Yard Drainage in Sandy, Oregon: Fixing a Soggy Lawn

Yard Drainage in Sandy, Oregon

A soggy lawn is one of the most common property complaints in Sandy, and for good reason. Sitting in the Mt. Hood foothills, Sandy catches more rain than the valley below — storms lifting off the Pacific drop heavier precipitation as the land climbs toward the mountain. Add sloped terrain and soils that hold moisture, and it is no surprise that lawns here turn to sponge through the long wet season. Boots sink, puddles linger, and moss spreads where grass should thrive.

The good news is that a soggy yard is almost always fixable. The trick is matching the solution to the cause, because a Sandy lawn flooded by runoff from an uphill slope needs a different fix than one ponding from saturated soil or roof water.

Why Sandy Lawns Stay Wet

The foothill setting stacks up several factors:

• Heavy rainfall. Sandy's elevation means more precipitation than the lowlands, and intense storms can deliver water faster than the ground absorbs it.
• Sloped terrain. On hillside lots, water runs downhill and collects in low spots and yards below.
• Hillside and forest runoff. Water moving off wooded slopes above a property can pour onto the lawn during heavy rain.
• Moisture-holding soils. Many Sandy-area soils drain slowly, so rain perches at the surface.
• A long, heavy wet season. The foothills stay wet longer, leaving little capacity to absorb new rain.

Understanding which factor drives your wet lawn makes the fix clear. Our overview of property and site drainage in Oregon explains how these causes interact across the region.

Drainage Solutions That Work in Sandy

There is no single answer for every yard. A good contractor picks from several tools depending on the cause:

• Regrading and surface shaping — Reshaping the lawn so water flows away from the house toward a safe outlet. On Sandy's sloped lots, working with the natural grade is often effective.
• Swales — Shallow vegetated channels that guide surface water and hillside runoff around the house to a lower point.
• Curtain drains — Uphill interceptors that catch runoff from a slope above before it reaches the yard, one of the most valuable tools on Sandy foothill lots.
• French drains — Gravel-and-pipe trenches that collect subsurface water and carry it away, useful where water perches below the turf.
• Catch basins and area drains — Point collectors in the lowest spots, piped downhill to an outlet.
• Downspout management — Roof water is a major contributor, and in Sandy's heavy rain a single downspout moves a lot of water. Extending downspouts to solid pipe well away from the house often helps immediately.

Most effective Sandy yard projects combine two or three of these, with curtain drains frequently part of the mix. For typical cost ranges, see our yard drainage cost guide for Oregon.

What Yard Drainage Costs in Sandy

Cost depends on the size of the wet area, the chosen solution, soil conditions, and how far water must travel to a safe outlet. A downspout extension or simple regrade sits at the low end. A full system with a curtain drain, catch basins, and a French drain sits at the high end.

Local factors in Sandy:

• Sloped lots often have a downhill daylight outlet, which keeps cost down.
• Heavy rainfall may require higher-capacity solutions.
• Hillside runoff often calls for a curtain drain in addition to yard drainage.
• Wooded, tight access can raise labor time.

Industry baseline ranges help set expectations, but only a site assessment gives an accurate figure for your lot.

When to Call a Contractor

Minor issues can sometimes be improved with a downspout extension or surface shaping. But it is worth bringing in a professional when:

• Water pools against the foundation or runs toward the house
• Runoff from an uphill slope floods your yard during storms
• Standing water persists for days after rain
• Your crawlspace shows moisture
• Surface fixes have not solved the recurring problem

A contractor who reads the soil, slope, and runoff source can design a system that resolves the problem rather than moving it downhill to another part of the yard.

Get Your Sandy Yard Drainage Quote

Cojo Excavation & Asphalt provides free, no-obligation yard drainage assessments throughout Sandy and the Mt. Hood corridor. We trace the source of the water — including hillside runoff — evaluate your soil and slope, and recommend the right combination of solutions for your lawn.

Explore our excavation services, or request a free quote and we will respond within 24 hours.