Drainage and Erosion Solutions

"After 15 years of enduring water and flooding damage to our yard and the foundation of our house, and after trying various 'solutions' from well-intentioned landscapers that never truly resolved the issues, we ultimately decided to engage Drainage and Erosion Solutions. We required comprehensive flood control and damage mitigation, and their expert team skillfully implemented swales, dry creeks, catch basins, and channel drains in areas where water management was critical. They also replaced a water-damaged window well, removed a flagstone patio to install drain basins and drainage pipes, and flawlessly reinstalled it. The supervisor and crew displayed remarkable knowledge, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to detail throughout the entire project. This system has been operational for several months now, and even during the most intense rainfall, which historically led to road flooding, my house and foundation remain dry. We enthusiastically endorse this company without reservation."

Drainage and Erosion Solutions has completed two large home projects for us, in 2018 and 2023. We could not be happier with them. David Arias and his team offered creative and constructive solutions during both project planning and execution. All involved—David, his field team (especially foremen Arcelio and Guardado) and office staff (especially Jessica) were each a pleasure to work with. There were no surprises and we’re delighted with the results—will use them again anytime their services are needed.

Working with ROBERT RECKMEYER (Project Manager) and his crew (whose foreman is RUGILLIO)-- was FABULOUS-- on every dimension! Project Manager Robert Reckmeyer's customer service exceeds the TOP of the rating scale-- due to Mr. Reckmeyer's impeccably clear and responsive communication (via email as well as phone), refreshingly clear explanations of the sequential tasks needed to externally waterproof my home, his attention-to-detail BEFORE the job started (to ensure the contract was crystal clear and complete) AND DURING THE JOB (to ensure all actions were proceeding as planned). Also, Mr. Reckmeyer instantly fixed any imperfection that occurred (with rarity) along the way. Moreover, AFTER the job was completed, my extensively landscaped property was back to beautiful-- just as Mr. Reckmeyer kept assuring me would be the case! When it downpours rain, I now feel CONFIDENT no water will penetrate my walls-- due to the STRATEGICALLY THOROUGH actions designed by Mr. Reckmeyer to keep water out (i.e., to direct water away from my home and to make my foundation walls via water-repelling paint and plastic barriers water-impenetrable)! If you want a dry home, fantastic customer service, and a highly attention-to-detail crew, call Drainage and Erosion Solutions!

David & his team with Arcelio did an outstanding job! We needed it done on short notice & they rose to the occasion. And just before a weekend of heavy rains. So our basement went from waterfalls of leaks to dry as a bone, despite the heavy flooding outside. They took lots of pictures of the process so we could see all the work they did underground. They were reasonably priced & did the job done with good attention to detail & pleasing aesthetics with the river stone. We love that they guarantee their work. We're very grateful to have chosen Drainage & Erosion Solutions. We kept seeing their signs & trucks in the Del Ray, Alexandria neighborhood over the years & we can see why others chose them, also.

I wanted to take a moment and recognize an amazing team! I had Drainage & Erosion Solutions put in a 100 foot swale recently. I had high hopes due to my own thoughts and initial conversations with Rick Wrieden one of their expert project managers. You'll find him extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Victor, their foreman, and team exceeded every expectation! They not only put in something very functional but also aesthetically beautiful. They are true craftsman! They walked me through what they were doing and answered any questions I had with thoughtful in depth answers. I highly recommend using Drainage & Erosion Solutions! They make it easy! From design to execution. You get a lot of value for your money and they make quick work of it. sincerely, Ronald McGrath CEO

Excellent, everyone was happy! Most impressive was the finish work. The sod was healthy and plush and the details down to the small gravel rocks in between the fence and railroad ties installed evenly. On to the next project, thank you!

