Foundation Drainage and Grading in Shreveport, LA
Water that pools at the slab, a downspout that empties at the brick, a crawl space that stays wet after every storm. On clay soil, drainage is often the first thing worth fixing. Describe the problem once, and independent companies serving Shreveport, Louisiana can reply with free quotes.
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Signs your drainage needs work
- Downspouts that empty at the foundation or into a bed against the brick
- Gutters that overflow in heavy rain, or no gutters on one side
- Soil, mulch or a patio that slopes toward the house
- Puddles along the slab edge a day after rain
- Standing water, mud or a musty smell in the crawl space
- Soil pulled away from the slab edge in a dry August
On clay, the goal is to keep water from piling up at the foundation and keep soil moisture fairly even instead of swinging between soaked and dry. If you also see cracks, read foundation crack repair.
What a drainage company typically does
Walk the lot
Ideally after rain, the company traces where roof water lands and goes.
Gutters and downspouts
Gutters are cleaned, resized or added, and downspouts extended or piped to an outlet away from the house.
Regrade
Soil is built up to slope away from the walls, sometimes with a shallow swale to carry water around.
French drain where needed
A perforated pipe in a gravel trench collects water that keeps gathering and carries it to a lower outlet.
Crawl space drainage
Under a pier-and-beam house, an interior drain, sometimes with a sump pump, comes before any vapor barrier.
Keeping soil moisture even on Shreveport clay
Much of Caddo and Bossier parishes is mapped in clay soils with high to very high shrink-swell potential (USDA NRCS soil data): roughly 43% of Caddo and 55% of Bossier by area, including Red River clays like Moreland and Buxin and upland soils like Eastwood and Keithville. Check your own lot on Web Soil Survey. Clay like that swells as it takes on water and shrinks as it dries, and water dumped at one corner while the other side bakes can contribute to uneven movement.
Local weather makes those swings bigger. Shreveport gets about 51.4 inches of rain a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals), with April the wettest month and August the driest and hottest, averaging highs near 94.9 °F. Caddo and Bossier parishes each reached D3 "extreme" drought in 2022–2023 (U.S. Drought Monitor); Caddo peaked with 88.9% of the parish in D3 on September 19, 2023. In dry spells soil can pull back from the slab edge, and the next storm sends roof water into the gap.
Most fixes aim to even that out: move roof water away from the walls and slope soil so it does not pond. More in the Shreveport clay soil guide.
Crawl space drainage
Pier-and-beam homes have a second drainage problem: the crawl space. The USDA describes the Keithville soil series, named for the Keithville, LA area, as saturated above its clayey layers at 2 to 3 feet in winter and early spring, and soils like Wrightsville and Guyton are poorly drained.
A damp crawl space raises the risk of wood rot and termites. Termite treatment is done by an LDAF-licensed pest control operator, not the foundation company.
The usual order: fix gutters and grading outside, add an interior drain or sump if water still gets in, then consider a vapor barrier or encapsulation, and repair rotted wood once the space is dry. See crawl space encapsulation and crawl space repair.
What drainage cannot do
Yard drainage handles rain on your lot, not a rising river or bayou like the Red River's 37.14-foot crest at Shreveport on June 10, 2015 (NWS). Flood damage generally needs separate flood insurance; read your policy and ask your agent.
What drainage work costs
| Item | Typical range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Crawl space drainage system | $600–$1,800 · $2,500–$10,000 | This Old House · Fixr |
| Vapor barrier, installed | $1,500–$4,000 | Fixr |
| Crawl space dehumidifier, installed | $800–$2,000 | This Old House |
| Structural engineer inspection | $300–$1,000 (avg ≈ $600) | This Old House, Oct 2026 |
| Permit | $75–$150 | This Old House |
Gutter, regrading and French drain prices are not in these guides, so get written quotes that list pipe length, outlet location and landscaping repair. The cost guide covers foundation repairs.
When to get an engineer
Drainage alone rarely needs an engineer. Get an independent LAPELS-licensed professional engineer's assessment first when the water problem comes with cracks, sloping floors or sticking doors, or when a company proposes piers along with drainage. This Old House puts an inspection at about $300–$1,000, and the engineer should be independent of the company selling the repair. See foundation inspections.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Where will the water go, and will the outlet send it onto a neighbor's lot?
- What is your LSLBC license or registration number, and can I see proof of liability insurance?
- Does any part of this job need a permit, and will you pull it?
- What does the warranty cover, does it transfer to a buyer, and can I have it in writing?
License. Louisiana's contractor board (LSLBC) changed its thresholds on August 1, 2024. Home improvement registration now covers most projects of $7,500 to under $50,000, but structural work such as foundations, footings and floor slabs is excluded from 'home improvement', so foundation repair over $7,500 generally calls for an LSLBC-licensed contractor. Look the company up at lslbc.louisiana.gov and ask for the license number, proof of liability insurance and the permit. Confirm with the LSLBC if unsure.
Drainage-only work may fall under a different LSLBC credential than structural repair; ask the LSLBC which one applies to your job.
Permit. Structural repairs generally need a permit from your city or parish; your contractor should pull it. Shreveport's Permits & Inspections office covers the city and Caddo Parish except Greenwood, LA, and Bossier City, LA has its own office.
Right to cancel. Louisiana's home solicitation law (R.S. 9:3538) gives a 3-business-day right to cancel many in-home sales of $25 or more, but it may not apply when you contacted the company yourself or to emergency repairs already under way. Ask whether a cancel right applies and get it in writing.
Foundation drainage and grading FAQs
Can poor drainage cause foundation problems?
It can contribute to them. When roof and yard water piles up at the foundation, clay soil under a slab edge or a pier can swell, and when it later dries it shrinks. Uneven wetting and drying is one reason parts of a foundation move differently. Good drainage does not undo movement that already happened, but it removes one driver.
Do I need a French drain or just downspout extensions?
Start with the simple fixes. Many problems trace back to downspouts that empty at the foundation or soil that slopes toward the house, and extensions or regrading may be enough. A French drain makes more sense where water keeps collecting after that, such as a low side yard. Ask each company why it recommends one.
How much does foundation drainage cost?
This Old House lists a crawl space drainage system at $600–$1,800, and Fixr lists crawl space water drainage at $2,500–$10,000. Gutter, regrading and French drain prices are not in the guides used here, so compare written quotes. These are typical national ranges, not quotes for Shreveport, LA.
Should drainage be fixed before crawl space encapsulation?
In most cases, yes. A liner or vapor barrier keeps ground moisture from rising, but it is not meant to hold back standing water. If water flows into the crawl space after storms, ask companies to deal with gutters, grading and an interior drain or sump first, then seal the space.
Get free drainage and grading quotes
Describe where water collects, whether the home is on a slab or piers, and whether you also see cracks or sloping floors. Your request goes to independent companies serving Shreveport, Bossier City and nearby towns.
Shreveport Foundation Services is a free quote-matching service, not a contractor. The companies are independent, and some pay to receive requests. There is no cost and no obligation to hire anyone.
Cracks, sticking doors or a soft floor? Get free foundation and crawl space quotes.
Describe it once and independent companies serving Shreveport, Bossier City and northwest Louisiana can reply with no-obligation quotes.