Full Answer
How much does an exterior French drain cost?
French Drains. Exterior French drains cost $10 to $50 per linear foot on average but you may pay up to $100 per linear foot for complex installs. Ranges depend on where you put it. For example, a surface drain in easy to access areas, like a yard, cost far less than excavating to the base of a foundation and adding a sump pump. ...
How much does it cost to install a French drain?
What Are The Costs Of French Drain Installation? The national average cost to install a French drain is typically between $2,000 and $15,000. Your particular price will depend on the type of drain and the difficulty of excavation. An interior French drain usually costs around $60 per linear foot.
How to make a basement French drain?
Steps Download Article
- Plot out and mark the path of the French drain. The drain should run about 1 foot (or 30 cm) away from the basement's exterior wall.
- Dig out the floor of your basement along the path of the drain. ...
- Grade the bottom of the trench. ...
- Place the French drain piping into the trench with the perforations facing down.
What is a French drain and how does it work?
What Is A French Drain System, And How Does It Function? Simply put, a French drain helps collect and redirect water. Its design consists of a wide perforated pipe laid on the ground and covered with porous sand, gravel, or rock materials. To make such a drain efficiently direct water away, it needs to be angled downwards away from the area ...
How does an exterior French drain work?
French drains provide an easy channel for water to flow through. Water runs into a gravel-filled trench, then into perforated pipe at the bottom of the trench. Water travels freely through the pipe, which empties a safe distance from the house.
What is the difference between an interior and exterior French drain?
These systems don't require any trenches to be dug in the yard as exterior drainage systems do. Instead, a drain pipe is installed and covered with gravel at the bottom of the wall and filled with cement. Interior drainage systems work by collecting water from where the floor and wall meet.
How much does an exterior French drain cost?
The average cost to install French drains range from $2,800 to $6,500. Costs can be as low as $500 for a 50 linear foot drain in an exterior location to as high as $18,000 for an extensive 100 linear foot perimeter drain to stop basement flooding.
What is the difference between a French drain and a regular drain?
The main difference between the two is that French drains capture and remove groundwater while trench drains quickly remove surface water before it can saturate the ground. Here's a closer look at each type of drain.
Are Exterior French drains effective?
Both exterior and interior French drains provide effective protection against flooding and water damage in your basement. Yet, due to the costs and difficulty of installing and servicing an exterior drain on existing houses, it may be better to install interior drains.
Will an exterior French drain prevent water in basement?
French drains don't prevent water from getting into your basement. Instead, they take water under and around your home and channel it away from the foundation before it has a chance to find its way inside.
Do French drains increase home value?
French drains can also add value to your home, which is a huge bonus if you know you are planning to put it on the market in the future.
What can I do instead of a French drain?
5 Alternatives to French DrainsSump Pumps.Dry Wells. A dry well can add drainage without the need for an electrical or sewage line connection. ... Stairs, Steps or a Ramp. ... Landscaping. ... Valleys or Ditches. ... Gutters.
How long will a French drain last?
approximately 30 to 40 yearsGenerally speaking, a French drain will last approximately 30 to 40 years. However, the above-mentioned factors may shorten its life cycle and it must then be replaced by a team of foundation experts.
When should you not use a French drain?
They Don't Work in All Types of Soil Most importantly, French drains won't work in all parts of the country. There are three types of dirt possible on your property: loose dirt made of sand particles, average dirt made of loam (a mixture of sand, silt, and clay), and compacted, heavy dirt made of clay particles.
What does it cost to have a French drain installed?
between $5,000 and $13,500On average, homeowners can expect to pay between $5,000 and $13,500 to have a French drain installed in the home. The required size of the drain will also play a role in the cost—most basements will need between 100 and 150 feet of installed French drain.
Do French drains attract mosquitoes?
As great as french drains are for moving water, the water basins that serve as inlets are perfect breeding grounds for mosquitos. They are dark, wet, and usually undisturbed except during a rainfall.
What is an interior French drain?
An interior French Drain is a trench providing a channel for the water to flow through and into a sump pump basin. The trench is filled with gravel as well as perforated pipe, in which the water runs freely and then empties at a safe distance from your home.
Is exterior or interior waterproofing better?
Although this method does involve some excavation, it can be well worth it. Exterior waterproofing is also more expensive than interior waterproofing, because it requires more work and more material, but it efficiently stops water from getting close to the foundation of your home.
