French Drains

FRENCH DRAIN REPAIR AND INSTALLATION

Everyone knows someone who has a yard that could rival a Louisiana swap. Maybe they let their grass grow tall in one corner for fear of losing the lawnmower to the ever-present mud. Maybe they have mosquitos large enough to take your lunch money. This calls for a French drain system!

Gone are the days of adding truck loads of gravel to secret trenches just below the surface of your yard. We now use a much more efficient product called a corrugated, perforated pipe with a sock. In simpler terms; this is a semi-flexible pipe with thin slits covered by a thin fabric that allows water to seep in but keeps roots and mud out.

This pipe is laid just inches below the surface, sometimes headed by a discreet catch basin for the real trouble spots. The line snakes through your wet areas and ties into your downspout drains or any other available existing drainage like a city storm sewer. Shallow enough to promote drainage but deep enough to allow grass to grow like normal.

Efficient drainage: A significant benefit of a French drain is its ability to move water away from your home or foundation. You can choose where you want the water to go with either an interior or exterior French drain system. Whether you opt to send the water to a sump pump, your septic tank or as part of a French drain system combo, a French drain helps keep your basement dry to prevent potential foundation water damage.

Affordable: A French drain is surprisingly affordable when you compare it with other basement waterproofing techniques.

Transforms your lawn: You can change what would otherwise be a damp, spongy lawn into a garden or a play area for your children.

Fast: Installing a French drain isn't complicated, and the installation process is relatively quick, depending on the complexity and size of the French drain you require.

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 a perforated pipe at the bottom of the trench. 

Water travels freely through the pipe, which empties a safe distance from the house.

Depending on your situation, the water can be diverted to:

• A low-lying area of your property
• A drainage ditch
• A dry well
• The street

Water always flows downhill and by the easiest route possible. 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.