We solve all types of unwanted water problems in and around your home or business. Oklahoma Drainage Provides: Drainage System Installation utilizing French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, and Sump Pumps
.
If you need a French Drain along an exterior wall, or a surface drain installed in concrete in a sidewalk or driveway, or a sump pump in a basement, we can help. There are literally thousands of specific drain installation applications.
Hard rain and flooding seem to be more common all the time. When I started this business in 1993, having over an inch of rainfall in an hour was pretty extreme. Now having over 4 inch an hour rainfall is not unheard of and is becoming more common.
Protecting our homes and businesses from unwanted water should be a goal for all of us.
Oklahoma Drainage has seen and dealt with virtually every possible Drainage and Standing water problem that can occur in or around your home. With over 2700 Drainage Systems installed since 1993; we have amassed a great deal of experience. This is helpful in seeing underlying problems.
We look for Secondary Water Issues not just the Primary ones. In this business EXPERIENCE TRULY COUNTS!
Hiring your brother- in- law or a Landscape Company to put in your Drainage System is a bad idea. If a landscape company also installs French Drains, you should run!
Why don't they specialize??? Does your Lawyer also do physical therapy?
Some Builders also make bad choices concerning drainage on new homes they are building. New houses should not have problems with water. Builders usually have a landscape company that installs their drains. Sometimes it's a maintenance guy that works for the builder. It's Usually the cheapest fix possible. I've testified in more than one class action lawsuit where a whole housing sub-division had unnecessary Drainage Issues.
Water can cause a huge amount of damage. How important is your money and your home? Over 30% of the work done by Oklahoma Drainage is fixing other people's mistakes. I appreciate the work, but I get frustrated when bad things happen to good people concerning water!
Blane Callen, 405 203 9419
The Black Pipe shown above is Perforated with thousands of small holes. The pipe is inside a black Neoprene Soc. The Sock is a filter to keep the pipe clean and Free of Debris. The white fabric shown above is a Trench Liner that provides additional protection for the Perforated ADS Drainpipe.
Sewer and Drain (SD) PVC Drainpipe.
Next, we have Sewer and Drainpipe or (SD) for short. It is a smooth wall drainpipe that is Rigid and nonflexible.
A Surface Drain Drainage System is being installed in the above picture.
The White PVC pipe shown above is 4 inch.
Finally, we have 40 schedule PVC. It looks exactly like the SD pipe shown above but there are differences.
40 Schedule pipe is much Heavier. The walls are much thicker than SD Pipe. It has a higher level of Resin in the PVC Plastic.
40 Schedule PVC pipe is even more rigid and stiff. It is extremely nonflexible.
SD Pipe
SD comes in Solid and A Perforated Variety. It doesn’t normally come with a Soc Option. If you want SD Perforated Pipe with a Soc. You will have to buy the Soc and put it on yourself. That option is rarely done by drainage contractors.
4o Schedule Comes only in a Solid Pipe Option. Perforated 40 Schedule is not available.
4o Schedule normally isn’t used much for Drainage. It is intended for High Pressure Water Applications.
I have installed 40 schedule Drainage Systems, but they are rare. 40 Schedule Drainage Systems are very much OVERBUILT! They don’t break or wear out. In most cases they last longer than the people who own them.
They cost many times more than SD or ADS Drainpipe.
Forty Schedule Drainpipe
40 Schedule Drainage systems are far and away the most difficult to install. The Drainage Contractor or Person who installs one must be highly skilled and experienced. The pipe is extremely stiff and unforgiving. All measurements must be precise.
Drainpipe Size
is critical. 4 inch and 6 inch are the most common Drainpipe sizes. Three-inch Drainpipe can be used but should normally be avoided. They are usually too small. It doesn’t take much water to overwhelm them.
Four-inch is the most common size used but 6 inch is being used more and more.
As a General Rule, you should not connect more than 3 water inputs to one 4-inch pipe, or it will become overwhelmed much of the time. Three Gutters can be connected to a 4-inch pipe. Three Drain basins can be connected to a 4 inch pipe too. Or some other combination of those two. One long stretch of French drain can too if it isn’t much over 60 feet in length.