How long do interior French drains last?
How long do french drains last? Properly installed drains use advanced plastic sheeting called geotextile to protect the drainpipe from a blockage. French drains can last decades before needing maintenance. If your home requires a sump pump, a high-quality model will last around ten years before needing replacement.
Do interior drains work?
Interior Drain Tile Systems No damage is done to the home, the landscaping, or foundation. Cost-Effective and Low Maintenance: When it comes to waterproofing a basement, installing an interior drainage system is far less disruptive and installs without the long-term need to regrade the soil around your home.
Move standing water away from your yard by installing a French drain system
Timothy Dale is a home repair expert and writer with over a decade of hands-on construction and home improvement experience. He is skilled in residential, commercial, industrial and institutional plumbing, electrical, carpentry, installation, renovations, and project management.
French Drain Systems
The French drain was detailed in an 1859 book written by Henry French, a judge and farmer who lived in Concord, Massachusetts. He helped to popularize the idea specifically to drain excess water away from crop fields in order to improve the crop yield and prevent flooding.
How French Drains Work
The basic principle of a French drain is to provide a path of least resistance for water to follow instead of building up and flooding the soil. This is achieved with a hollow, perforated drainage pipe that can collect and carry the water from the yard to a designated drainage location, like a municipal wastewater drain or a rain bucket.
When to Use French Drain Systems
Before deciding to start trenching the yard, it's important to understand when a French drain system is beneficial and how it can help to improve common problems caused by heavy rain, excess groundwater, and melting ice or snow.
Cost of Installing a French Drain
Another factor to keep in mind before installing a French drain is the cost of materials, as well as any costs associated with hiring a professional to complete this work. While this task can be handled by an experienced DIYer, many people may prefer to have the system professionally installed to ensure that it will work effectively.
WHAT IS A FRENCH DRAIN?
It sounds elegant but in reality, it’s nothing more sophisticated than a gravel-lined ditch with an embedded pipe that carries water away from the home.
How do French drains work?
Counterintuitive though it may be, French drains work by allowing water to flow into them from below. Wrap landscaping fabric around the pipe to keep dirt and roots from obstructing the system.
What is the difference between PVC and flexible drain pipe?
PVC lasts longer, and if you encounter a clog, it can be cleaned with pressure or a plumber’s snake. Flexible pipe , on the other hand, is less expensive and easier to work with. Advertisement.
How deep should a French drain be?
Because there is a direct relationship between the diameter of a drain pipe and its relative effectiveness, make your trench no smaller than 12 inches wide, and aim for a depth between 18 and 24 inches. If you’re installing a French drain around your foundation to prevent basement moisture, take care to position the pipe below slab or finished floor level.
Can you wrap a pipe with landscaping fabric?
Instead of wrapping pipe with landscaping fabric, you can buy a flexible perforated pipe that comes encased in water-permeable fabric.
What is a French drain?
At its basic level, a French drain system is a ditch lined with gravel and inset with a perforated pipe that drains water from one place to another. Usually, it diverts water to someplace like a drainage ditch, storm drain, or sewage system. French drains are commonly installed in basements to prevent flooding or in yards to prevent standing water.
Why are French drains called perimeter drains?
French drains are sometimes called perimeter drains because they often run the length and width of the edges of the basement, where water seeps in.
How much does a French drain cost?
The cost of a French drain is between $30 and $100 per linear foot on average for labor and materials. To calculate linear feet for a basement installation, simply add up the full length of the perimeter. A 36’ by 24’ foot basement would be 120 linear feet — 36 +24 +36 +24.
When installing a French drain outside, do you call 811?
When you’re installing a French drain outdoors, don’t forget to call 811 before you dig. You’ll want utility markers that make sure you don’t cut straight across a gas line or other utility when your trench is being dug.
Can a French drain damage a foundation?
Indeed, a French drain that gets rid of too much water can also damage your foundation, so you need an expert to get the balance right.
Do French drains cost more?
The harder it is to access the area and install the drain, the more you’ll pay. For instance, an outdoor French drain that merely requires digging will be on the lower end of the price range. A basement French drain that requires cutting into concrete and establishing a pipeline to the outdoors will cost more.
What Is A French Drain?
