Herringbone
Maximum interlock. The strongest pattern for driveways and high-traffic walks.
Drainage & Grading
Drainage & Grading in New Orleans
French drains, channel drains, and proper grading that move water off your property, so your hardscape stays put through New Orleans rain and our high water table.
★★★★★
Licensed & insured
Serving the metro
In New Orleans, water is the first thing that breaks a yard and the last thing most installers plan for. We sit on soft alluvial delta soil with a high water table, and a storm can drop several inches in an afternoon. If that water has nowhere to go, it pools against the house, saturates the ground under your hardscape, and pushes pavers and slabs out of level. Good drainage and grading are why our patios, walls, and driveways last; they move water off the property before it can do damage.
Why drainage comes first
Every hardscape we build is only as stable as the ground under it. When the soil stays soaked, it loses bearing strength, and a heavy patio or driveway starts to settle. Standing water also breeds mosquitoes, kills grass, and seeps into crawl spaces and slabs. We grade the site and route the water on purpose, so the base under your pavers stays firm and dry. That is the difference between a surface that holds for years and one that sinks after the first wet season.
How we solve the water
- Grading: we reshape the ground to a positive slope that carries runoff away from the house and toward a safe outlet
- French drains: a gravel-bedded perforated pipe wrapped in fabric that collects groundwater and the water sitting in saturated soil, then pipes it away
- Channel drains: a slotted surface drain set across driveways, patios, and low spots to catch sheeting water during heavy rain
- Outlets and pop-ups: we daylight the lines to the street, a swale, or a dry well so the water leaves and does not circle back
What is included
We start by reading how water actually moves across your lot during rain, not just where it looks low on a dry day. From there we set the grade, choose the right mix of French drains and channel drains, and tie everything into a tested outlet. We use rigid and perforated pipe rated for the load, fabric to keep silt out, and washed stone that drains fast. When the work ties into a patio or driveway, we hide the drains in the layout so they disappear into the finished surface.
Pairs well with
Drainage is the foundation under everything we install. It keeps the base solid under your paver patio, manages the water that loads a retaining wall, and protects the slab and base under a paver driveway. If your yard already holds water or your hardscape is shifting, get in touch and we will trace the problem to its source.
Serving the New Orleans metro
We design and install drainage and grading in New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, River Ridge, Slidell, Covington, Mandeville, Madisonville, and Abita Springs.
Do I really need drainage if my yard looks fine?
Often, yes. Our high water table means the ground can be saturated below a surface that looks dry. We grade and drain before we build so the base under your hardscape stays firm through heavy rain.
What is the difference between a French drain and a channel drain?
A French drain is buried and pulls water out of soaked soil and groundwater. A channel drain sits at the surface to catch sheeting water during a downpour. Many lots here need both.
Where does all the water go?
We daylight the lines to a safe outlet, usually the street, a swale, or a dry well, depending on your lot and parish rules. We test the flow before we close anything up.
Can you add drainage to a patio or driveway I already have?
Yes. We can retrofit channel drains and regrade around existing hardscape, and lift and reset pavers where we need to run a line underneath.
Make it yours
Paver Styles & Patterns
The pattern is not just a look; it changes how the surface wears. We bring real samples to your estimate.
Running Bond
A clean, classic offset that suits most patios and modern homes.
Basketweave
A timeless woven look at home in courtyards and garden paths.
Cobblestone
Rounded, tumbled texture with old-world, French Quarter character.
How it works
The Big Easy Method
Every job runs the same way: transparent, on time, and engineered for our soil.
Free On-Site Consultation
We walk the space, read the grade and drainage, and talk ideas and budget. No pressure, no charge.
Custom Design & Quote
A layout, paver and color options, and a clear written estimate with a price that holds.
Engineered Base
We excavate and compact a deep base for soft delta soil, set edge restraints, and build in drainage.
Lay, Joint & Walkthrough
Pavers set tight, joints locked with polymeric sand, surface cleaned, and we walk the finished job with you.
Built for New Orleans ground
Why Pavers Win Here
South Louisiana ground is hard on hardscape. An engineered paver system holds up where a poured slab fails.
- Pavers flex with shifting ground instead of cracking like a slab
- Drainage engineered into every base, so water moves off your lot
- A settled section lifts and resets in an afternoon, never a tear-out
- Licensed, insured, and permit-ready, with the scope in writing
500+
Outdoor spaces built
15 yrs
Serving the metro
4.9
Average review rating
100%
Licensed & insured
More hardscape we build
Explore Our Services
Proof it holds up
Reviews From New Orleans Homeowners
★★★★★I wanted to revamp my outdoor living space, and they did an outstanding job with patio pavers. The attention to detail and the quality of their workmanship were remarkable. The patio is now the centerpiece of my backyard.
★★★★★Big Easy Paver Patios exceeded my expectations on my landscape construction. Their team was knowledgeable, professional, and dedicated to delivering exceptional results. I would not hesitate to hire them again.
★★★★★They did an exceptional job constructing my outdoor home deck. The attention to detail was evident throughout, and the result is aesthetically pleasing and structurally sound. I could not be happier.
Drainage & Grading near you
Cities We Serve
Local drainage & grading across the New Orleans metro and the Northshore.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does drainage & grading cost in New Orleans?
Pricing depends on the size of the area, the paver you choose, and the base and drainage the site needs. Soft delta soil usually calls for a deeper compacted base than other parts of the country, and we price that into a written estimate before any work starts.
How long does the project take?
Most residential projects run three to five working days once we start: excavation and base prep, edge restraints, laying the pavers, and locking the joints. Larger scopes with walls, drainage, or an outdoor kitchen take longer, and we give you a firm timeline with your estimate.
Why pavers instead of poured concrete?
Our ground moves. A rigid slab cracks when the soil shifts and has to be torn out whole to repair. Interlocking pavers flex with the ground, let water through the joints, and a settled section resets in an afternoon.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Big Easy Paver Patios is a licensed and insured Louisiana contractor. We pull the permits your parish requires and put the full scope in writing, so there are no surprises mid-project.
Ready when you are
Let's Build Your Outdoor Space
Free on-site estimate, written scope, and a price that does not change after we start. Tell us what you are picturing and we will show you what your yard can become.
No-pressure consult. Most estimates returned within 24 hours.