Underground Drainage in Fort Myers, Naples & Cape Coral
A gutter catches the water. Underground drainage gets it the rest of the way. On flat, sandy Southwest Florida lots, a downspout that dumps next to the house just moves the problem a few feet: water pools against the slab, washes out the fill under it and leads to uneven settling and cracked stucco.
The Brothers That Just Do Gutters pipe downspouts underground and carry the water away from the foundation, the pool deck, the driveway and the landscaping, to a drain box or pop-up emitter where it can drain safely. And it isn’t just for downspouts: if water pools in a low spot in your yard, a catch basin piped underground can carry that water away too.
We’re veteran-owned and state-licensed (CBC1270165), our own crews do every install, and every system is flow-tested before we leave.
QUICK ANSWER
Do I need underground drainage for my downspouts?
If water pools near your foundation, washes out mulch or sod, runs across a walkway or driveway, or sits on the pool deck after a storm, yes. Underground drainage ties your downspouts into buried 4″ or 6″ solid pipe that carries the water away from the house to a drain box or pop-up emitter. It also gets rid of the extensions you trip over and mow around, and it works for yards too: a catch basin set in a low spot that floods can pipe that standing water away. Every system we install is flow-tested before we leave and backed by a 2-year limited warranty.
1 of only 12 licensed
State license CBC1270165. Only 12 of 91 gutter companies in SWFL hold one.
Flow-tested
We run water through every line before we leave.
Our own crews
Uniformed, OSHA-certified employees. No subcontractors.
2-year limited warranty
On every underground drainage system we install.
How we install underground drainage
Done right, you never think about it again.
Solid pipe, 4″ or 6″
Downspouts tie into 4″ or 6″ solid corrugated pipe, buried at the right depth with a steady slope away from the home. Solid wall, so roots can’t get in.
Sealed tie-ins
Every downspout connects with a sealed transition, so there are no open gaps for debris to get into the line.
A safe discharge point
Each line ends at a drain box, catch basin or pop-up emitter placed where the water can drain away from the house and landscaping.
We call 811 for you
Before we dig, we call Sunshine 811 so utility lines get marked. You just show us where private lines like sprinklers and landscape lighting run.
Flow test
Before we leave, we run water through every line end to end to make sure it drains the way it should.
Yard drainage, too
Water pooling in a low spot in the yard? We set a catch basin where the water collects and pipe it underground to somewhere it can drain, with or without a gutter attached.
WHEN YOU NEED IT
Signs your downspouts need to go underground
Walk around the house after the next heavy rain and look for:
- Water pooling along the foundation or under a downspout.
- Washed-out mulch, sod or soil below a downspout.
- Water running across a walkway, driveway or pool deck.
- Stains or cracks in the stucco near the ground.
- Downspout extensions you trip over, mow around or keep putting back.
- Standing water in the yard that sits for hours or days after a storm.
If you’re seeing any of these, the water needs to go farther than a splash block can take it.
OUR WARRANTY
2-year limited warranty
- Workmanship: pipe joints holding, connections sealed, no leaks at our tie-ins
- Proper pitch and flow, with no sagging or reverse slope from our install
- Drain boxes, grates and basin fittings we installed
- Material defects in the pipe and fittings we installed
Gutters feeding the system need to be cleaned at least once a year to keep the warranty active. If gutters overflow, debris ends up in the lines.
Drainage and downspout work
Real Southwest Florida jobs from our crews.
THE LICENSE GAP
Only 12 of 91 gutter companies in Southwest Florida hold a Florida contractor’s license
In July 2026 we checked every gutter company advertising in Lee and Collier counties against the state’s licensee database. Just 12 of the 91 hold a valid state license, and we’re one of them.
91
gutter companies advertising in Lee and Collier counties
12
hold a valid Florida contractor’s license, including us
87%
have no valid state license
“Licensed and insured” isn’t a license number
Almost every contractor says it. Very few can show you a state number. A city or county business tax receipt is just a tax registration: no exam, no insurance check, no bond. Only a state license from the Florida DBPR authorizes gutter installation.
Why it matters to you:
- Insurance. If an unlicensed contractor’s work causes damage, your carrier can dispute the claim.
- Liability. Unlicensed crews often carry no workers’ comp. If someone falls off your roof, that can land on you.
- Warranty. An unlicensed contractor’s contract can’t be enforced, so the warranty is worth nothing.
- No safety net. Florida’s Homeowners’ Construction Recovery Fund only covers work by licensed contractors.
CHECK ANY CONTRACTOR IN 15 SECONDS
- Ask for the state license number, not a business tax receipt.
- Search it at myfloridalicense.com under “Verify a Licensee.”
- Make sure it says Current, Active, and the name matches the company on your estimate.
Check us first: CBC1270165, Certified Building Contractor.
Source: Brothers Gutters review of gutter companies advertising on Google, Yelp, Angi, HomeAdvisor, Thumbtack, Nextdoor, Facebook and others, each checked against the Florida DBPR licensee database, July 2026.