A French Drain is a pipe that collects and directs water. A wide, perforated pipe placed in the ground collects excess water and drains it away from the affected area. The pipe is covered with gravel or rock so that it’s not visible, and it’s angled downward to make sure drainage is smooth.
Why is my French drain angled downward?
The pipe is covered with gravel or rock so that it’s not visible, and it’s angled downward to make sure drainage is smooth. Open ditches and stormwater drains manage rain-flow and excess water near roads, but you don’t want an open ditch near your building or house. A French Drain system is less open, but still allows water to drain ...
What is a collector and interceptor drain?
Collector and Interceptor drains direct groundwater and surface run-off towards the same drain. It quickly handles surface water to prevent flooding or ground upheaval, but should have a filter because of the shifting earth and debris. Otherwise, you have problems with the pipe further down the line.
Can you nick a gas line while burying a French drain?
Nicking a gas line or sewage pipe while you’re burying a French Drain can cost you a chunk of change to fix and ruin the goodwill of your neighbors.
Do all French drains look the same?
Not all French Drains look the same. Depending on your needs, you have a few options. Traditional French Drains, sometimes called Curtain Drains, follow the directions above. They use gravel and perforated pipe to collect water and it’s covered in earth and vegetation. They’re the least obstructive.
Can I Install A French Drain Myself?
We are huge fans of DIY, but we recommend you call a professional to install a French Drain. Here’s 4 reasons why it is important to find a professional you can trust:
What is a French Drain?
A plastic drain pipe in a gravel-filled trench that removes excess ground water.
Why do you put fabric around a drain pipe?
Install fabric around your pipe to prevent rocks from entering the pipe and to help prevent clogging of the drain holes. There is fabric called a sock that fits perfectly around the pipe and is easily pulled over the pipe during pipe installation.
How to move dirt off a trench?
Tip: A trenching tool throws dirt off to the side. Lay pieces of old plywood or a heavy tarp alongside your trench location to catch dirt and make it easier to move it to another location.
What is water-permeable landscape fabric?
Water-permeable landscape fabric to prevent silt and roots from entering the drain pipe
How much does it cost to rent a trenching tool?
Rent a trenching tool. A gas-powered, walk-behind trenching tool will cut a trench up to 18 inches deep and 24 inches wide. Cost: $125 to $200 per day. (You’ll need a way to get the tool back and forth to your property.)
How deep should a French drain be?
Parts of a French Drain. A trench at least 12 inches wide and 18 to 24 inches deep; larger trenches provide better drainage and last longer, but require more work. Washed drainage gravel (figure the amount needed with a gravel calculator) Water-permeable landscape fabric to prevent silt and roots from entering the drain pipe.
How to move dirt off a trench?
Tip: A trenching tool throws dirt off to the side. Lay pieces of old plywood or a heavy tarp alongside your trench location to catch dirt and make it easier to move it to another location.
What is water-permeable landscape fabric?
Water-permeable landscape fabric to prevent silt and roots from entering the drain pipe
What is a French drain?
That’s the basic concept behind a French drain, a slightly sloped trench filled with round gravel and a pipe that diverts water away from your house. By the way, the name doesn’t come from the country.
How does a French drain work?
How a French Drain Works. French drains provide an easy channel for water to flow through. Water runs into a gravel-filled trench, then into perforated pipe at the bottom of the trench. Water travels freely through the pipe , which empties a safe distance from the house.
What is a footing drain?
Also called a footing drain, it runs around the perimeter of the house at the footing level and intercepts water before it can enter your basement. It’s easy to install during house construction, but much more difficult and expensive to add later.
How deep should a drain be?
This type of drain doesn’t have to be very deep -- a common size is 2 feet deep and 1.5 feet across. Where the drain passes through areas with trees or shrubs, switch to solid pipe (not perforated) to reduce the risk of roots growing into the piping and clogging it.
How deep is a curtain drain?
It intercepts water and channels it around the soggy spot. This type of drain doesn’t have to be very deep -- a common size is 2 feet deep and 1.5 feet across.
What is the patching material for a channel?
The channel is patched with a thin layer of concrete, except for a small gap at the edge to catch any water that dribbles down the wall.
When do you need a French drain?
When You Need a French Drain. When you have a problem with surface water, such as a soggy lawn or a driveway that washes out. If water is getting into your basement. If you’re building a retaining wall on a hillside.