If in doubt, use a 6-inch Pipe.
ADS vs SD
I would say that 80 percent of all drainage systems use ADS. Roughly 20 percent use SD. Less than 1 percent use 40 schedule.
For Me, ADS holds up a little better than SD and is easier to install.
My Experience
ADS and SD purchased from your local Depot type store are inferior. They are cheaply made with low levels of Resin in the pipe. The drainpipes don’t last very long. They can be damaged by tree roots or the ground shifting in a short amount of time.
SD Drainpipe can crack or break
I recommend purchasing ADS and SD from professional contractor suppliers. In Oklahoma City Ewing and Davis Pipe are very good and sell a good product.
A Surface Drain often can’t move enough water fast enough and easily becomes overwhelmed during a heavy rain. A Surface Drainalso can’t cover or protect a broad enough area.
If, “appearance” is more important than Drainage Capacity, Go with the Surface Drain. Just know what you are getting into and what your expectations should be. One side of a foundation alone, can be over 100 feet. A 4 inch or 6-inch French Drain is best when protecting a large area such as a foundation.
Keep water away from small or enclosed areas. This might be a low area just through a gate on the side of a house, or the low area between a flowerbed and the wall of a house or standing water on or near a sidewalk or driveway. These types of Drainage Problemsare best served with Surface Drains.
A Surface Drain can move water away from a low area that is relatively small. This can occur in yards, flowerbeds, sidewalks and driveways.
A Surface Drain is designed to move Surface Wateraway from a problem area to a predetermined exit point. Surface Drains are available in many sizes. How quickly they remove standing water is usually determined by the size of the Drainpipe that is connected to the Drain.
Channel Drain Installation Is a Central Focus for Oklahoma Drainage. We have been Installing Channel Drains set in Concrete since 1993.
Channel Drains can look great and be very functional and durable.
Channel Drain Installed in Driveway
However, A Channel Drain is not an easy thing to install! It takes a great deal of precision, Experience, and Attention to Detail. This is Definitely Not something to allow your Landscape Company to attempt, or your Brother-In-Law!
Just because someone is skilled at pushing a mower around, doesn’t mean you should let them cut across your driveway with a concrete saw.
I get a lot of business fixing and replacing Drains of all types that were installed incorrectly by landscape companies and armatures. Typically, they stick to messing up French Drains, but I have fixed Channel Drains that were an absolute “Train Wreck!” as well.
In 1993 we had no website. I stuck little signs on the side of the road as advertisement. I got my first Drain Installation work in March of 1993 in Norman. It was in Brookhaven North of Robinson Street on the West side of I 35.
The majority of our customers live in Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, Yukon, Mustang, Moore, Midwest City, Del City, Blanchard, New Castle, Yukon and Choctaw.
Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair hasn’t been limited to those areas, however. We have also installed French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, and Sump Pumps in many other cities.
Working Drainage Systems Installed by Oklahoma Drainage also reside in: Lawton, Duncan, Ardmore, Chickasha, Shawnee, Enid, Weatherford, Elk City, El reno and many other places.
If you live in any of these Cities or towns, we have installed a French Drain, Surface Drain, Channel Drain, or Sump Pump within 5 miles of your home.
Trench Liner and Pipe Filter Installed with French Drain
Here is a description of other recent work.
A little bit North of Downtown Oklahoma City, OklahomaDrainage installed a 6-inch French Drain between two businesses which were less than three feet apart. The French Drain went between a Law Firm and a Tire shop. Water was leaking through the walls of both businesses. Gutters between the two establishments were dumping a huge amount of water. We installed a 6-inch French Drain between the gutters.
It took a long time to get the dirt out of the trench for the French Drain. It was a very tight fit. We had to use a little red wagon to haul out the dirt for the French Drain and haul back in the crushed limestone for the French Drain. It looked a little silly, but it was the only thing we could find that was narrow enough to fit between the buildings. A French Drain that normally would take 1 day to install took three.