STRAIGHT TALK
Keep the gutters clean, keep the drains clear
Underground drainage only works if what’s going into it is water. When gutters clog and overflow, leaves and grit wash down the downspouts and settle in the buried lines.
We can flush and clear most underground systems that still function, and if an old system is too far gone, we’ll tell you it needs replacing instead of selling you a cleaning that won’t last. But the best way to protect any underground drain is to keep the gutters above it clean. Gutter guards and our Rain Ready Club, with two cleanings a year, both do exactly that.
Start now, pay over time
Through Hearth, you can check your financing options with a soft credit check, and those who qualify can choose 0% financing or low monthly payments.
Ask about financing at your free estimate.
How an underground drainage job works
STEP 1
On-site estimate
We look at your downspouts, your lot and where the water can safely go.
STEP 2
Plan and 811 locates
Pipe runs, tie-ins and discharge points with the price. Then we call Sunshine 811 for you to get utility lines marked before we dig.
STEP 3
Trench and pipe
We dig, lay 4″ or 6″ solid pipe at the right slope and tie in the downspouts.
STEP 4
Backfill and restore
Trench backfilled, tamped and restored as close as we can to how we found it.
STEP 5
Flow test and walkthrough
Water run through every line, then a walkthrough with you.
What our customers say
Real reviews from Southwest Florida homeowners on Google.
★★★★★
“The crew did an excellent job. I highly recommend them for all your gutter and drainage needs.”
Robert W.
Google review
★★★★★
“My church had major drainage issues and the Brothers worked with us to resolve the issues. They were kind, professional, showed up on time, and did excellent work.”
Patricia I.
Google review
★★★★★
“Brothers did an incredible job. They were very professional and efficient. Highly recommend them!”
Kyle I.
Google review
★★★★★
“I got several estimates and Brothers Gutters was a no brainer.”
Mark L.
Google review
Underground drainage questions, answered
Do I need underground drainage?
If water pools near your foundation, washes out landscaping, or runs across a walkway, driveway or pool deck, you’ll benefit from it. On flat, sandy Southwest Florida lots, it’s the most reliable way to get roof water away from the house.
Where does the water go?
Each line ends at a drain box, catch basin or pop-up emitter placed where the water can drain safely, away from the foundation and landscaping.
Can you fix water pooling in my yard, not just at the downspouts?
Yes. Underground drainage doesn’t have to be tied to a gutter. If water collects in a low spot in your yard, we can set a catch basin there and pipe it underground to a spot where it can drain safely.
Do you install French drains?
No. French drains use perforated pipe, and in South Florida roots find those holes and grow in, so they clog and fail faster. We use solid-wall corrugated pipe, 4″ or 6″, so there’s nowhere for roots to get in.
What about sprinkler lines, wires and pipes in my yard?
We call Sunshine 811, Florida’s call-before-you-dig service, for you, and the utility companies mark their underground lines before we dig. Utilities only mark what they own, though, so private lines like sprinkler systems, landscape lighting and private wiring aren’t marked. Before we dig, show us where those run so we can plan around them.
Will it tear up my yard?
We dig a narrow trench, then backfill, tamp and restore the surface as close as we can to how we found it. We go over sod expectations at the walkthrough.
Can you clean out my existing underground drains?
Most of the time, yes. We can flush and clear most underground drainage systems that still function. If a system is too old, crushed or failing, we’ll tell you straight that it needs replacing. If it doesn’t, we’ll tell you that too.
What warranty comes with it?
Every underground drainage system we install has a 2-year limited warranty covering our workmanship, pitch and flow, the drain boxes and fittings we installed, and material defects. Annual gutter cleanings are required to keep it active, and work by another contractor voids it.
Can you add drainage to gutters you didn’t install?
Usually, yes. We’ll check that the gutters and downspouts feeding the system are in good enough shape first.
Do you offer financing?
Yes, through Hearth. A soft credit check shows your options, and those who qualify can choose 0% financing or low monthly payments.
Does a gutter company need a license in Florida?
Yes. Installing gutters for pay in Florida requires a state contractor’s license from the DBPR. A city or county business tax receipt is not a contractor’s license. Ask for the number and look it up at myfloridalicense.com. Ours is CBC1270165.
Related services
Gutter installation
New 6″ and 7″ seamless gutters, formed on site and sized for Florida storms.
Gutter guards
Three levels of guard, from mesh to BroGuard Premier, matched to your trees and budget.
Rain Ready Club
Two visits a year, a 5-point inspection, reseals and storm priority.
Gutter cleaning
A full cleanout, downspouts flushed, inspection and photos.
Underground drainage across Southwest Florida
Fort Myers · Cape Coral · Naples · Bonita Springs · Estero · Lehigh Acres · North Fort Myers · Fort Myers Beach · Sanibel