Drain Designs
Drain Designs is a privately held, franchise-based drainage and waterproofing contractor serving residential and commercial customers across North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. It designs, installs, and maintains subsurface drainage systems using its patented American Drain System and World's Best Waterproofing System, backed by a transferable lifetime warranty.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersPittsboro, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Drain Designs does
Drain Designs is a residential and commercial drainage contractor specializing in subsurface water management, foundation protection, and waterproofing. The company designs, installs, maintains, and repairs drainage systems including French drains, downspout drainage systems, foundation drains, sump pumps, and basement waterproofing solutions. Its technical differentiation rests on two granted patents: the American Drain System, a structural trench with removable caps and side-panel/spacer architecture that replaces outdated French drain technology, and the World's Best Waterproofing System, which uses perforated panels with spacers to create an accessible air space between foundation walls and backfill soil. Smooth-walled PVC pipe is used rather than commodity corrugated pipe, and the components are manufactured in-house by the founder-controlled subsidiary The American Drain Company, LLC. The company claims a 99%+ success rate in resolving basement wetness through exterior drainage improvements and offers a transferable lifetime warranty on installed systems.
Drain Designs operates through a franchise model franchised by Drain Designs Franchising, LLC, with 8 active franchise locations across North Carolina (Charlotte, Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, Holly Springs, Garner/Clayton/Fuquay-Varina), Ohio (Akron-Canton, Cleveland, Youngstown-Warren), and Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh). The initial franchise fee is $40,000 with an estimated minimum additional capital requirement of $60,000 for equipment, marketing, and payroll. Revenue is generated primarily through project-based service fees for installation and maintenance, supplemented by franchise fees and direct product sales through americandrain.com. Customers are acquired predominantly via local SEO, Google Business Profiles, location-specific blog content, a toll-free 1-800-DRAINAGE phone line, and website quote-request forms. The company is privately held by founder Kevin Kondas, with no institutional investment, and the corporate entity is headquartered in Apex, North Carolina (with a Pittsboro, NC mailing address).
The primary customer segments are residential homeowners dealing with yard flooding, basement/crawl space moisture, foundation settlement, and neighbor runoff, with secondary segments in commercial property management and new home construction. Operating partners include local plumbers and electricians for sump pump installations and crawl space sealing companies for complementary services. The business is BBB-accredited and emphasizes 30+ years of founder expertise in drainage and waterproofing as a credibility anchor.
Drain Designs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Drain Designs
- Legal name
- Drain Designs Franchising, LLC
- Website
- https://draindesigns.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Drain Designs is a privately held, franchise-based drainage and waterproofing contractor serving residential and commercial customers across North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. It designs, installs, and maintains subsurface drainage systems using its patented American Drain System and World's Best Waterproofing System, backed by a transferable lifetime warranty.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Drain Designs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Drainage & Foundation Waterproofing Services
- NAICS
- Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (23822), Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (238220)
- SIC
- Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)
- akta.pro primary industry
- French Drains & Yard Drainage Systems (Install/Clean/Repair) (HSAIAKAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Underground Downspout Drain Lines (Installation, Cleaning & Repair) (HSAIAKAG), Gutters, Downspouts & Drainage (Install/Repair) (HSAPAKAG), Sump Pump Discharge & Exterior Drainage Connections (HSAIAKAJ), Drainage & Grading for Hardscapes (French Drains, Swales, Base Prep) (HSAIACAK), Storm Drain & Yard Drain Cleaning & Repair (HSAOABAL)
Keywords
Where Drain Designs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pittsboro
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices9 records
Markets served
Drain Designs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Drainage Installation Services: Full-service residential and commercial drainage system installation including custom design, French drains, American drains, downspout drainage systems, foundation waterproofing, sump pump installation, and maintenance services. Revenue is generated through service fees for assessment, installation, and ongoing maintenance contracts. Quote-based pricing with free verbal ballpark estimates available by phone.
- Franchise Fees: Drain Designs generates revenue through franchise fees. Initial franchise fee is $40,000 with estimated additional minimum capital needed of $60,000 for equipment, marketing, payroll. The company develops franchise territories in drainage management markets.
- American Drain Products: Sale of proprietary American Drain System components. The company manufactures patented drain design components for both franchisee use and direct sales through americandrain.com.
- Drainage System Maintenance: Ongoing maintenance services including inspection, cleaning, and optimization of existing drainage systems. Systems designed to be inspected and maintained at least every 2 years.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | On-site drainage assessment with custom quote |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Drain Designs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Drain Designs is a residential and commercial drainage contractor that designs, installs, maintains, and repairs custom drainage and foundation waterproofing systems. Its portfolio includes French drains, underground downspout drainage, foundation drainage, basement/crawl space waterproofing, yard drainage, sump pumps, and the patented American Drain System. The company delivers services through a franchise network across North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, and also sells its proprietary American Drain System components directly.
Product overview
Drain Designs is a residential and commercial drainage contractor offering a portfolio of drainage services and proprietary products. The company provides custom-designed drainage systems including French drains, foundation drainage, downspout drainage systems, and the patented American Drain System—a superior replacement for traditional French drains featuring accessible, serviceable structural trench design. Additional services include basement waterproofing, sump pump installation, yard drainage repair, and new construction drainage. The company operates on a franchise model with locations across North Carolina (Charlotte, Raleigh/Durham, Holly Springs, Garner/Clayton/Fuquay-Varina), Ohio (Akron-Canton, Cleveland, Youngstown-Warren), and Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh). Founded in 2011 by Kevin Kondas, the company emphasizes lifetime-guaranteed drainage solutions designed to prevent foundation damage, basement flooding, and water-related structural issues.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The American Drain System: Patented replacement for outdated French drain technology; a structural trench with accessible panels and spacers that allows subsurface water to bleed in and be carried away, with a removable cap for inspection and maintenance.