We also have fixed a broken Sprinkler Pipe or Two. Seems like a million. Ok, not that many.
I wonder how many? A lot!!!!
Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair provides Service for all of Central Oklahoma Including: Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, Moore, Yukon and Mustang.
IT MAY TAKE A FEW HOURS FOR US TO GET THERE BUT WE WILL COME TO HELP.
One Common problem is that they continue to run and won’t shut off. In most cases this is a problem with a sprinkler valve that has “Stuck” in the on position.
This can be temporarily solved by shutting of the Emergency Shutoff Valve. The problem is that some sprinkler systems don’t have one to turn off or if they do the homeowner doesn’t know where it is.
It may be on the back-flow valve which may be located on the side of the house under a big plastic fake rock.
Many sprinkler systems in Oklahoma have them. (50 % ?) Under the plastic rock is a back-flow valve with two shut off handles. Usually, they have blue or green or tan handles. Turn one of the handles and it should shut off the water to your sprinkler system.
Other times the Emergency Shutoff Valve is in a box in the ground out by the curb near your water meter. The valve box will have a green lid. Sometimes they are difficult to open. Many times, I had to pry them open with a flat head screwdriver.
Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair Provides Service for Back-Flow-Valves and all types of Lawn Sprinkler Repair and Service. We have provided Expert Service for all of Central and Western Oklahoma Since 1993.
Back-Flow-Valves
There are two types of Back-Flow-Valves.
Above Ground
Above Ground Back-Flow-Valve.
Below Ground Back-Flow-Valve.
Below Ground Back-Flow-Valve
What is a Back-Flow-Valve?
A Back-Flow-Valve is a part of a Lawn Sprinkler System. Water passes through it from the water source which can be a Water Meter or a Well Pump. It forces water to travel in only one direction from the source to the sprinkler system. It can’t travel backward back to the water source which again is a water meter or well pump.
A Back-Flow-Valve provides protection to the water source from back pressure and chemical contamination from lawn fertilizer.
Most Cities require a Back-Flow-Valve as “Code” for Sprinkler Installation.
Emergency Shut off
Back-Flow-Valves usually have an Emergency Shutoff valve on them that can shut off the water to the lawn sprinkler system but keep the water turned on to the home. Most Back-Flow-Valves have two Emergency Shut off Handles. Either one will work. Many times, they are hard to turn, however.
If there is a leak or water is shooting up in the air just turn the valve handle and give us a call.
Norman Sprinkler Checkup is a Central Focus for Oklahoma Drainage. We Performed or first Sprinkler Repair in Norman in 1993. It was in Brookhaven on the West side of Norman.
Recently we had a customer in Oklahoma City who wanted to move his Sprinkler Valves. They were in a bad place in his flower bed. He wanted to plant a tree where the valves were located.
We moved 4 Sprinkler Valves about feet out into the yard. All the Sprinkler Pipes had to be redesigned and installed matching the new location and maintaining full functionality.
Inside the valve box is a plastic handle that can turn off the water to the sprinkler system. It can be blue or red or grey in color.
Many times, the valve box will be full of dirt, and you can’t turn or even see the handle until some of the dirt has been dug out by hand.
French Drain Design must take into account many variables. One consideration for a French Drain is Soil Type. French Drain Design must take into account the type of soil that the French Drain runs through. If the soil is “Tight or made up of Clay, A French Drain Liner may not be necessary.
When a French Drain, Is Installed in sandy soil, A Trench Liner is always needed. As a result the French Drain Gravel stays clean.
The Gravel or Limestone that is used to fill the French Drain trench may be all that is needed to maintain the integrity of the trench over time. This means that dirt will not mix in with the French Drain Gravel and clog it up over time. This is not the case however if your soil is sandy or loose.
A Trench Linershould be used to prevent this type of soil from moving into the gravel of the French Drain. Trench Linersare relatively inexpensive and are not hard to install. If you are not sure what to do then install the Trench Liner in the French Drain.
