How much does yard regrading cost in Central Texas?

Cost depends on the area being regraded, how much fill needs to be added or removed, soil conditions, surface restoration scope, and whether the work ties into other drainage hardware. A small foundation perimeter regrade is a different project than a full backyard reshape. Scott provides a written scope and price after the on-site assessment.

Can I regrade my own yard?

You can, on small scales. The challenge is reading slope correctly without instruments, calculating fill volumes, and compacting properly so the grade holds. Homeowner regrades often look right initially and settle back to the original problem within a season because compaction was inadequate.

Will regrading fix my drainage problem on its own?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no — and that's the answer Scott will give you honestly during the assessment. About a third of the drainage calls Scott takes in Austin end up being solvable with regrading alone. Another third need regrading plus drainage hardware. The last third need hardware-driven solutions regardless of grade. The free first call sorts your situation into the right category.

Will regrading kill my landscaping?

Depends on the scope. Foundation-perimeter regrades sometimes require pulling back landscape beds and replanting. Full yard reshapes affect more. Scott discusses tree protection, irrigation system locations, and replanting plans before excavation begins — not after.

Do I need a permit for yard regrading in Austin?

Most residential regrading doesn't require a permit. Larger projects, work that crosses property lines, work in flood zones, work tied to engineered foundation repair, or work affecting drainage easements may require permits or engineered plans. Scott tells you up front when permitting is involved.

How long does regrading take?

A foundation-perimeter regrade is typically one to two days. A full yard reshape with new swale construction and surface restoration takes longer. Scope and timeline are confirmed in writing before work begins.

What if regrading isn't enough?

That's exactly why the assessment matters. If Scott sees during the site visit that regrading alone won't solve the problem, he'll tell you — and recommend the right combination of regrading plus French drain, sump system, or other drainage work. The goal is to solve the problem, not to sell you the most expensive solution.

Yard Drainage & Regrading in Austin & Central Texas

Scott Lockhart has installed French drains and graded yards across Central Texas since 1984 — through every drought-to-flood cycle, every flash storm, every soil condition this region produces. Over 10,000 completed projects. Forty-one years of subsurface drainage work where the limestone meets the clay.

Before you spend money on a French drain or a sump pump, check the grade. More drainage problems are solved by correctly shaped earth than by any pipe ever installed. Yard regrading is often the first and cheapest solution.

Sometimes it's the only solution. Sometimes it's the foundation for everything else. The honest answer depends on what your lot is actually doing — and that's what the free first call is for.

What Yard Regrading Actually Does

Regrading reshapes the surface of your property so that water flows where it should and away from where it shouldn't. The principle is simple: water moves downhill. If the slope around your house sends water toward the foundation instead of away from it, no amount of drainage hardware downstream will fully fix the problem. You'll be treating symptoms forever.

A properly graded yard does three things:

Slopes away from the foundation at the rate engineering and code require
Directs surface water toward designed exit points — swales, drains, or property edges
Avoids creating low spots, puddle traps, or reverse-flow conditions.

Done correctly, regrading often eliminates the need for additional drainage hardware. Done incorrectly, it makes everything worse.

Why Central Texas Yards Need Regrading

Central Texas creates grade problems through three predictable mechanisms:

Soil settlement. Expansive clay shrinks during drought, swells during rain, and over decades the cycle settles the soil unevenly. Areas near downspouts, irrigation heads, and tree roots settle faster. What was once a proper foundation slope ends up flat — or worse, reverses toward the house.

Construction shortcuts. Many Austin-area homes were built with the bare minimum of fill against the foundation. When that fill compacts (which it always does), the grade flattens within a few years. Newer builds in fast-developing areas are particularly vulnerable.

Landscape changes that look harmless. Adding a flowerbed against the foundation. Building up around a tree. Installing a patio without thinking about runoff. Layering mulch year after year. Each change is small. The cumulative effect after a decade is a yard that traps water against the house.

Scott reads these patterns immediately. Most homeowners don't even know they exist.

Signs Your Yard Needs Regrading

Water consistently flows toward the foundation during rain, not away from it
Puddles form in the same low spots every storm
Soil sits visibly higher against the foundation than it does six feet out
Mulch beds against the house have built up over the original grade line
Your downspouts dump water onto soil that slopes back toward the house
Standing water remains in the yard 24+ hours after rain ends
Erosion gullies are forming where water concentrates and runs
You've had foundation movement or cracks accompanying any of the above A regrade may be all you need — or it may be Step 1 before any French drain or sump system is installed. The order matters.

The Scott Lockhart Regrading Process

Site assessment. First phone consultation is free. On-site assessment fee applies and is credited toward the project if you move forward. Scott reads the grade visually first, then with levels where the visual reading isn't clear.
Drainage plan. Marked exit points, swale routes, slope percentages, and tie-ins to any existing or planned drainage hardware. For foundation-adjacent work or projects requiring permits, plans are formalized in writing.
Soil work. Existing soil is cut, moved, and recompacted where needed. Fill is brought in where settlement has occurred. Compaction is done correctly so the new grade holds — not just smoothed over to look right for a season.
Swale and surface flow construction. Designed swales (shallow channels) are cut where concentrated flow needs guidance. Surface contours are blended so the yard looks natural while the water moves correctly.
Surface restoration. Sod, seed, mulch, or hardscape replaced or rebuilt as agreed.
Flow test. When possible, Scott tests the grade with a hose or waits for the next storm event to confirm. You see the system work before final payment is released.

Regrading vs. French Drain vs. Sump Pump--Which Do You Need?

This is the question every Austin homeowner with a water problem actually asks. Here's how to think about it:

You probably need regrading first if:

Water is moving across the surface and pooling in obvious low spots
The slope near your foundation looks flat or reversed
Your drainage problem is recent (the yard used to drain fine, now it doesn't)
You haven't yet tried the cheapest solution

You probably need a French drain if:

Regrading isn't possible without removing too much existing landscape, hardscape, or structure
Water is moving through the soil, not just across the surface
Your lot has subsurface water sources (springs, neighbor's runoff entering below grade, high water table)
Regrading alone won't reach the discharge elevation needed

You probably need a sump pump if:

Gravity won't move the water — your lot is too flat or your foundation sits too low
You have a basement, crawl space, or below-grade space that can't be protected by gravity drainage
You need redundancy against flash floods that overwhelm passive systems
Regrading and French drains alone can't reach a safe discharge point

Most properties with serious drainage problems need a combination.

The free first call sorts out which combination — and in what order — actually solves your problem without overspending.

Frequently Asked Questions

Service Areas

Scott Lockhart Drainage serves Austin and surrounding Central Texas, including Tarrytown, Westlake Hills, Mueller, Circle C, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Cedar Park, Dripping Springs, Round Rock, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Lake Travis, Spicewood, and Wimberley. If you're not sure whether your area is covered, call Scott 1-512-914-5177.

Get a Free Consultation

Call Scott, at 1-512-914-5177 or use the contact form. The first intake call is always free of charge. Forty-one years of experience answering the phone.