Where should a French drain be placed?
Dig a trench along the outside of your footing. The trench should be at least 2 feet wide, and can be as deep as 6 feet for a basement or as shallow as two feet for a slab-on-grade home. Lay the pipe on the virgin soil.Feb 15, 2021
How close to the house do you put a French drain?
How Close Should a French Drain be to the House? A good rule of thumb is to install french drains 3 feet from the house. Make sure to measure around the porch, patio and deck.
Where do French drains drain to?
Crews cut a channel around the perimeter of your basement floor, chip out the concrete, and install perforated pipe all the way around. The water flows to a collection tank sunk into the floor, and a sump pump sends it out to the yard or a storm drain.
Can French drains be installed anywhere?
A French drain is a trench filled with gravel with a perforated pipe at its center. You can install them anywhere you have issues with pooling or standing water as long as it's in gravel or dirt or beneath the concrete.
Does French drain need an outlet?
A properly designed French drain system does not require an outlet. The water will simply soak into the soil as it flows along the perforated pipe. In fact, a French drain doesn't require an inlet on just one end either. You can construct the drain to accept water along its length, and disperse it underground.Sep 2, 2021
Why do french drains fail?
Over time, a French drain may become clogged. Tiny soil and clay granules slip through the pores of the landscape fabric and gradually build up inside the pipe. Another common cause of French drain clogs is root intrusion from grass, shrubs, and trees.
How do I put drainage in my yard?
5 Yard Drainage Solutions You Can Do YourselfReduce Your Watering Schedule. ... Extend Your Downspout. ... Dig a Creek Bed or Swale. ... Construct a Rain Garden. ... Install a French Drain and/or Dry Well.Aug 14, 2019
How do you install a French drain in your backyard?
1:143:38How to Install a French Drain | The Home Depot - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipArea your trench should measure 18 inches deep and 9 to 12 inches wide french drains require a oneMoreArea your trench should measure 18 inches deep and 9 to 12 inches wide french drains require a one percent grade. So your drain should slope down at least one inch for every 10 feet of pipe.
How shallow can a French drain be?
DIGGING A TRENCH FOR A FRENCH DRAIN 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.Sep 18, 2020
How deep should a French drain be around a foundation?
French drain depth: About 8 inches to 2 feet deep should be sufficient for many water-diverting projects, though related systems, such as those built around foundations and sub-ground living spaces, as well as the bases of retaining walls, may be deeper.
How much does it cost to install a French drain in a house?
According to Fixr, the average French drain costs $4,500. An exterior drain located fairly close to the surface could cost as little as $1,000, or $25 per linear foot on average. Drains installed under your basement floor could cost $2,000 or more. Expect to pay $60 to $70 per linear foot for installation.Mar 8, 2021
How much does a channel drain cost?
Trench or channel drains typically cost between $30 and $100 per linear foot, but more complex installs, like drains that run underneath driveways, cost about $150 per linear foot. The total price tag of the trough or channel will vary depending on its length and the type of material used.Nov 15, 2021
What is a French drain?
A French drain, also called a curtain drain, is made by placing a perforated pipe in a trench that has been filled with gravel. It is a great option if you want to direct surface water away from your home’s foundation to remove surface water or to prevent flooding. [2]
How to get rid of a drain?
The spot will need to be downhill enough for the water to run away from the problem area. In general, the drain will need to have a 1-2 percent s lope drop for every 100 feet (30 m) of length.
How to keep fabric in place?
9. Place a thin layer of gravel over the fabric to keep it in place. Spread a light load of gravel with a shovel over the top of the fabric. This will help the corners of the fabric warp around the gravel, securing it in place.
Who is Benjamin Hansen?
This article was co-authored by Benjamin Hansen. Benjamin Hansen is a Landscape Contractor and the Owner of Artscape Gardens, a boutique landscaping company in Los Angeles, California. With over 12 years of experience, Benjamin specializes in transforming properties into aesthetic, functional, and drought-tolerant oases. Benjamin uses color scheme, dimension, and water conscious spaces to inspire the design and installation of soft scape, hardscape, patios, pathways, irrigation, drainage, fencing, concrete, lighting, and electrical work. Artscape Gardens covers all areas of the C-27 landscape contractor classification. This article has been viewed 55,985 times.
What is a French drain?
While surface drains are appropriate when water is pooling in one specific, smaller areas, French drains are the answer to pooling water over larger stretches of your yard. For instance, if you have large amounts of water sitting along the property line in a side yard between you and your neighbor, a French drain is likely the solution.
How deep should a French drain be?
A French drain should be at least 6-8 inches deep to protect it from erosion and digging. However, the depth of a French drain will vary and may need to be several feet under the ground depending on the slope needed to ensure water flows properly through the drainage pipe.
How much slope do you need for a French drain?
A French drain system will need to be installed with at least a 1% slope in the direction you need the water to flow. Without a slope, water will collect in the drainage pipe and sit there rather than move toward your pop-up valve or exit point.
What is a French drain?
A landscaping French drain is a gravel-filled trench that's lined with landscape fabric to keep soil and silt out of the gravel. While some types of these drains include a perforated drain pipe (also called drain tile) and may be covered with grass, the traditional French drain is simpler with no drain pipe and gravel running all ...
