How do I know if I need a roof repair or full replacement?

If damage is localized and the rest of the roof is performing well, a repair is usually the right call. If there is widespread wear, multiple failure points, or the roof is nearing end-of-life, replacement is the safer long-term investment. We will inspect and give you an honest recommendation.

What size gutters do I need?

Gutter size depends on your roof area, pitch, and local rainfall. 5-inch gutters work well for most standard homes with moderate roof pitch. 6-inch systems hold about 50% more water and are recommended for larger roof areas or heavy Texas rainfall. We size every system based on your specific roof.

Do you help with insurance claims for storm damage?

Yes. We provide photo-documented inspection reports, work with your adjuster, and help you understand the scope and process. We do not file claims on your behalf, but we support you through each step.

d u c k w o r k s

Buried Downspouts, Catch Basins & Pop-Up Emitters

Name: Duck Works Aqua Management Solutions
Address: 300 N Akard Street #1006, Dallas, TX, 75201, US
Telephone: (469) 722-3262
Price range: $$

Home
Buried downspouts, Catch Basins, and Pop-ups

Drainage All Services

Get a free on-site estimate today and let's design a drainage system that's built to last.

(469) 722-3262

info@GoDuckWorks.com

Buried downspouts, Catch Basins, and Pop-ups

Your gutters collect the water — but if downspouts just dump it at the foundation line, you’re creating the problem you’re trying to solve. We bury downspout lines underground with solid PVC, route them to pop-up emitters or catch basins at the property’s edge, and make sure every connection has clean-out access for maintenance. This is the most common drainage upgrade we do, and it makes an immediate difference.

Get Roof Water Away From Your Foundation — For Good

Your gutters do the hard work of collecting every drop of water that hits your roof. But if your downspouts just dump that water at the foundation line, they’re creating the exact problem your gutter system was designed to prevent — water pooling against your home, saturating the soil around your slab, and accelerating foundation movement.

Burying your downspout lines underground is the most common and most impactful drainage upgrade we perform. We connect your existing downspouts to solid PVC pipe buried beneath your yard, route the water to pop-up emitters or catch basins at the property’s edge, and make sure every connection has clean-out access for long-term maintenance.

Schedule a Free Drainage Assessment

Call (469) 722-3262

What Are Buried Downspouts, Catch Basins & Pop-Ups?

A buried downspout system takes the water collected by your gutters and routes it underground through solid PVC pipe to a discharge point far from your foundation. Instead of downspout extensions sitting on top of your lawn (getting hit by mowers, tripping people, and looking ugly), the entire system is hidden below grade.

Here's how each component works:

Buried Downspout Lines Solid (non-perforated) PVC pipe connects directly to your gutter downspouts via an underground adapter. The pipe runs beneath the yard at a proper slope and carries roof water to the discharge point. We use solid pipe — not corrugated flex pipe — because it doesn't sag, crush, or clog the way cheap corrugated lines do.
Pop-Up Emitters A pop-up emitter is a spring-loaded valve installed at the end of the buried line, typically at the edge of the yard or in a drainage easement. When water flows through the pipe, the emitter pops open and disperses the water at ground level. When the flow stops, it closes flush with the ground — invisible and mow-friendly.
Catch Basins A catch basin is a below-grade box with a grated top that collects surface water from a specific area — like a low spot in the driveway, a patio drain, or the base of a slope. It connects to the same buried pipe network and routes the collected water to the discharge point. Catch basins can also serve as junction points where multiple pipe runs converge.

Signs You Need Buried Downspouts

Downspouts discharge directly at the foundation — the #1 cause of preventable foundation water damage in Texas
Downspout extensions on the surface that get knocked loose, run over by mowers, or create tripping hazards
Erosion at the base of downspouts — bare soil, washed-out mulch, or channels forming in the yard
Water pooling near the house after rain, especially at corners where multiple roof planes converge
Basement or slab moisture issues that correlate with rain events
Splash blocks that aren't working — water still collects within a few feet of the foundation
You're getting new gutters installed — this is the ideal time to bury the downspouts since we're already on-site

This is the #1 upgrade we recommend. If you do nothing else for drainage, burying your downspouts and getting roof water away from the foundation is the single highest-impact improvement you can make.

Our Process

How We Install Buried Downspout Systems

Assessment & Routing Plan

We evaluate your property's grade, locate your existing downspouts, identify the best discharge points, and map the pipe routing to minimize yard disruption. If you have an existing French drain or yard drain system, we'll determine whether the buried downspouts can tie into it.

Downspout Connection

We install a below-grade adapter at each downspout location that transitions from the vertical downspout to the horizontal buried pipe. Each adapter includes a debris screen to keep leaves and shingle grit out of the underground system.

Trenching & Pipe Installation

We trench from each downspout to the discharge point, maintaining proper slope for gravity flow. All underground runs use Schedule 20 or Schedule 40 solid PVC — never corrugated flex pipe. Connections are glued (not taped) for a permanent, leak-free system.

Clean-Out Access Points

We install clean-out risers at key points in the system so the lines can be flushed with a garden hose or pressure washer if needed. This is the step most contractors skip — and it's the reason their systems clog within a few years.

Discharge Installation

At the end of each run, we install either a pop-up emitter (for dispersed discharge into the yard) or connect to an existing catch basin or drainage easement. We verify that the discharge location won't create a new problem — like sending water toward a neighbor's property or back toward your own foundation.

Backfill, Grade & Restore

We backfill the trenches, re-establish proper surface grading, and restore sod or landscaping. Most residential buried downspout jobs are completed in a single day.

Why Homeowners Choose Duck Works for Buried Downspouts

We Install Gutters AND Drainage

We’re one of the few contractors in the DFW-to-Austin corridor that handles both the gutter system and the underground drainage. That means one crew, one warranty, and a system that’s designed to work together from roofline to property line.

Solid PVC, Not Flex Pipe

We use rigid PVC pipe with glued connections on every buried run. Corrugated flex pipe is cheaper, but it sags, collects sediment, and crushes under foot traffic. We don’t use it.

Clean-Outs on Every System

Every system includes accessible clean-out points so you (or we) can flush the lines if they ever slow down. This is the #1 thing that separates a 5-year system from a 20-year system.

Proper Slope, Every Time

We trench at a minimum 1% slope (1/8″ per foot) and verify grade with a level before backfilling. Flat or back-graded lines are the most common cause of buried downspout failure.

Bundled Pricing Available

Getting new gutters? We offer significant savings when you bundle gutter installation with buried downspouts in the same project.

FAQs