required to solve the problem, and a more complete option that addresses related issues. You choose.
Drainage Systems We Install
- French drains along driveways, foundations and saturated yards
- Trench drains across driveway aprons, garages and parking lots
- Catch basins with connection to storm sewer or daylight discharge
- Downspout extensions and underground tie-ins to daylight
- Regrading and swale creation to redirect surface water
- Curtain drains uphill of foundations and slabs
- Sump pump discharge lines to daylight
- Dry wells and infiltration systems where sewer connection isn't available
- Catch basin repair, ring replacement and re-grouting
- Culvert installation and driveway crossing pipes
What Ignoring Drainage Costs You
We've replaced driveways that were only 6 years old because water sat on them every rain. We've torn out concrete slabs that heaved because a downspout was aimed at the corner. Every one of those repairs cost multiples of what a proper drainage fix would have cost at the start.
Water gets into asphalt through hairline cracks, freezes and expands, and turns hairlines into potholes. It saturates the base under concrete, causing settlement and heave. It follows the foundation down into basements. And once it's finding those paths, the cycle keeps accelerating every freeze-thaw. Fixing drainage stops that cycle at the source.
Benefits
- Extends asphalt and concrete life by preventing water infiltration
- Stops potholes, cracking and sinking edges before they start
- Protects foundations and basements from repeat water damage
- Eliminates ice patches that form in the same spot every winter
- Ends yard puddling, muddy paths and dead grass zones
- Increases property value and reduces future emergency repairs
Materials & Equipment
- SDR 35 or corrugated HDPE pipe rated for underground use
- Perforated 4-inch pipe with sock filter for French drains
- Non-woven geotextile filter fabric to keep stone clean
- Clean #57 washed stone for drain envelopes
- Precast concrete catch basins and cast-iron grates
- Trench drain systems with heavy-duty grates for driveway crossings
Why Choose Rendon Paving
We diagnose the cause before we quote a fix — no cookie-cutter drain trench and hope.
Every drain uses proper filter fabric so it doesn't silt up in 3 years.
Slopes are shot with a laser, not eyeballed.
We coordinate drainage with paving and concrete work so you're not paying two crews to trench the same yard.
Clean landscape restoration after the work is done.
Licensed and insured with 5.0 star reviews across Google and Yelp.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have a drainage problem?+
Common signs include standing water on your driveway or lawn 24 hours after rain, water pooling against the foundation, alligator cracking in asphalt, edges of the driveway that keep sinking, ice patches in the same spot every winter, or a wet basement that shows up after storms. All of those trace back to how water moves across your property.
What's the difference between a French drain and a trench drain?+
A French drain is a perforated pipe buried in gravel that captures underground water and moves it away from a problem area — great for saturated yards or foundations. A trench drain is a surface channel with a grate that captures water flowing across a driveway or parking lot. Different problems, different tools.
Can drainage fixes be done without tearing up the whole driveway?+
Often yes. We can install trench drains, replace or reset catch basins, add French drains along the edges and regrade small areas without touching most of the pavement. A full drainage rebuild only happens if the surface is being replaced anyway or if the water problem is coming from underneath.
How long does a French drain last?+
A properly installed French drain — clean stone, non-woven filter fabric, correct slope, adequate perforated pipe — will function for 20 to 30 years. Failures usually come from missing filter fabric (sediment clogs the stone), no slope, or pipe crushed by later work over the top.
Will drainage work damage my landscaping?+
There's some disruption in the immediate work path, but we plan the route to minimize damage, protect what we can, and restore sod, mulch and shrubs when the trench is closed. Extensive landscaping restoration can be included in the estimate if you want us to handle it.
Do you handle drainage for basements and foundations?+
Yes. Exterior perimeter drains, downspout tie-ins, regrading around foundations and connecting downspouts to daylight discharge are all part of what we do. Interior basement waterproofing is not — we'll refer you to a foundation specialist if that's what's needed.
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