We've been severely disappointed by DES's work and its treatment of us as clients. DES came out in September of 2017 to waterproof our basement. For context, we live on top of a hill without any surrounding water. We were told that in addition to digging up a portion of our yard to add waterproofing material to an external wall, we should also add a sump pump to ensure that nothing more would get in (additional cost). Less than a year later in June 2018, we had water leaking into the same area. DES came in again and tore up our yard again to fix the issue (albeit with some lack of communication around their scheduling delays that we didn't anticipate). In July of 2021, we had water coming in again in the exact same spot, and now we also had water pooling since June 2018 in another area of our yard due to the dirt that was piled up and not properly releveled from the August 2018 work they performed. We reached out directly to the owner, Mark Lane, (which we had done previously in 2018 and hadn't heard back), to discuss next steps. They sent someone from the team out to the house to take a look. We didn't hear back on next steps so reached out again, which is when David came out to our house. After he left, we had additional questions about next steps, including 1) What specifically was done in 2017 2) what specifically was done in 2018 to fix what didn't work from 2017 and 3) what was the plan now? We were not only unable to get clear answers, we were then verbally abused by David. We believe as customers who paid in full in 2017 (which came with a 100% guarantee), that we have the right to understand what work has been done and what specifically is being proposed going forward, so that we can vet those next steps with some other companies, given that the issue we had originally hasn't been fixed after two attempts and a lot of money spent with DES. We have since sent multiple emails to the owner, Mark Lane, made multiple phone calls to Mark and have even sent a certified letter - we have heard nothing since the day David was here. You'll notice that for the negative reviews that do exist, this company doesn't take any ownership of mistakes, often claiming to not know the customers writing the reviews. I urge you to find another company who won't take your money, abuse their customers and then not only not take ownership of an issue, but never respond.

When you read the reviews for this company, you’ll either think everyone’s off their rockers or these guys don’t respond to emails and phone calls. The funny thing is, most people are complaining about the same problems, which seems too coincidental to me. In their responses to bad reviews, the company claims it has no idea who these customers are, and that maybe they hired another company with a similar name. So I tested it out! Two emails and a phone call were never returned after they came out and gave me an estimate, and they gave no apologies or explanation when I finally did reach someone. So this is the advice from a normal guy who needed work done and who DOES have the right company - buyer beware! I’m not hiring them. Their terrible customer service doesn’t bode well for other aspects of their company. I’m going with another company that clearly values their customers and has pride in their work.

Stellar. Well planned and reviewed by Greg Dolan, and professional adjustments were made as needed on site. Excellent quality, careful and fastidious excavation. D&ESolutions are not inexpensive, but the work is thorough, the execution is meticulous (and it's hard to be meticulous when shoveling through hard-packed clay soil!). Carlos Pineda was the site foreman, and his crew were unfailingly polite, engaged, and a pleasure to have on site. They managed to bury the pipes and still avoid damaging roots of our huge maples and magnolias. Again... a thorough and professional job well done.

David Arias, Arselio and their team were terrific. They kept everything neat, were on time, and kept me informed of each action as they performed the work. The crew manager, Matt Cocito, was exceptional in his ability to suggest best solutions. They re-sodded the lawn area where digging had occurred so you could hardly tell that the large area had been dug up (this all on a deep slope!!). They also dealt with a very difficult neighbour for which I will be eternally grateful.

Had some work done by Drainage & Erosion Solutions from Falls Church Virginia. What a mistake! My 5 year warranty only lasted just under two years! They screwed up the drainage job, came back to fix it, screwed that up too! Spoke with Mark the owner and he refused to remove some dirt his guys left under my deck and stormed off!! His last words to me were “Give me a bad review”! So, here it is: I’m very sorry I picked them and would NOT recommend them for anything.

Absolutely delighted with the outcome-the backyard looks wonderful; the creek beds are attractively laid out; downspouts exit underground at the creek beds; the crew was respectful of all the plants and replanted those that needed to be moved. Areas were resided and/or mulched. Added to this was excellent cleanup throughout the process. The crew was great to work with as was David Arias. Many thanks for a great looking backyard.

