Gutters collect roof water; downspouts convey it to a discharge. Grading and swales move surface runoff. Catch basins collect concentrated surface water. French or curtain drains intercept water moving through shallow soil. Foundation drains manage water near the footing. The systems can work together, but each needs correct elevation, materials, maintenance and a legal, stable outlet.
What to know
- Start with roof water and surface grade before burying pipe.
- Use solid pipe to convey collected water and perforated pipe to collect subsurface water.
- A drain without fall and an outlet cannot reliably drain.
- Do not redirect water to a neighbor, septic area or unstable slope.
Roof water
Gutters need adequate size, slope, secure attachments and clear outlets. Downspouts that end at the wall concentrate water beside the foundation. Extensions or buried solid pipe can move it away if the line remains sloped and serviceable.
Buried roof drains should have cleanouts or accessible connections. Connecting a high-flow downspout directly to a small perforated drain can overload it or distribute roof water into the soil.
Surface water
Positive grading creates a gentle route away from the building without burying siding, windows or ventilation. Swales move broader sheets of water, while catch basins or channel drains collect water at a low hard-surface point.
Adding a drain at the bottom of a depression does not help if the outlet is higher or blocked. Surveying elevations or using a laser can prevent a buried system that holds water.
French drains and subsurface foundation water
A French or curtain drain uses permeable stone and perforated pipe to intercept water in the soil. Depth and placement determine which water it can collect. Filter details limit sediment intrusion, but every system needs inspection and maintenance access.
Footing drains sit lower and are part of the below-grade foundation assembly. A shallow yard French drain does not automatically replace a failed footing drain, and an interior perimeter drain performs a different collection job.
A practical decision order
Document where water comes from during rain. Correct obvious gutter overflow and short downspouts, establish safe grade where feasible, then evaluate remaining concentrated surface or subsurface paths. This staged approach can reduce unnecessary excavation.
For complex lots, request a plan showing pipe type, invert elevations, stone, fabric, cleanouts and outlet. Ask how the system behaves during frozen conditions and extreme events.
Which fix matches which source of water
It is common to jump to a drain when the problem is a downspout, or to reshape the yard when the roof is the source. Matching the fix to the source is cheaper than the reverse.
A practical rule is to work from the roof down. Gutters and downspouts are the cheapest place to intercept water, grading is next, and a buried drain is the last resort for water that cannot be moved any other way. Skipping the first two and installing a drain often means the drain carries a load that a downspout extension could have removed.
| Source | First fix | When something more is needed |
|---|---|---|
| Roof runoff dumped at the wall | Gutters and downspout extensions | If water still reaches the wall |
| Ground sloping toward the house | Regrade the first several feet | If lot layout limits slope |
| Saturated soil beside the foundation | Subsurface drain | If there is nowhere for it to drain |
| Hard surfaces pitched at the house | Reslope or add a drain | If the surface cannot be changed |
Sources and Vermont specifics
Grade is a code number
The model residential code sets a number for grade: ground around a foundation should fall at least 6 inches within the first 10 feet, and surface water should be diverted to an approved point of collection that does not create a hazard. Measure your own yard against that. Set a 10-foot board on the ground with one end at the wall, level it, and measure the drop.
If the drop is less than 6 inches, regrading is the first fix. Gutters and downspouts then carry roof water beyond the graded zone, and a French drain handles water that still moves through the soil. Each layer does a different job, and skipping the first can make the later ones work harder than they should.
Sources: InterNACHI, Foundation Fundamentals: IRC R401.3 drainage. Checked September 26, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Which correction should I do first?
Usually roof water, because it is the largest concentrated volume and the cheapest to redirect. Then grading, then subsurface drainage. Working in that order sometimes reveals that the expensive option was never needed.
Should a French drain have holes up or down?
Installation details depend on the intended collection and product guidance. The more important questions are pipe elevation, stone envelope, filter design, slope and outlet. Follow the designed detail rather than a universal internet rule.
Can a sump discharge connect to a downspout drain?
Sometimes a properly sized solid conveyance line and outlet can serve both, but combined peak flow, backflow, freezing and maintenance must be evaluated. Do not connect systems casually.
General information, not a diagnosis of your property. Editorial policy