Recently we installed a 4-inch French Drain with Trench Linerand Pipe Filter in West Norman on Harrogate Street. Our customer had a heavy water build up area on the side of her house. Water would pool up during a rain and sink down into her flower bed. Once the slab and foundation of the house got very wet, the water would seep into the floor ducts for their Central Heat and Air unit. This is bad for several reasons.
A wet foundation causes deterioration of the cement. Cracks can occur leading to all sorts of other problems.
Oklahoma Drainage Installed 4 Inch French Drain with trench liner and pipe filter about one foot away from the wall where all the water was standing and penetrating the Duct Work. The French Drain ran parallel to the house for 60 Feet. At that point the French Drain transitioned to 4 Inch solid ADS Drain Pipe and continued South an additional 80 feet to a Curb Outlet installed at the street.
Curb Outlet
We cut the curb and installed a Curb Outlet With Acrylic Concrete to make it look nice and last without chipping.
Along the course of the French Drain, we also connected 2 Gutter Down Spouts Directly into the French Drain..
This provides more efficient movement of the storm water to the exit, but also creates suction in the French Drain behind it.
This is called the “Bernoulli Effect.” If you remember your High School Science Class.
Oklahoma Drainage has used these simple concepts many times to provide a solution to the above problem.
Water still had to be vacuumed out of the Duct Work. But Future water was and is kept out of the Duct Work and Floor Vents. Also, the Foundation Stays Dry. No mold or foundation Break Down.
Determining the size of the French Drain Pipe can be difficult. If the French Drain is not very big and has no Gutter Down-Spouts or Surface Drains connected to it then 3 inch or 4 inch French Drainpipe may be used. If the French Drain is large or has many gutters or Surface Drains connected into it, then you should use 6 Inch French Drainpipe or larger.
Just what is a “French Drain?” Many times, people incorrectly use the phrase, “French Drain,” when they mean “Surface Drain” or “Channel Drain.”
A basicFrench Drain
consists of aPerforated Drainpipe in the bottom of a trench. The French Drain Trench runs through a Problem Drainage Areathat needs to be drained. The French Drainpipe is perforated (Full of Small Holes) and has Neo-Prene Soc around the pipe. This soc helps prevent debris from clogging the French Drainpipe. The dirt that was 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).
Oklahoma Drainage recently diagnosed a Drainage Problem in South Oklahoma City. The Homeowner had a Deep French Drain down along the Stem wall of the house. The French Drainpipe was cheap and had collapsed. We brought in a Mini Excavator.
in their basement that was fed from a French Drain outside the Basement Wall. The French Drain was 14 feet down. We used and Excavator and dug up the pipe and replaced it with Durable ADS 4 inch perf/soc French Drainpipe. In the end, we were able to dig up the pipe and replace it.
Next, we installed a new exit for the water by installing a curb fitting. No more flooding in the customers basement. A few weeks later our customer was able to lay carpet in the basement with no problems.
Oklahoma Drainage has been diagnosing and solving Drainage Problems since 1993.
As a result, we have gained a tremendous amount of experience.
Water has the ability to get into places around your home where you really don’t want it to be. This is never a good thing! Some drainage problems are easy to solve. Typically, water enters the problem drainage area one way from one source. The really tricky drainage problemsoccur when water enters the problem drainage area from multiple directions and from multiple sources. Sometimes a secondary water source can’t be seen or identified until the primary water problem source is eliminated.
Think About
You have to think about all the possible ways water can get into the problem area. Sometimes it is obvious. Sometimes its hard to determine all the possible water sources.
French Drain Installed along and under walkway to pool.
A drainage systemis installed with a surface drainas the “intake” with drainage pipe running to an exit point. Initially the water drains away and everything looks great. The next day water is back and is all around the surface drain, but below the edge and it hasn’t rained at all, so no additional water ran over the surface of the ground to flood the area.
The primary water source was solved, ( The surface water run off ) but the secondary water source was not. Which was sub-surface water, (ground water) running into the area. A surface drain can’t drain “ground water.” A French Drain should have initially been installed instead of a Surface Drain. A French Drain can drain both Surface Water and Ground Water.