- The World’s Best Waterproofing System
- Ground Guttering
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 99% of basement wetness issues resolved through exterior drainage improvements without expensive waterproofing
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Drain Designs
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Drain Designs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Drain Designs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Local Plumbing CompaniesminorDrain Designs partners with local plumbers for sump pump installations that require plumbing or electrical work. Company notes that plumbing and rainwater drainage are essentially two different trades, and they work with local plumbers and electricians to offer turnkey sump pump solutions.
- Local Electrical CompaniesminorPartners with local electricians for sump pump installations that require GFCI outlets or hardwiring to breakers. Work together with electricians to offer complete sump pump solutions.
- Crawl Space Sealing CompaniesminorDrain Designs does not seal crawl spaces but partners with excellent companies that do this type of work. Company emphasizes that proper drainage must be optimized before crawl space sealing to prevent water from ruining the sealing system.
- Local Stormwater Management DepartmentsminorExperienced in working with local stormwater management professionals to develop drainage plans that fit customer needs and budget while protecting the environment.
- BBB (Better Business Bureau)minorDrain Designs Franchising, LLC maintains BBB Business Review accreditation, indicating compliance with BBB standards for business practices.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights8 records
Drain Designs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Ohio Basement Authority: Residential basement waterproofing and foundation repair company operating across Ohio. Overlaps directly with Drain Designs' Ohio franchise territories (Akron, Cleveland, Youngstown) on identical services and customer type.
- Northeast Drainage Solutions: Residential drainage and waterproofing contractor serving the Northeast US. Comparable as a regional specialist addressing similar customer pain points (yard flooding, foundation protection) in geographies adjacent to Drain Designs' Pittsburgh franchise.
Emerging players
- Crawl Space Ninja: Crawl space encapsulation and waterproofing specialist serving the Southeast US, including the Carolinas. Comparable on adjacent moisture management services with overlapping customer pain points, though more focused on encapsulation than exterior drainage.
- French Drain Man: Specialty contractor focused on French drain installation and yard drainage in the Midwest US. Directly comparable on the core drainage service offering that Drain Designs' patented American Drain System is designed to replace.
Direct peers
- '58 Foundations: Regional foundation repair and waterproofing company serving the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, including the Carolinas. Directly comparable on residential drainage, basement waterproofing, and foundation protection services with similar customer segments.
- Baker's Waterproofing: Residential basement waterproofing and foundation repair company serving Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Directly competes with Drain Designs' Pittsburgh franchise on the same residential waterproofing and drainage services.
- Acculevel: Foundation repair and waterproofing company serving Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. Directly comparable as a residential specialist offering drainage, waterproofing, and foundation services with a similar regional focus in the Midwest.
- Basement Systems: National basement waterproofing and foundation repair franchise network. Directly comparable as a franchise-based residential drainage/waterproofing specialist offering proprietary products and lifetime warranties across similar geographies.
- JES Foundation Repair: Residential foundation repair, basement waterproofing, and crawl space encapsulation specialist serving the Mid-Atlantic. Comparable on customer profile (homeowners with water intrusion/foundation issues) and service offerings including drainage and sump pump solutions.
Broad incumbents
- Groundworks: Large multi-brand foundation services platform (includes Basement Systems, Foundation Supportworks, AquaGuard). Comparable as the dominant scaled player in residential waterproofing and foundation drainage with extensive geographic coverage and significantly greater resources.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Drain Designs social profiles
Digital presenceDrain Designs compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Drain Designs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Drain Designs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Drain Designs subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Drain Designs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Drain Designs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Drain Designs
What does Drain Designs do?
Drain Designs is a residential and commercial drainage contractor that designs, installs, maintains, and repairs custom drainage and foundation waterproofing systems. Its portfolio includes French drains, underground downspout drainage, foundation drainage, basement/crawl space waterproofing, yard drainage, sump pumps, and the patented American Drain System. The company delivers services through a franchise network across North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, and also sells its proprietary American Drain System components directly.
Is Drain Designs a public or private company?
Drain Designs is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Drain Designs founded?
Drain Designs was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Drain Designs based?
Drain Designs is headquartered in Pittsboro, United States, in the North America region.
How does Drain Designs make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Drainage Installation Services are the primary driver. The others are franchise Fees, american Drain Products and drainage System Maintenance.
Who are Drain Designs's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Ohio Basement Authority and Northeast Drainage Solutions. Emerging players are Crawl Space Ninja and French Drain Man. Direct peers are '58 Foundations, Baker's Waterproofing, Acculevel, Basement Systems and JES Foundation Repair. Groundworks is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Drain Designs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Drain Designs.
What industry is Drain Designs in?
Drain Designs's product category is Drainage & Foundation Waterproofing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAIAKAH, French Drains & Yard Drainage Systems (Install/Clean/Repair), with a secondary code of HSAIAKAG, Underground Downspout Drain Lines (Installation, Cleaning & Repair). Its NAICS code is 23822 and its SIC code is 1623.