The staff of Drainage and Erosion Solutions is great! They called me the day before the appointment to confirm it, which other companies do not do often. In addition, on the day of the appointment, Rob R. called me to let me know that he was on his way. I really like that the staff of this company is so responsive and professional! When Rob R. arrived for the appointment, he looked at the side yard where there is soil erosion, and he listened to me while I explained the issue in detail. Rob R. determined that the solution to the soil erosion problem was simple landscaping, and my husband and I can do it in a weekend with some landscaping supplies. He gave me a free detailed recommendation related to the solution, which was above and beyond my expectations! Rob R. is truly an honest and knowledgeable professional! We didn't need to hire the company, but we will definitely hire them if we need any professional help with a wet yard or a wet basement! I strongly recommend Drainage and Erosion Solutions and Rob R.!

Jeff came to evaluate job on Dec 1. He sent an email with an overview of job, without details, a total price, and a request for 50% down payment. Drainage and Erosion refused to respond to my questions, ever, despite two emails ad several phone calls. I wanted to know how many workers and how many days, plus a few other details. This is a reasonable request for a job they estimated at more than $20,000. After six weeks of failed attempts to get a response, I am going to find another company. If they were too busy to take on a new job, they should have communicated that to me, instead of making promises, asking for money, and then ignoring me. I know it was a wet autumn, so there is a lot of work, but refusal to respond is unprofessional. Do not waste your time with this company.

We contacted Drainage and Erosion solutions to help with storm water ponding in our back yard. Pablo came to our house to see the job and to write an estimate. We never received an estimate even after I contacted the office and the estimator THREE times after he had visited our home. I can only assume that our job was not large enough for them to do, but we were never given an estimate or a reason for not receiving an estimate. I would have appreciated that D&E solutions was upfront with us so I could have moved on to another company to get our work done.

We made an appointment six weeks in advance for a 4:00-5:00 estimate ( first available); no one called to confirm; when I called the day of the appt. to confirm I was told they did call but did not leave a message. Next I was informed there was a possibility the tech would arrive at 3:30; when I explained I was at work and 45 min. away I was told they would have the tech call me. 'Dave' called and said he was in the area and could be there in half an hour (11:00)...I explained I was at work and could not do that but was willing to compromise. He began rambling about difficulties scheduling and being busy etc. and I reminded him I was the customer and had an appt for 4:00 but again, was willing to compromise with something that was no now, but earlier than 4:00. He lost all semblance of control and demanded that I tell him if I would be there at 3:30 or not! I was shocked by his anger and had no desire to meet him face to face. Under no circumstances should anyone treat another person in that manner. He actually frightened me.

Waited over 4 weeks for an appointment. The rep came out and took a look and we had a good meeting. He said he'd get me an estimate in a few days. It's been 6 weeks and no further contact from anyone at the company despite me repeatedly calling and emailing. Not sure what happened over there, but I wish I had gone with another company and not wasted 10 weeks. It's a shame, they did a great job installing a drain system in my yard about 7 years ago.

We first contacted DES in early August 2018 based on the positive Angie’s List reviews we read (and seeing that most negative reviews were due to unresponsiveness), we should have relied more heavily upon the negative reviews. The administrative assistant who schedules the consultants was very responsive, indicating there was a 4-5 wait for an appointment, which was fine for us as the work we needed done as not an emergency. The appointment was scheduled for September 11 and the consultant arrived on time, was friendly and seemed knowledgeable, and spent a fair bit of time walking around our property with us to discuss the issues and what we wanted done. All seemed promising to us, but that was where it ended. We were told we could have an estimate early the following the week. After 10 days, on Sept 19, we checked back in to inquire about the estimate. The administrative assistant responded almost immediately telling us that the consultant had run into an emergency so was delayed in getting quotes out and that a supervisor was stepping up to help out. Understandable. We received a quote approximately one week after that (Sept. 27) from the consultant. However, the quote lacked detail and did not address some of the issues we had discussed which made us concerned that the estimate might be on the low side and if we engaged DES we would end up paying a lot more. So we followed up with the consultant by email on October 3, about week after receiving the estimate to discuss its gaps and also as questions to better compare it to another service provider’s estimate. However, we never heard another word from DES after receiving the quote, despite multiple emails to the consultant himself as well as to the administrative assistant. We were very disappointed because we thought this firm would do a good job based on our interaction with the consultant and being told that David Arias was going to help with the quote when the consultant was backlogged, but their utter lack of responsiveness demonstrates a lack of respect and that they likely do not care about their customers very much. What angers me the most is the wasted time. I wouldn’t have taken off work to meet with the consultant, I wouldn’t have waited on hiring on of the other service providers who did provide timely responses and answers to questions. So my warning to others, don’t waste your time with this company, as they won’t waste their time with you.