How does a French drain work?
With a French drain, surface water flows into the trench, where it freely moves through the gravel. The bottom of the trench is sloped slightly , so gravity carries the water to an exit point at the end of the trench. At the exit point, the water can be collected in a large swale or a dry well, or it can simply flow into a suitable drainage area ...
How steep should a French drain be?
A French drain must be sloped to carry the water down to its destination. A minimum slope of 1 percent (that is, a drop of 1 foot for every 100 feet in length ) is recommended. It's fine if your yard creates a natural slope that is steeper; just be aware that steepness increases water velocity and can lead to more erosion in the discharge area.
How to check drainage in yard?
Check with your city's building authority to make sure your plans conform to local law. Call 8-1-1 (the national "Call Before You Dig," or " Dig Safe ," hotline) to have all underground utility lines marked on your property. This is essential before doing any digging.
How deep should a trench be?
Remember, you're measuring into the trench, not to the ground surface. Make the trench as deep as desired. For example, a 50-foot-long trench might be 8 to 10 inches deep at the starting end and 14 to 16 inches deep at the exit point (assuming the natural slope is relatively flat).
How to line a trench with landscape fabric?
Line the trench with landscape fabric using a continuous swath if possible. Otherwise, overlap pieces of fabric by at least 12 inches and secure the ends with fabric staples driven into the ground with a hammer. Secure both ends of the fabric with staples.
Who is David Beaulieu?
Written by. David Beaulieu. David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. Learn about The Spruce's Editorial Process. David Beaulieu.
What is a French drain?
Officially a French drain is a gravel drain with no pipe. The water just collects in and travels through in a gravel or stone filled channel that starts from the surface or just below it. But in modern times, and for practical purposes, we will consider a French drain to include a drainage pipe in the gravel. ...
How wide should a French drain trench be?
Another difference you will notice here is that while other drainage guides recommend fairly narrow trenches for their French Drains - often only 6 inches wide - my recommendation is that your trenches be between 8 and 12 inches wide for the following reasons: A wider French drain will last longer.
Why does my French drain fail?
French drains only fail when the gravel becomes full of clay or soil particles or when the drainage pipe becomes full of soil or roots. By using the above items you will maximize the life of your French drain system and make it possible to easily clean it out with a Roto-Rooter or sewer snake if it does become plugged.
What is the purpose of a drain?
The purpose of a drain is to direct pooling surface and subsurface water where you need it to go. Having a drain pipe, most commonly a 4" or 6" perforated pipe surrounded by round drain rock provides the capacity to move this water away from structures and prevent pooling.
What happens when a drain is flat?
No Slope: When the pipe is completely flat, water requires more energy to move through the drain. Zero slope systems will not allow sub-surface water to drain properly.#N#Low Spots: Be mindful to avoid low spots or dips in your trench. Pooling can occur, increasing the retained water within the drainage line. This kind of pooling can be extremely problematic as it attracts one of the most detrimental things to drains... tree roots. Tree roots naturally seek out moisture in order to promote growth and are attracted to the standing water in your drain. Once roots enter the system they will block flow and reduce effectiveness.#N#A properly built French drain that has low spots and retains water will NOT stop tree roots. These roots can and will gradually grow through the fabric destroying the integrity of your system as they seek moisture. Its important that all of the water is able to dissipate, avoiding the invasion of roots, vermin, and bugs.#N#Negative Slope: A less common but still undesirable pipe position is when the trench and/or pipe has a negative grade. This condition makes it impossible for water to flow through the pipe. The water table in the ground has to rise to a high enough level of saturation in order for it to flow through the system. Negative slope in your drainage pipe is bad if the goal is to drain away from a building as the negative slope can draw water back towards a structure or foundation, making things worse.#N#Good Slope: Greater than 1% grade slope is ideal for your trench. This will allow water to drain away from the inlet and ensure gravity does all the work to distribute it along your drain lines.
What is woven fabric?
Woven landscape fabrics typically have a greater pull strength, but in general do not provide a high flow rate, making for poor drainage. Woven fabrics are commonly found as ground cover for weeds, and also under gravel driveway and paved road construction where strength is needed.
Can gutters drain into the ground?
It is not uncommon to have gutter downspouts drain directly into an in -ground drainage field. A drain system can be overwhelmed with incoming water during heavy rain, or sheet rain, causing a flood of water to enter the drainage system.
Can you use a sock wrapped drain pipe?
If round rock stone isn't available in your area and crushed stone is the only practical option then its recommended to use a sock wrapped drainpipe.#N#The sock material will prevent the fines from the crushed rock from clogging up the inlet holes in your perforated or slotted pipe.
What is a French drain?
A true French drain is very simple. It consists of a trench that is filled with gravel and then surrounded by some sort of landscaping fabric. Most modern homes use a slightly variant form of the French drain called a curtain drain. This version consists of a perforated pipe that sits inside the gravel-filled trench.
Why install a French drain?
Installing a French drain can create better drainage in your yard by keeping water away from your house and foundation. It can also help to prevent standing water, drain puddles that damage your grass and plants, and stop leaks from infiltrating your basement or washroom.
