Why Is My Yard Flooding or My Basement Getting Wet? Drainage and Waterproofing Fixes in Chicagoland

September 14, 2026

Standing water in the yard and a damp basement usually trace back to the same root cause: water isn't being moved away from the house and dispersed below grade. Tommy Pollina Landscape Company fixes this with engineered drainage systems, grading and regrading, sump pump solutions, and basement waterproofing, all installed as one connected system rather than four separate fixes.

Key Takeaways

• Tommy Pollina Landscape Company has completed more than 10,000 drainage installations using laser-guided measurements and multiple collection points.
• Basement waterproofing comes with a lifetime warranty on both interior and exterior systems.
• We hold NDS Professional Drainage Contractor Certificates and are licensed and insured.
• Emergency and expedited drainage service is available for active flooding and foundation-protection situations.
• Grading and regrading work is planned alongside drainage, landscape design, and permit compliance, not as an afterthought.

What Causes Standing Water and Wet Basements

Water problems in a yard almost always come down to where the ground slopes and where it doesn't. If the grade around a foundation is flat or tilted the wrong way, rain and sump pump discharge sit near the house instead of running off. Downspouts that dump water two feet from the foundation make it worse. Over time, that same water finds its way into basement walls, crawl spaces, and low spots in the lawn.

We treat grading, downspout connections, and sump pump discharge as one system. A French drain installed without correcting the grade underneath it will keep failing, and regrading without a place for the water to go just moves the puddle. Our drainage systems work is built around fixing both at the same time.

How Does a Professional Drainage System Work?

A professional drainage system intercepts water at multiple collection points around the property, then moves it below grade using exact elevations to an underground dispersal system. We use laser-guided measurements to set those elevations precisely, so water flows by gravity instead of pooling.

The components we install depend on the site: French drains, channel drains, PVC drainage lines, downspout connections, swales, flow wells, and river rock drainage systems. A driveway with sheet flow toward a garage might need a channel drain and a regraded apron. A backyard with a low corner that never dries out usually needs a French drain tied into a flow well or a swale that carries water toward the street or a rear easement. We've installed these systems in yards from Arlington Heights to Deerfield, and every one starts with mapping where the water actually goes, not where the topography suggests it should go.

Grading Comes Before Drainage

Grading sets the slope of the yard so water moves toward collection points instead of settling against the foundation or in low spots on the lawn. We handle grading and regrading as part of drainage design, landscape installation, and, where required, municipal permit compliance.

Regrading isn't cosmetic. A property that has settled unevenly over years, or one where a prior landscaper built up a bed against the foundation, can redirect roof and yard water straight into a basement wall. We correct the slope first, then build the drainage components into that corrected grade. That sequence is why our landscape design work includes 3D renderings and walkthroughs that map grading, drainage, hardscape, and planting together before anything gets installed.

Do I Need Basement Waterproofing or Just Yard Drainage?

Yard drainage manages surface and shallow subsurface water before it reaches the house. Basement waterproofing addresses water already getting through foundation walls or floors. Many properties need both: drainage to reduce the volume of water at the foundation, and waterproofing to seal the structure against what still reaches it.

Our basement waterproofing includes interior and exterior systems, each backed by a lifetime warranty. If a sump pump is already running constantly, or basement walls show damp patches after heavy rain even with functioning gutters, that's usually a sign the foundation itself needs a waterproofing system, not just a regraded yard. We also install sump pump solutions to manage discharge from an existing pump so it doesn't just recirculate back toward the house.

Matching the Symptom to the Right Fix

We Offer Emergency / Expedited Drainage Service

Active flooding, a sump pump that's failed during a storm, or water threatening a foundation doesn't wait for a normal scheduling window. We provide emergency and expedited drainage service specifically for those situations, so a yard-water or foundation-protection problem gets addressed while it's still manageable rather than after it's caused structural damage.

Solving Landscape Problems for 45 Years

Tommy Pollina Landscape Company was founded in 1982 by Joseph "Joe" Pollina as a one-truck operation on Chicago's Northwest Side. We're now based in Mt. Prospect at 420 N. River Rd. and drainage has been central to the work the entire time. We hold NDS Professional Drainage Contractor Certificates and are licensed and insured, and we've completed more than 10,000 drainage installations across Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.

One client, Hilary Krol, described a project where drainage was part of a larger build: "We had a fantastic experience working with Tommy Pollina Landscape Company on the complete landscaping of our new construction home. They coordinated every aspect of the outdoor project, from the plants, trees, and shrubs to the steel fence with custom Buechel Stone columns, concrete patio, retaining wall, and Bluestone pavers, engineered NDS drainage, Kichler lighting, irrigation, and final sod installation... The finished landscaping has completely transformed the property and made our new home feel truly complete." That kind of project shows why we plan drainage alongside grading, hardscape, and planting from the start, rather than bolting it on at the end.

You can see completed drainage, grading, and waterproofing work in our project gallery, and the full range of what we install on the landscaping services page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is basement waterproofing covered by a warranty?

Yes. Our interior and exterior basement waterproofing systems come with a lifetime warranty. We're a locally owned, fully licensed contractor, and the goal of the warranty is straightforward: a dry basement that stays dry, with the system backed for as long as it's in place.

What areas do you serve for drainage and waterproofing work?

We serve Chicago and the surrounding North and Northwest suburbs, including Arlington Heights, Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Deer Park, and Deerfield, from our office in Mt. Prospect. If you're unsure whether your address falls in our service area, the contact page is the fastest way to check.

Do you handle grading as part of a drainage project?

Yes. Grading and regrading are planned together with drainage engineering on every project, since the slope of the yard determines whether a drainage system will actually work. We also integrate grading with landscape design and, where a municipality requires it, permit compliance.

What happens during an emergency drainage call?

Emergency and expedited drainage service is for active flooding, sudden foundation-water threats, or a failed sump pump during a storm. We prioritize getting water moving away from the structure first, then assess whether a permanent fix, like a French drain or regrading, is needed once the immediate risk is handled.

If your yard is holding water after every rain, your sump pump keeps running, or your basement has damp spots you can't explain, tell us what you're seeing using the form below this article and we'll help you figure out whether it's a grading fix, a drainage system, waterproofing, or some combination of the three.