I was looking to hire a company to do something about my basement flooding and drainage issues in my yard when it rains. The person who came out for the assessment was condescending and unprofessional. It was very clear from the beginning that he didn't want to do the job. It seemed like he had somewhere else to be. When he came into the basement he didn't even look around to assess what needed to be done. After less than 5 minutes he said I needed a plumber. He wanted to leave when I said don't you want to look at the yard. It was a big waste of my time. I waited 3 weeks just to get the appointment and had to take time off from work for a 10 minute assessment. Other companies that came out spent at least 45 minutes.

Jessie came out to inspect our basement and backyard. He was very friendly and punctual. He said that he would send us an estimate by the end of the day. We provided him with our email addresses and verified that he had them written correctly. A week later we still had not received an estimate. I called him twice and sent an email and still no response. I called the main office and was told that he would send an estimate, but never received one. It was a very frustrating encounter. If they didn't have time to do the work, they could have at least let us know.

Set an appointment for 10-11 AM. They never showed. Called at about 9:45 to let me know they were close but needed to see someone else first. It would be 30-45 minutes. They did not arrive until almost noon, and by that time I was already gone. Simple rule, if you can't even show up for the initial appointment on time, you don't get the job.

We received quotes from four companies - Drainage & Erosion Solutions' pricing was fair and the quality of their work & our experience with them seemed too good to be true. So much so that I've waited for nine months to post a review to be sure the drains they installed addressed the flooding issue. The project included installing five catch basin drains, over 70 feet of 4 inch drain pipe and another 70 feet of six inch drain pipes as well as replanting flower beds, regarding several areas, and installing river rock in two of the drainage beds. The drains have performed exceptionally well. What used to be a river forming on one side of our house, now quickly drains into five catch basin drains they installed. In addition, they were very concerned with aesthetics and made the drain areas look wonderful. They were prompt, professional, and a pleasure to work with. I would highly recommend them. Also, and perhaps most importantly, their recommended solution addressed the root cause of our flooding issues. Two of the other companies we received quotes from accepted that water would get into our crawlspace as a premise. Drainage and Erosion Solutions actually made sure that wouldn't happen in the future.

I had French drains put around the perimeter of my backyard in 2015 by them; they worked great In 2017, some neighbors had cut down trees etc and had more water in my backyard from their hill. Mark came out and the work he suggested which was adding 2 catch basins was done, and they worked great. I told him last year that I was moving this year and could they come out and just clean up. He said that they could. He came out today, showed his crew what to do with one of the catch basins and just a clean up. Everyone at this company is very professional, answer calls, come on time, work they do is great, and they are an excellent company.

The work was completed today, and the 4 men who were here on time did a great job. They cleaned up the mulch, graded the area, added more rocks, buildup the rim, replaced the old mulch. Mark came by and put on the domes. In 2013 and 2017 they have been completely professional, on time, good follow up, and really want the customer to be satisfied. In 2013, I had talked with 3 companies, but what this company wanted to do was just much better with better results.

Did not fix the problem. The problem has to do with the marine clay subbase. A slight addition of top soil was not enough from keeping the yard becoming a swamp in the spring and after heavy rain.