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Yard Drainage Fixes

Worried Your Drainage Quote Is Too High?

Drainage quotes for the same yard can run anywhere from $3,000 to $20,000 — because “the same work” usually isn't. Paste or upload your estimate and this breaks it into exactly what you're paying for, works out the price per linear foot, and flags what's vague or missing — so you can tell a fair quote from a padded one before you sign.

Nothing is stored — your quote is analysed and the result returned.

What this doesn't tell you

This reviews how clearly your quote is documented. It doesn't label your price “fair” or “unfair” — that takes a site visit — but it does show exactly what's in the quote and the per-foot math, which is what lets you judge it. It can't verify anything about your property and isn't a substitute for a site visit. Use it to find the gaps worth asking about before you sign.

What a complete drainage quote includes

The analyzer checks your quote against the twelve things a drainage proposal should specify. A quote that covers these clearly can be compared against another and acted on with confidence; one that leaves them vague is where change orders and disputes come from.

  • The problem diagnosed — what's wrong and what was observed, not just a product named
  • The specific solution — French drain, catch basin, swale, dry well, regrading — not just “drainage”
  • The discharge point — where the water goes, confirmed lower than the drain (the most-missed line)
  • The fall or slope — measured, not estimated
  • Materials — pipe type, gravel spec, filter fabric named
  • Excavation and depth, utility locating (811), restoration of turf, beds and paving
  • Permits, timeline, warranty, and payment terms

Why documentation clarity is what matters

The biggest problem homeowners have with drainage quotes usually isn't the price — it's that quotes are written so differently they can't be lined up against each other. When one quote specifies a discharge point and materials and another just says “proper drainage,” you're not comparing prices, you're comparing different jobs. Getting every quote to specify the same things is what makes a fair comparison possible — and it's what this tool is built to help you do. For the full approach, see how to compare drainage quotes.

Frequently asked questions

What does the drainage quote analyzer do?
It reads a yard-drainage quote and grades how clearly it's documented — whether it specifies the twelve things a drainage quote should, from the diagnosed problem and the discharge point to materials, restoration, and warranty. It shows what's clear, what's vague, and what's missing, and gives you specific questions to ask the contractor.
Does it tell me if my quote is a fair price?
No — deliberately. It reviews documentation clarity only, not price, contractor quality, or whether the proposed system is right for your yard. Judging a price from a document it can't verify wouldn't be honest. What it does is surface the gaps that make quotes hard to compare, so you can get them clarified before you decide.
Is my yard drainage quote fair?
A fair quote has two sides. On price, you can only judge it once every quote specifies the same work — a French drain to a named outlet costs very differently from a vague "drainage system," so line up quotes that document the same twelve items before comparing totals. On scope, a fair quote clearly states the diagnosed problem, the discharge point, the fall, materials, restoration, and warranty; this analyzer flags where a quote or estimate leaves those vague. A cheap quote that skips the discharge point isn't a bargain, so check both sides.
Is my quote stored or shared?
No. The text is analysed and the result returned to you; it isn't saved to a database or logged, and there's no sign-up. A quote can contain your name and address, so this matters — the tool asks for the quote, not for your details.
What's the most important thing a drainage quote should specify?
Where the water discharges, and that the outlet is lower than the drain. It's the single most common gap, and a drain with no real discharge point just relocates the puddle. The analyzer checks for it specifically, along with the fall to that outlet.
Can I upload a PDF, or do I have to paste the text?
Both. Pasting the text is the most reliable, since it works from any quote. PDF upload works when the PDF has selectable text; scanned or flattened PDFs and images can't be read, and the tool will tell you to paste the text instead.
How do I use the result?
Take the questions it generates back to the contractor, and use the scope checklist to line one quote up against another. Two quotes that both clearly specify the same twelve items can be compared on price; where they differ, you've found what to resolve first.

Related

Not sure your numbers are right?

A person reads every one of these and writes back — usually within a couple of days. Your email doesn't go to anyone else.