French Drain vs Surface Drain: Which Do You Need?

Homeowners often use the terms interchangeably, but French drains and surface drains solve two completely different problems. Installing the wrong one is a guaranteed waste of money.

The Golden Rule of Drainage

If water is pooling on top of the grass or driveway, you need a Surface Drain (Catch Basin). You are trying to catch visible water and pipe it away.

If the ground itself is mushy, soggy, or you have water seeping into a basement, you need a French Drain. You are trying to de-water the soil itself.

Hybrid Systems

In many Boise yards, we install hybrid systems that manage both. We might place catch basins under downspouts to handle roof runoff, while running a French drain through a low spot in the yard. Crucially, we usually run these in separate pipes or dual-chamber pipes to keep the system efficient.