Soakaway Installation & Garden Drainage in Surrey
Waterlogged garden or persistent flooding? GK Landscapes installs soakaways and drainage systems, a service most local landscapers do not offer.
A Waterlogged Garden Is a Solvable Problem
Standing water damages plants, causes ground heave, can affect foundations, and makes your garden unusable for months of the year. GK Landscapes is one of the few local landscapers with real experience in soakaway installation and drainage design. We assess the problem on site, test drainage capacity, and recommend the right solution.
What Is a Soakaway?
A soakaway is an underground chamber, typically a plastic crate system or rubble-filled pit, that collects surface water and allows it to disperse slowly into the surrounding ground. They must be designed and positioned under Building Regulations Part H (minimum 5 metres from a building, in suitable soil). Patrick explains the requirements at every site visit.
Other Drainage Options
French drains, perforated pipe in a gravel trench, carrying water away from problem areas to a soakaway or discharge point. Channel drains, surface-mounted drains across driveways or patios. Land drains, a network of perforated pipes beneath a lawn, collecting water across a wide area.
- Free no-obligation quote, site visit always included
- Clear written price before any work starts
- Patrick Greenwood personally on site
- 9.9/10 on Checkatrade from 376 verified reviews
- 10/10 for communication
- No subcontractors on standard jobs
- No deposit required on most jobs
Get a Free Quote
Free site visit. Written price. No deposit.
| Option | Typical Price |
|---|---|
| Soakaway (standard residential, 1m³ crate system) | £600–£1,200 |
| Soakaway (larger, 2m³+) | £1,000–£2,000 |
| French drain (per linear metre) | £40–£80 per metre |
| Land drainage system (typical lawn) | £1,500–£3,500 |
| Channel drain (per linear metre) | £50–£120 per metre |
When to act: If your garden takes more than 24 hours to drain after heavy rain, or if you have areas that stay wet through winter, a drainage solution will pay for itself in improved usability and reduced lawn repair costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on where the water is coming from and what the soil beneath is like. A waterlogged lawn with clay soil typically needs land drains feeding a soakaway. A driveway with pooling water needs channel drainage. Water tracking from a neighbouring property towards your house needs a cut-off drain. Patrick assesses your specific situation at the site visit.
Clay soil drains slowly, which limits the effectiveness of a standard soakaway. In clay-heavy Surrey soils, GK Landscapes may recommend a larger soakaway, a French drain system that carries water to a discharge point, or a combination approach. Patrick tests drainage capacity during the site assessment.
Soakaways for surface water drainage from driveways and roofs are covered by Building Regulations Part H. They must be positioned at least 5 metres from any building and in appropriate soil conditions. GK Landscapes installs to these requirements as standard.
Residential soakaways are typically installed at 1–1.5 metres depth. The volume needs to be calculated based on the catchment area and the soil's drainage capacity. GK Landscapes carries out a simple percolation test to determine the right size for your soil conditions.
Yes, and this is the ideal time to do it. Drainage runs that will sit beneath a patio, driveway or turf area should always be installed before the surface goes in. GK Landscapes coordinates drainage and surface works in the correct sequence as part of a single project.