Bay Area Drainage, Inc. provides drainage systems for residential and commercial clients in parts of Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. The company also builds retaining walls and installs sump pumps, synthetic lawns, and pavestone driveways and walkways. Each drainage system is retrofitted to its surrounding landscape and carefully excavated around existing features.
Owner Wayne Ortland says Bay Area Drainage is known for its meticulous attention to detail. “I stop by every jobsite at least once a day, and I’m involved in each individual project.” A site superintendent oversees work on every job, and when projects are completed, the company removes all leftover materials and performs a comprehensive cleanup.
Bay Area Drainage’s specialty is installing French drain systems, which can be tied to downspout systems, sump pumps and area drains. The company takes a minimally invasive approach to installing French drains by tunneling beneath plants to reduce disruption to root systems. “French drains eliminate the negative effects of moisture,” says Mr. Ortland, “including mold, mildew, damaged floors and conditions in which termites can thrive.”
“We recognize that customer service is every bit as important as doing quality work. We work directly with our customers on every phase of their projects, from initial estimates to final walkthroughs. Our hands-on approach ensures everything is done correctly the first time. We're so confident in our work that we offer an unlimited lifetime warranty.”
When screening drainage contractors, it’s crucial to check licenses and certifications.
Wayne Ortland, owner of Bay Area Drainage, advises to ask for references and get testimonials when searching for any kind of contractor specializing in drainage systems. Make sure the company has a history of dependability and guaranteed workmanship. “I do believe that being Diamond Certified is very important,” says Mr. Ortland, “because when you’re using a Diamond Certified contractor, you know they’re on a different level than the others.
“Unfortunately,” he continues, “in our industry, many contractors aren’t reliable or trustworthy. You need to check their license so you don’t hire a company with a questionable reputation—you don’t want to pay twice for a drainage job that wasn’t done correctly or was left unfinished.”
It’s important to hire someone who specializes in drainage systems, says Mr. Ortland. Some landscaping companies may claim to be drainage experts, but often they’re not. “I don’t know how many drainage systems I’ve seen that weren’t done correctly—they’re either not deep enough or the percentage of fall is incorrect. You really need to be careful with drainage because it’s buried. Being underground, it’s not going to be visible once it’s completed.”
It’s important to get a commitment from the contractor stating they’ll return to your home and fix any problem free of charge if the need arises. When considering this kind of work, a guarantee is an absolute necessity.
For Bay Area Drainage, Inc., a "hands-on" owner and a team of seasoned professionals add up to consistent customer satisfaction–year after year.
"Probably 60 percent of our customers call us again for various projects, simply because they're happy with what we've done in the past," says Wayne Ortland, owner of Bay Area Drainage. "Often they'll call us back for projects such as a driveway or retaining wall."
Attention to detail is something Bay Area Drainage, Inc. takes very seriously. "I stop by every job site at least once a day, and I'm involved in each individual project as if I was working on my own home," says Mr. Ortland. In addition to visits from the owner, each project has a site superintendent on the job all day to oversee the work in progress.
Bay Area Drainage, Inc. is known for its skilled and courteous crews. They understand living with construction can be a challenge for most homeowners, so they do everything they can to minimize the impact. "Our crews are trained to be very courteous to the homeowner. They clean up at the end of every day and leave your home looking as if there's no ongoing construction," says Mr. Ortland. "The driveways are swept and the sidewalks cleaned, so when you come home from work, the yard doesn't look like a work zone." And when a big project is completed, all leftover materials are removed before a complete and thorough final cleanup is performed.
At Bay Area Drainage, Inc., quality workmanship, reliability and trustworthiness are top priorities. "We show up when we say we're going to, and we're there every day until the project is finished," says Mr. Ortland. "We stick to our timelines, and the workmanship our guys demonstrate is far better than most." Good benefits and job satisfaction are two of the reasons labor turnover is low. "My guys have been with me for a minimum of three years, and some of them have been with me for as long as 10 years. We offer full medical benefits and give them what they need." There have never been any security issues with personnel. "I'd trust them in my own home," says Mr. Ortland.
