Had a similar issue at our old place—thought we'd have to fork out for French drains too. But honestly, just redirecting the downspouts and adding some gravel beds did wonders. Sometimes the simple fixes really do surprise you.
Redirecting downspouts can definitely help, but I've seen cases where it just wasn't enough—especially if the property's grading is off. Did you notice any pooling or soggy spots after heavy rains, even after your fix? I've had properties where gravel beds and simple rerouting worked wonders, but others where we ended up having to bite the bullet and install drains anyway. Makes me wonder if soil type or slope plays a bigger role than we think... Did you have clay-heavy soil at your old place? That stuff can be a nightmare for drainage, no matter how many quick fixes you try.
"Makes me wonder if soil type or slope plays a bigger role than we think..."
You're definitely onto something there. When we moved into our current place, the yard looked great at first glance—until the first heavy rain hit. Turns out we had that thick, clay-heavy soil you're talking about. Tried rerouting downspouts and even added gravel beds, but it barely made a dent. Eventually, we had to install proper French drains to really solve it. Sometimes those quick fixes just don't cut it, especially with stubborn soil types...
"Eventually, we had to install proper French drains to really solve it."
French drains can definitely help, but they're not always the silver bullet people think they are. At my last place, we had a pretty steep slope and sandy soil—exact opposite of your clay issue—and still had drainage nightmares. Turned out the slope itself was channeling water straight toward the foundation. We ended up reshaping the landscape entirely. So yeah, soil matters, but slope and grading can be just as critical...sometimes even more so.
French drains can be hit or miss, honestly. Had a buddy who installed one, thinking it'd fix everything—ended up still dealing with dampness because his gutters and downspouts were directing water right back toward the house. Sometimes it's the simple stuff you overlook...
