French Drains 101: How Well-Placed Trenches and Pipes Can Keep Your Property Dry
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Solve flooding or puddling problems in your yard or basement by installing a French drain.
Things with “French” in the title are usually fancy, right? Poodles, perfume, pastries. But a French drain has a more utilitarian purpose—redirecting standing water away from vulnerable structures or areas and toward more desirable places, such as the municipal storm drain or an underground rain barrel or cistern. “A proper French drain prevents damage, keeps yards usable, and can last 20-plus years,” according to Steve Schumacher, owner-operator of Boston Landscape in Stoneham, Massachusetts.
What is a French drain?
A French drain is a ditch in sloped ground, inset with a perforated pipe under a layer of gravel. From the surface, a French drain looks like a rock drainage ditch, and when done well, like a nice hardscaping element. You can identify a French drain on your property by finding the exposed end of pipe or a grate covering a pipe at the top of a downward slope.
How do French drains work?
The elements of a French drain are all designed to allow water to pass through easily, preventing it from pooling; the drain is angled in such a way as to draw water away from the trouble spots. Water passes through the gravel or stone, through the holes in the perforated pipe, and into the pipe, which carries the water to a drainage area in the yard or the municipal sewer system.
Landscaping fabric is sometimes wrapped around the pipe, allowing water to pass through while preventing weeds, dirt, and other debris from clogging the holes.
Signs You Might Need a French Drain
If water tends to pool in a particular low spot on your property after a rainstorm, a French drain in your yard would alleviate that problem.
If water regularly seeps into your basement or foundation, you can install French drains around the perimeter of the foundation to collect and redirect the water away from the house.
When You Shouldn’t Install a French Drain System
While a French drain can be the solution for some swampy yards, it’s not the answer to every drainage problem. Here are some instances where you shouldn’t install a French drain.
- Your property lacks adequate slope to redirect water. If the slope isn’t steep enough to allow the French drain to direct water away from the house, it will simply pool in the French drain ditch, adding to your home’s drainage woes.
- You don’t have a satisfactory location to divert the water to. The system should drain into a waste area, a street, a municipal drainpipe, or a suitable spot in the landscape (such as near a tree or into a rain garden); it should not drain into your neighbor’s yard.
- Your project is longer than 50 feet. “With the right materials and installation, a DIYer can handle 50 feet or less,” says Schumacher. “For larger jobs, call in an expert.”
How much does a French drain cost?
A DIY French drain can cost $1,500 and up to install, depending on the length of the drain, whether you have to rent a trencher, and other factors. Hiring a professional team to do this task can quickly push up the price to $10,000 or more. The expense, however, is typically worth the investment, according to Schumacher. “I’ve seen systems protect $10,000-plus in property value,” he says. “For the cost, it’s a simple solution that pays off hugely.”
Installing a French Drain in the Basement
A French drain can also provide a solution for basements that admit water through the foundation. In these “wet” basements, water presses against the foundation and gradually leaks through. A French drain allows that water to be rerouted and deposited elsewhere.
If water continues to invade your basement despite seemingly adequate outdoor drainage, you might need to install a French drain indoors. Installation involves cutting a trench in the basement slab along the perimeter of the foundation, laying pipe in the trench, and putting in a sump pump to move water from the interior to the exterior. This is typically a job for a professional.
How to Build a French Drain: An Overview
Tools & Materials
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