Excelsior Drainage Solutions Experts

"Avlaki Drainage Solutions accomplished a much needed "drainage solution" for our yard later last fall with clear evidence of improvement already this spring. Tom arranged just completed touch up surface revision in fine fashion with a two man crew, both of whom were very cordial and a pleasure to work with including outlining aftercare, particularly the watering plan. Kudos for a job well done!"

"We do not wish drainage issues for anyone's property. However, if you have a drainage issue, just call Avlaki. Our drainage issue was done quickly and professionally. When completed, our property showed no signs of all the deep digging that had been done. But then after several months, we noticed some sinking/settling of the trench area. Well, Tom at Avlaki told us this can happen, since our drainage system was installed very deep, and the dirt was settling. Result: Avlaki came out, NO charge, to pull back the sod, adding & pounding in more dirt, and put back the sod. That's customer service from a professional company! Thanks, Avlaki. The Hansen family; LeSueur County, MN"

"Tom Avlaki’s Drainage team showed up explained exactly what was going to be happening. Nice job enjoyed working with them. Very pleasant group of guys."

"The team was exceptional. So kind and helpful and did exactly what they said they would do. Very communicative throughout the process. I had them do some repairs on my sump pump discharge pipes and relocating discharge pipes. Did an excellent job I would highly recommend."

"Worked with Tom and team on a very complex issue that had been frustrating me for years, with respect to very poor drainage on my property, causing my sump pump to run more or less year round, especially in the spring. After some very good analysis by Tom, we proceeded with his plan, and I'm so excited to say it seems to have solved the problem, and for a very reasonable price! I only wish I'd have engaged Avlaki sooner."

"I live in Chaska, MN and have a very problematic property on a hill with underground streams and water tables. After an interior drain tile project was completed in 2024, we had persistent issues in the summer of 2025. Tom and his team were able to diagnose the problem and repair it in a short period of time. They completed the work on time, at the quoted price, and kept us informed the whole time. I am grateful for the job they did and recommend them to everyone."

"We give Avlaki our highest recommendation. Tom & his crew were so helpful to our family! He answered all our questions professionally, the crew completed the work in timely manner within all applicable city codes and they have very reasonable pricing."

"Highly recommend this company. They work hard and do a great job."

"He puts the water where it belongs"

"We were selling our home, and stressed out about a small spot in the basement that appeared like their could be water coming in. Tom saved the day. Even though he had a busy day, he made time that same day to visit (even texting his ETA throughout the day). He was level-headed, practical, and proposed commonsense solutions. I recommend!"

"Avlaki has taken care of drainage issues for us twice. Both times the crew were efficient and professional. The restoration of our lawn was great. The most recent installation required them to move a number of pavers. When they finished, everything was returned exactly where it was supposed to be. I’ve recommended Avlaki in the past and will continue to do so. Nothing but good things to say about them."

"The Avlaki team did an exceptional job on our project. We would hire them again in a heartbeat. The team was very detail oriented, professional, and best of all when they were finished you didn't even know they dug up half of our yard! Great job boys!!"

"We recently had Avlaki Drainage Solutions bury our sump pump drain line. Great experience from start to finish. Highly recommend! 😊"

"Had some bad drainage issues in my yard. Got a quote promptly. Crew showed up and were professional, polite, knowledgeable and worked incredibly hard. Cannot recommend enough. Very happy with the end product."

"Great Service and their products worked perfectly!"

"Very responsive, on time, no add on charges & crew was excellent and communicated all details. Would definitely recommend."

"Avlaki does great work, they go above and beyond to make sure the customer is satisfied. We had some drainage issues in our back yard and after meeting with several companies, someone recommended Avlaki for our project. Tom came out and helped us figure out a solution…. They are reasonably priced, efficient and polite to work with. If you have any drainage needs, call Tom with Avlaki. They are sure to please!"

"We contacted Tom regarding our drain tile and pump. Tom was very fast to respond to our phone call and set up an appointment quickly. Tom gave great advice and was very professional! I would highly recommend using Tom for your drainage needs. Thank you Avlaki Design!"

"Tom and the Avlaki Drainage crew know what they are doing. They worked together with the landscaping company to make sure there was enough pitch for drainage. They created proper yard drainage, corrected my structural water issue and ran a water collection system to correct my water drainage issues. Thoughtful, caring, dedicated and professional. They discussed the plan with me to help me understand what they were doing and why. I recommend Avlaki Drainage if you are experiencing any type of drainage issue. Tom and his crew did a great job and I am 100% satisfied! Thank you Avlaki Drainage! Chris Erickson"

"Overall awesome company to work with. Everything works as advertised, while excavating the trench along the house for the tile, at 6" the ground was wet, at 12" there was standing water, at 3' there was flowing water, 2 months later they came back to replace a footing on the deck, approx 3' from the back of the house, they dug down 3-4 feet and not a drop of water! There crew was very knowledgeable and polite and answered all my stupid questions and didn't seem to mind me looking over there shoulders. My only complaint is that they do a lousy job of communicating at the company level, of the 4 separate times they were here, we did not receive any notification before hand that they were coming. And while we made it clear from the beginning that we were very flexible, had I known when they were coming I would have done some prep work before they arrived, ie removing the landscape rock in the area effected, that would have resulted in a much cleaner result. With that being said, it would not affect my opinion of the company or my recommendation. I would do business with Avlaki again and would highly recommend them!"

"Tom and crew does a amazing job. Highly recommend!!!"

"Tom did an excellent job explaining to how the drainage systems would work as well as other landscaping ideas that could help. We never felt pressured or that he was “sales’y” like other companies we interviewed. Just felt that he is certainly an expert in his specialty craft and his expertise is worth it. His is a specialist where others are generalists (like landscapers, handymen, etc) who dabble in a lot. Would definitely recommend."

