Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair – 405 203 9419

 

French Drain Repair

Over time a French Drain may start to perform poorly.  It may quit working entirely.  This is due to many possible reasons.

Tree roots may be the issue.  Dirt may clog the perforated pipe.  The French Drainpipe may have become damaged as well.

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair has been Servicing and Repairing French Drains since 1993.  Over time almost everything needs service.

 

In the past 33 years,

Oklahoma Drainage has designed and installed a large number of Drainage Systems.  For the most part, we have utilized French Drains and Surface Drains of many different shapes and sizes.  In two decades, we have built up a high level of experience diagnosing Drainage Problems.  We know what to look for, what to expect, and how to approach a wide variety of situations where water is in a harmful or undesirable place.

Oklahoma Drainage installs many types of Drains in a wide variety of places. 

Here are a few of them.

French Drain Installation

along foundations near walls –  behind retaining walls –  in and around flower beds –  in basements –  near sidewalks and along driveways –  pool decks and around swimming pools – on hillsides and on slopes to protect building and homes –

Surface Drain Installation

in sidewalks set in concrete –  in driveway set in concrete –  on side of house to catch water from gutter downspout – in basement with Sump Pump inside to pump out the water – in low spot in yard to handle a moderate amount of water – next to driveway to catch water run-off –  next to sidewalk to catch water run-off – connected to gutter down-spout –

Just what is a “French Drain?” 

Many times people incorrectly use the phrase, “French Drain,” to apply to many different types of Drains that could be used in a Drainage System.   The term is widely used and many times incorrectly connected to “Surface Drains,” or “Channel Drains.”

A Surface Drain has a grate that sits on top of a basin.  The basin is underground.  A Drainpipe is connected underground to an outlet on the Drain Basin.  Stormwater Drains through the grate into the Drain Basin.  Once in the Drain Basin, water travels out of the basin through a Drainpipe. 

The Stormwater

continues downhill in an underground Drainpipe to an exit point. A Surface Drain may come in many different shapes or sizes.  It is a Drain Basin with a Drain Grate on top and a Drainpipe connected on the side.  The Drain Grate may be round or square.

A Channel Drain is a type of Surface Drain, and many times is installed in concrete across sidewalks or driveways.  It is long and narrow with a grate on top. Channel Drain installed in a sidewalk by a front door.

A French Drain is completely different from a Surface Drain. 

A basic French Drain

consists of a Perforated Drainpipe in the bottom of a trench.  A Trench Liner is sometimes used depending on the Drainage System Design and the type of soil.

The Drainpipe should have a neoprene sock around the Perforated Drainpipe.   This is to ensure that the Drainpipe does not become clogged.

A trench is dug that is slightly wider than the French Drainpipe that is being used. 

There are several sizes of French Drainpipe.

  Three Inch, Four Inch, and Six Inch are the most common sizes of French drainpipe.

The dirt that is taken out to make the trench is hauled away.  It is replaced by some type of small stone or gravel depending on what is desired or available. 

I prefer crushed 1 inch limestone.  It is the most economical option in my area.  Pea Gravel or some other type of small stone can work just as well.    The limestone or gravel is placed in the trench on top of the perforated Drainpipe and filled all the way to the surface (ground level).  

Trench Liner

In some cases where the French Drain needs to be deep, or is being placed in sandy soil, a special trench liner must be placed in the trench before the perforated Drainpipe or the Gravel are installed.  This helps maintain the integrity of the trench over time.  It also increases the cost of the French Drain and the amount of time to install it.  I install a trench liner in a French Drain Every time.

 A French Drain is designed to handle a large volume of water and cover a large area. The Drain is anyplace the trench goes. It has many applications and can be used in many situations.  It can be installed by itself or incorporated into a Drainage System with Surface Drains or Gutter Down-Spouts connected to it. 

The main downfall

of a French Drain is that they, for the most part isn’t very pretty.  They don’t look very nice in a yard once they are completed.

Depending on the area the French Drain is installed and the type of grass around the French Drain, will dictate whether grass grows over the limestone.  Grass can grow up and through the gravel in the French Drain over time eventually covering the gravel.  This is OK.  It won’t have a measurable effect on the performance of the drain.

DONT COVER THE GRAVEL IN THE FRENCH DRAIN WITH DIRT.  THE FRENCH DRAIN WON’T WORK IF THE TRENCH IS CLOGGED WITH DIRT.  DON’T EVEN INSTALL IT IF YOU ARE GOING TO COVER IT UP WITH DIRT.

DECORATIVE STONE CAN BE USED TO COVER A FRENCH DRAIN AND THEY LOOK GREAT AND LAST A LONG TIME.