Drainage installation and repairs in Maidstone
Drainage work for standing water, damaged pipes and building projects. We offer drainage alongside groundworks, with the proposed solution depending on the site and suitable outlets.
Free site visit and written quote · Groundworks and drainage by one team
City & Guilds
Qualified bricklayer
NVQ Level 2 & 3
In Brickwork
10-yr / 5-yr
Roofing / paving guarantees
Team of 4
Plus trusted trades
24/7
Emergency roofing
Service overview
Drainage: what you need to know
What it is
Drainage work covers new below-ground drain runs, alterations for extensions, soakaways, channel drains, inspection chambers and repairs to damaged sections.
Who it is for
Homeowners with waterlogged gardens or driveways, people building extensions over or near existing drains, and commercial clients needing new or upgraded drainage.
When you need it
When water pools on driveways and patios, when a garden stays boggy, when an extension affects existing drains, or when damaged pipework needs replacing.
Why professional work matters
Drainage relies on correct falls, bedding and connections. Pipes laid at the wrong gradient block, poorly bedded pipes crack, and bad connections leak into the ground. Doing it right once avoids digging it up again.
The risk of waiting
What poor drainage costs you
Water that has nowhere to go does damage over time.
Flooding near the house
Surface water running towards walls can lead to damp and damage.
Sinking ground
Leaking drains wash out soil and can cause paving and ground to sink.
Repeated blockages
Pipes laid at the wrong fall block regularly and need repeated clearing.
Ruined paving
Driveways and patios without drainage stain, grow moss and break up.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Laying new paving without planning where water goes.
- Building over drains without dealing with them first.
- Laying pipes without proper bedding.
- Treating the symptom instead of the cause.
Our process
How your drainage job runs
Step 1
Free site visit
We look at where water is coming from and where it needs to go.
Step 2
Written quotation
A clear written quote sets out the drainage work involved.
Step 3
Excavation
Trenches and pits are dug to the right depth and line.
Step 4
Installation
Pipes, chambers and soakaways are laid and bedded at correct falls.
Step 5
Backfill and reinstatement
Trenches are backfilled and surfaces reinstated.
What you get
Why homeowners choose Speller
Fix the cause
We deal with where water is coming from, not just where it shows up.
Correct falls
Pipes are laid at gradients that keep them flowing.
Protects paving and walls
Proper drainage stops water damaging surfaces and buildings.
Part of the build
Drainage for extensions and paving is planned with the rest of the work.
One team
Excavation, drainage and reinstatement under one contractor.
Free written quote
Know the cost before work starts.
In detail
Drainage work in detail
Drainage is often part of a bigger job. These are the main types we carry out.
Surface water drainage
Channel drains, gullies and soakaways that take rainwater off driveways, patios and paths.
Drainage for extensions
Extensions often sit over or near existing drains. Drains may need diverting or new connections made before foundations go in.
Soakaways
Where ground conditions allow, soakaways let surface water drain into the ground away from buildings.
Repairs and replacement
Damaged or collapsed sections can be excavated and replaced with new pipework, bedded properly.
Residential and commercial
We carry out drainage for homes and commercial properties, where larger paved areas often need more capacity.
Drainage across Maidstone and Kent
We are based in Maidstone and carry out drainage for homeowners and businesses across the towns and villages below, as well as wider Kent, London and the South East. Wherever you are, the process is the same: a free site visit, a written quote and the work led by Michael on site.
Guide
Understanding drainage problems
Surface water versus foul drains
Surface water is rain from roofs and paved areas. Foul drains carry waste from kitchens and bathrooms. They are treated differently, and knowing which one is causing the problem is the first step. We look at this at the site visit.
Signs of a drainage problem
Water pooling on paving after rain, boggy patches in the lawn, slow-emptying gullies, damp at the base of walls and sunken areas of paving or ground are all signs that water is not going where it should.
Drainage as part of other work
Many drainage jobs come up during extensions, driveways and landscaping. Because we do the groundworks and building ourselves, drainage is planned in at the start rather than added as an afterthought.
Reinstatement
Drainage work means digging. We backfill trenches properly and reinstate surfaces with compaction and surface materials suited to the work.
Residential and commercial drainage needs
Homes usually need drainage for roofs, driveways, patios and extensions. Commercial properties often have larger roofs and paved areas, which means more water to deal with in heavy rain and a greater need for capacity and access for maintenance. In both cases the principles are the same: correct falls, sound bedding, suitable outlets and access to keep the system working for years to come.
Keeping drains working
Most drainage problems build slowly. Leaves and silt in gullies, roots finding their way into old clay pipes and fat in kitchen waste all narrow the pipe over time. Keeping gullies and channel drains clear, and acting early when water starts draining slowly, avoids the larger repairs that come from leaving a partly blocked drain to fail.
Pipes, falls and bedding
Below-ground drains need to fall consistently towards their outlet so water and solids keep moving. Too shallow a fall lets debris settle and block the pipe; uneven bedding lets pipes sag and joints open. We lay pipes on a suitable granular bed at a consistent gradient, with inspection access where it is needed, so the drain can be maintained in future.
Soakaways and ground conditions
Soakaways only work where the ground can absorb water. Heavy clay, common in parts of Kent, drains slowly, so a soakaway needs to be sized and positioned with this in mind and kept a safe distance from buildings. Where a soakaway is not suitable, other options are discussed at the site visit.
Channel drains for driveways
Where a driveway falls towards the house or garage, a channel drain across the slope catches surface water before it reaches the building. It is a simple addition that prevents a lot of damage, and is best installed when a driveway is being laid or relaid.
Drains under extensions
If a drain runs where an extension will be built, it may need diverting around the new footprint or protecting where it passes beneath. This is planned and carried out during groundworks, before the foundations are poured, so it does not hold up the build or cause problems later.
How quoting and payment work
Every drainage enquiry starts with a free, no-obligation site visit and a written quotation, so you can see exactly what is included before deciding. On larger projects we take a one-third deposit to secure materials, and the balance is split across 3 to 4 stage payments agreed before work starts.
Who will be on site
Work is led by Michael Speller, a City & Guilds qualified bricklayer with NVQ Level 2 and Level 3 in Brickwork, with a core team of four. Where your project needs electrical or plumbing work, we bring in trusted subcontracted trades and coordinate them, so you deal with one contractor throughout. We hold public liability insurance.
Questions
Drainage FAQs
How much does drainage work cost?
It depends on the length of run, depth and ground conditions. Book a free site visit for a written quote.
How long does drainage work take?
That depends on the scope. Your written quote will include a timescale.
Can you fix a waterlogged driveway?
Yes. We can add drainage and, if needed, rebuild the driveway with proper falls.
Do you handle drains for extensions?
Yes. Dealing with drains before foundations go in is part of our groundworks.
Do you offer emergency drainage?
Our 24/7 emergency service is for roofing. Call us about urgent drainage problems and we will advise.
How do payments work?
Larger projects use a one-third deposit, then 3 to 4 agreed stage payments.
Is the work guaranteed?
Our published guarantees are 10 years on roofing and 5 years on paving. Ask Michael about terms for drainage at your site visit.
Do you cover Chatham and Aylesford?
Yes, along with Maidstone, wider Kent, London and the South East.
Get water going where it should
Book a free site visit and receive a written quote for your drainage.
City & Guilds qualified · Free written quote · No obligation