"We've had a very wet spring this year and I'm pretty certain my basement would have flooded more than once. With the system put in place by Avlaki, I didn't get any water in the basement. The solution works."

"I wanted to wait a few weeks before writing a review so I could see how well the water drained from the yard. I'm happy to say the work Avlaki provided eliminated the excess amount of water in our yard! The company was great to work with as well. The owner Tom was very responsive and his crew were all hard working and professional. Even with the amount of water we had, the damage to the lawn was minimal. Highly recommended."

"It was an absolute pleasure to work with Tom and his team. Very professional and courteous staff. It is nice to see that still exists today! Our project was somewhat extensive with excavation needs around a portion of our home. Tom's staff went above and beyond to explain to me what they were doing, why and how our challenges would be mitigated. Once they left, it visually looked like there were never here. What a wonderful experience. I would definitely recommend Tom and Avlaki to anyone. Great job and thank you!!! Home Owner"

"We have had a constant wet backyard and our kids couldn’t play. We tried for years to find someone to fix the problem but no one wanted to tackle the job. I emailed Tom, he came out for an estimate and no hesitation. Job was done amazingly and since, we have been able to play in our backyard! Such a game changer. We will be forever thankful for Tom and his crew!!"

"Logan and his crew did an amazing job with the drain tiling of my backyard. The guys worked hard were professional and courteous, and highly recommend them for your drainage solutions."

"Tom came out to investigate my drainage issue around my pool. Within weeks his crew came with their equipment and installed drains. Everyone was so polite and informative. It was cool to watch them with their machinery. The drains look great and there have been no issues. Thank you guys!"

"Side yard is no longer a swampy mess! Finished right before a massive 4 day rainfall, and we no longer have standing water. Thanks again!"

"We have had water sitting in our yard every spring for years. We have had multiple companies come to our home and all have had the same response "nothing we can do". Tom and Chad were very knowledgeable and not afraid to get their hands dirty. It turned out to be a very solvable issue and they were done in no time. We are very pleased with the turnout!"

"Nothing but great things to say about Avlaki. When our home builder left us high and dry with our drainage issues, Avlaki worked with us to put together a solution that would solve our issues. Tom took the time to answer our questions (I had many) to make sure we were making the right decision. When the work started, the crew that came out was incredibly meticulous from start to finish. Each step along the way I was thoroughly impressed with their professionalism and attention to detail. Despite being hammered by rain, moving heavy machines in and out, hauling dirt, rocks, etc., my yard hardly looks as if anyone was here. They took the time to make sure they did as little damage as possible to existing turf, and repaired everything they could as they worked. Now, when the rain stops, I can be confident that the water will quickly move out and leave us with a dry and usable yard."

"Our sump pump was running constantly due to poor drainage in our backyard - Thank you for fixing root of the problem! Tom was a pleasure to work with and we would recommend Avlaki to anyone!"

"Our ballpark drainage system had some issues, and the original installer couldn't help us timely. We put in a call to Avlaki & they came to help timely! They helped formulate a plan & worked to get our tile lines cleaned out & flowing. Avlaki will be the first drainage company we call from now on!"

"Tom and his crew were top notch! His crew was very timely, professional, and extremely knowledgeable-especially when we ran into a little surprise during the process. Communication (on their end) throughout the entire process was also fantastic! Once the job was complete (we had a new drain tile added), the crew did such a great job re-doing the landscaping, you’d never know we had work done. Thanks again guys!"

"We've built several new homes over the last 15 years and have worked with many different landscapers. While we've had some decent ones, Avlaki has by far been the best. Making the surroundings of a home look good are one thing. Making it also function and grow properly from a draining and planting standpoint are quite another. When doing landscaping, it's imperative you consider all the aspects. Everyone may tell you they know what they're doing but few seem to have the know-how to cover all the bases. As an example, Avlaki has significantly more drainage expertise than anyone we've worked with. They go the extra mile and explain things to you so you understand things. They also guarantee it will be done right and even show up to check months later without telling you. How often do you see proactivity like that these days? If you're still considering who to go with, look no further. Avlaki has you covered and at significantly more reasonable prices given what they do! John"

"Had the pleasure of working with the Avlaki team at an HOA in Edina on a drainage project. Their office team was quick and easy to communicate with. Their on-site team were extremely knowledgeable and able to identify all issues throughout the property and propose solutions to fix all of the issues. I greatly appreciate their expertise and hope to work with them again in the future!"

"I've had a trouble spot in my yard since we've moved in and really wanted it done for 5 years. Called Avlaki after seeing some other reviews and confident facebook posts about ridding other's yards of water and drying them out. Well, we're in a drought right now so it won't get very tested right now, but they were professional and very thorough. You can tell by how the drain is built that this thing will last! You can really hardly tell they were here and also the crew and Tom were very enjoyable to work with and ask my questions to throughout the process. I highly recommend to all."

"⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Avlaki Drainage did an outstanding job at my home in Lakeville. Tom and his team were professional, courteous, and extremely careful throughout the entire process. I had ongoing issues with water pooling around and under my foundation, and their team resolved everything efficiently and with great attention to detail. It’s clear they take pride in their work and truly care about doing things the right way. As someone who works with many contractors in my line of work, I can confidently say Avlaki stands out for their quality and professionalism. Highly recommended! Ivan Escalante"

"Tom Malinski was great to work with. I had a problem with water exiting from my sump pump outside. Logan and his team installed a 4 inch PVC pipe to direct the water to the end of my lot. Very professional crew. Replaced the sod after installation. Highly recommend."