McDonough Drainage Co
McDonough, GA · Drainage Specialists
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Excavator digging french drain trench in McDonough GA

McDonough, GA • Henry County

French Drain Installation in McDonough, GA

French Drain Installation
Yard Drainage
Foundation Drainage
Sump Pump Installation

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McDonough, GA
Primary Service Area
Henry County
Coverage Area
Free On-Site Estimates
No Charge to Quote
Cecil Clay Specialists
Georgia Red Clay Experts

Drainage Services in McDonough GA and Henry County

We solve water problems caused by Georgia red clay soil and new construction grading. McDonough is our primary market; our crew works throughout Henry County and the I-75 corridor.

French Drain Installation

Full exterior french drain systems for McDonough and Henry County yards. We trench through Georgia red clay, set perforated pipe in clean stone, and route water to a safe outlet.

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Yard Drainage

Surface drainage solutions for standing water and soggy yards. Catch basins, channel drains, and swale grading to move runoff away from your home and landscape.

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Foundation Drainage

Perimeter foundation drainage to protect your slab or basement from Henry County's heavy summer rain events. Interior and exterior drainage systems installed.

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Sump Pump Installation

Sump pit excavation and pump installation for crawl spaces and basements in McDonough, Stockbridge, and Hampton. Backup pump options for Georgia storm season.

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Built for Henry County's Drainage Challenges

Henry County is one of metro Atlanta's fastest-growing counties, adding nearly 7,000 new homes per year. That rapid development leaves one consistent problem in its wake: poor final grading. New homes in McDonough, Stockbridge, and Hampton routinely develop drainage issues within one to three years of construction, as settling soil and builder-grade grading send water toward foundations instead of away from them.

The underlying cause is Georgia's Cecil clay series, the dominant soil across Henry County's Georgia Piedmont geology. Cecil red clay has very low hydraulic conductivity. During heavy Georgia summer thunderstorms, the clay surface saturates before it can drain, backing water up into yards and crawl spaces. A properly installed french drain reaches below the clay horizon, intercepts that water, and routes it to a daylight outlet.

McDonough Drainage Co is built for this specific market. We know Cecil clay, we know Henry County permit requirements, and we know what separates a drainage installation that lasts from one that fails in the first heavy rain season.

French drain systems engineered for Georgia red clay
Henry County land disturbance permit compliance
New construction drainage corrections within 1-3 years
Yard drainage, foundation drainage, and sump pump systems
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Drainage crew working on a Henry County GA job site
Drainage equipment and trench excavation in McDonough Georgia

How a Georgia French Drain Is Installed Correctly

A french drain in Georgia red clay requires more than digging a trench and dropping in pipe. The Cecil clay series is dense and fine-grained. Without proper geotextile filter fabric around the gravel, clay fines migrate into the drain stone within one to two seasons, clogging the system completely.

We trench to the required depth, line the trench with heavy-duty non-woven filter fabric, backfill with clean crushed stone, set perforated pipe at the correct slope, wrap the assembly tightly, and route to a reliable daylight outlet or catch basin. The soil goes back on top. Most residential installations in McDonough are complete in one day.

Geotextile Filter Fabric
Perforated PVC Pipe
Clean Crushed Stone
Gravel Backfill
Catch Basin Installation
Outlet Daylight Point
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Serving McDonough and the Henry County Corridor

Henry and Clayton County. Call if you're not listed below.

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McDonough GA
Stockbridge GA
Hampton GA
Locust Grove GA
Jonesboro GA
Lovejoy GA
Ellenwood GA
Rex GA

Drainage Resources for Henry County Homeowners

Common questions answered in detail: pricing, permits, and what to do about Georgia red clay drainage problems.

Pricing

How Much Does French Drain Installation Cost in McDonough?

Real price ranges for Henry County: $25-$40/ft exterior, $40-$55/ft interior, and every cost factor that makes Georgia red clay jobs cost more than sandy-soil installs.

Read Guide →Clay Soil

Georgia Red Clay Drainage: A Henry County Homeowner's Guide

Why Cecil clay causes chronic drainage problems in McDonough and how properly installed french drains solve them for the long term.

Read Guide →Permits

Do You Need a Permit for Drainage Work in Henry County GA?

Henry County's 120 sq ft LDP threshold, Georgia EPD NPDES rules, and how to apply through the SagesGov portal before starting your drainage project.

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French Drain Installation McDonough GA: Frequently Asked Questions

How much does french drain installation cost in McDonough GA?
Exterior french drain installation in Henry County typically runs $25 to $40 per linear foot. Interior basement french drains cost $40 to $55 per linear foot. Most residential yard drainage projects in McDonough run $2,500 to $9,000 total depending on trench length, soil conditions, and site access. Georgia's Cecil red clay increases labor cost compared to sandy soils because trenching is harder and geotextile fabric must be specified carefully to prevent clay migration.
Do I need a permit for french drain installation in Henry County?
Henry County requires a land disturbance permit (LDP) for any clearing, grading, or leveling over 120 square feet. Most french drain projects involve trenching that exceeds this threshold. Permits are applied for through the SagesGov portal at sagesgov.com/henrycounty-ga. Georgia EPD also requires NPDES permits for land disturbance of one acre or more.
What causes standing water in Henry County yards?
The dominant soil in Henry County is the Cecil clay series, part of Georgia's Piedmont red clay belt. Cecil clay has very low hydraulic conductivity, meaning water soaks in slowly. During heavy summer thunderstorms, the clay surface saturates faster than it can drain. Many new-construction homes in Henry County also have final grading that drains toward the foundation rather than away, creating chronic wet areas within the first few years.
How deep should a french drain be in Georgia red clay?
In Henry County's Cecil clay, french drains typically need to be 18 to 36 inches deep to reach below the clay horizon where gravel can drain effectively. Surface-level installations in red clay fail quickly because the pipe ends up sitting in saturated clay with nowhere for water to go. Exact depth depends on where your natural outlet is and how far water needs to travel.
Does Georgia clay affect how french drains are installed?
Yes, significantly. Cecil red clay has very low hydraulic conductivity. Contractors must trench into the clay layer, wrap the pipe and gravel in heavy-duty geotextile filter fabric to prevent clay fines from migrating into the stone, and provide a reliable gravity outlet or daylight point. Installations that skip proper fabric or use insufficient gravel depth fail within two to three seasons in Henry County soils.
What areas near McDonough do you serve?
McDonough is our primary market. We also serve Stockbridge, Hampton, Locust Grove, Jonesboro, and surrounding Henry and Clayton County communities. If your property is in the I-75 corridor between Atlanta and Macon, call us and we'll confirm coverage.
Standing water in your yard?

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