French Drain Installation

This article is a do it yourself tutorial on French drain installation. Of all the French related things, you might not have heard about the French drain. French drains were invented by Henry French who lived in Concord, Massachusetts, in the 19th century. Now that I have explained the 'French' connection, let us understand what they really do and how French drains work? French drains are really a very simple and ingenious method of draining out water from clogged areas. Now, in its modern form, French drain style has been modified and most of the errors of the old style have been removed. It can effectively solve your local water clogging problems. Let us get into the details of how to build a French drain.

How Does a French Drain Installation Work?

A French drain installation in crude form is a sloping ground trench, filled with gravel, such that it directs water away from clogged areas, as water percolates through it. Modern French drain installations have a perforated pipe built into the ditches and covered with soil and sods. So basically, French drains work on gravity! The gradual slope helps in draining water away. Building a French drain is an established way of saving building foundations from water penetration problems.

Here I will tell you about ideas, methods, precautions, advantages and disadvantages of French drain installation. First, note down the tools you will need to dig and install a proper French drain.

Installation Tools

If you are going for a French drain installation on your own, then following are the tools you need:

• Tape
• Landscape Fabric
• Sand
• Gravel
• Sod
• String
• Two Stakes
• Spade, of course!

For digging, you may use other mechanized tools like 'Trenchers', which surprisingly, are not used for digging trenches. The method of French drain installation, that I will inform you here is the simplest I know.

Installation Instructions

French drain construction is a job to be executed with care. Here is a stepwise guide to French drain installation:

Step 1: Scouting for a water rerouting spot

The first thing to do is to determine, which spot you are going to drain the excess water to. It needs to be a spot with sandy soil through which the water can seep down easily. Take help from a surveyor to determine the right spot for the drain outlet. This may save you from litigation in case, you unknowingly damage somebody's property by draining water there! After determining the spot, plan the path for the drainage trench.

Step 2: Get Digging Go-Ahead

Check with the local authorities for any underground cables that might be damaged because of falling on your digging route. Nowadays, there is a facility available called 'Dig Safe Phone number' provided by civic authorities. There you can check out for underground installations that might be damaged and get a go ahead from them. It is absolutely necessary that you do so!

Step 3: Plot Trench Line Route

Next, find and plan a path for the French drain to run down. For that, you must consider the topology of the area around the house. French drains work under gravity. That is its necessary they have a slope. Otherwise, water will not drain out easily. So find a path along the sloping area of the property. If a pronounced slope does not exist, you have to create your own slope. This can be done by designing a sloped trench of a specific grade. A grade is measured in percentage. For example, a grade of 1% would be a drop in altitude of 1 foot every 100 feet. A grade of 1% is indeed recommended for French drain installations.

Step 4: Start Digging and Maintain Grade

So accordingly, mark the path of your drain and start digging the trench. The width of the drain will be decided by the magnitude of the moisture problem you are facing. If the amount of water clogging is very high, then dig a wide trench. If the problem is low, dig one with a smaller width.

Measure depth of the drain at regular intervals, so that the proper grade of slope is maintained. Fix two stakes at the beginning and end of the trench path. Tie a string that connects the two stakes along the ground and make sure it is taut. As you go on digging, check the depth with reference to this string.

Digging is indeed a tough job, but the best part about it is, that you have to do it only once!

Step 5: Put the Landscape Fabric and Gravel In

Once the digging is done, cover the trench with landscape fabric. Pour the gravel in to the trench. Spread it evenly over the entire length of the trench. Cover it again with landscape fabric. With this, your French drain trench is ready. Cover the rest of the trench with soil and put sod over it. From a landscaping point of view, the sods cover the drain effectively and the beauty of your lawn need not be ruined. With the completion of this step, your French drain construction is over and done with!

Hope this article has given you a clear idea of how to install a French drain. It is a simple and straightforward solution to your water logging problems near your house!