Channel Drains can look great and be very functional and durable.
However, A Channel Drain is not an easy thing to install! It takes a great deal of precision, Experience, and Attention to Detail. This is Definitely Not something to allow your Landscape Company to attempt, or your Brother-In-Law!
Just because someone is skilled at pushing a mower around, doesn’t mean you should let them cut across your driveway with a concrete saw.
I get a lot of business fixing and replacing Drains of all types that were installed incorrectly by landscape companies and armatures. Typically, they stick to messing up French Drains, but I have fixed Channel Drains that were an absolute “Train Wreck!” as well.
In 1993 we had no website. I stuck little signs on the side of the road as advertisement. I got my first Drain Installation work in March of 1993 in Norman. It was in Brookhaven North of Robinson Street on the West side of I 35.
The majority of our customers live in Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, Yukon, Mustang, Moore, Midwest City, Del City, Blanchard, New Castle, Yukon and Choctaw.
Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair hasn’t been limited to those areas, however. We have also installed French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, and Sump Pumps in many other cities.
Working Drainage Systems Installed by Oklahoma Drainage also reside in: Lawton, Duncan, Ardmore, Chickasha, Shawnee, Enid, Weatherford, Elk City, El reno and many other places.
If you live in any of these Cities or towns, we have installed a French Drain, Surface Drain, Channel Drain, or Sump Pump within 5 miles of your home.
Trench Liner and Pipe Filter Installed with French Drain
Here is a description of other recent work.
A little bit North of Downtown Oklahoma City, OklahomaDrainage installed a 6-inch French Drain between two businesses which were less than three feet apart. The French Drain went between a Law Firm and a Tire shop. Water was leaking through the walls of both businesses. Gutters between the two establishments were dumping a huge amount of water. We installed a 6-inch French Drain between the gutters.
It took a long time to get the dirt out of the trench for the French Drain. It was a very tight fit. We had to use a little red wagon to haul out the dirt for the French Drain and haul back in the crushed limestone for the French Drain. It looked a little silly, but it was the only thing we could find that was narrow enough to fit between the buildings. A French Drain that normally would take 1 day to install took three.
We also have fixed a broken Sprinkler Pipe or Two. Seems like a million. Ok, not that many.
I wonder how many? A lot!!!!
Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair provides Service for all of Central Oklahoma Including: Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, Moore, Yukon and Mustang.
IT MAY TAKE A FEW HOURS FOR US TO GET THERE BUT WE WILL COME TO HELP.
One Common problem is that they continue to run and won’t shut off. In most cases this is a problem with a sprinkler valve that has “Stuck” in the on position.
This can be temporarily solved by shutting of the Emergency Shutoff Valve. The problem is that some sprinkler systems don’t have one to turn off or if they do the homeowner doesn’t know where it is.
It may be on the back-flow valve which may be located on the side of the house under a big plastic fake rock.
Many sprinkler systems in Oklahoma have them. (50 % ?) Under the plastic rock is a back-flow valve with two shut off handles. Usually, they have blue or green or tan handles. Turn one of the handles and it should shut off the water to your sprinkler system.
Other times the Emergency Shutoff Valve is in a box in the ground out by the curb near your water meter. The valve box will have a green lid. Sometimes they are difficult to open. Many times, I had to pry them open with a flat head screwdriver.
French Drain Design must take into account many variables. One consideration for a French Drain is Soil Type. French Drain Design must take into account the type of soil that the French Drain runs through. If the soil is “Tight or made up of Clay, A French Drain Liner may not be necessary.
When a French Drain, Is Installed in sandy soil, A Trench Liner is always needed. As a result the French Drain Gravel stays clean.
The Gravel or Limestone that is used to fill the French Drain trench may be all that is needed to maintain the integrity of the trench over time. This means that dirt will not mix in with the French Drain Gravel and clog it up over time. This is not the case however if your soil is sandy or loose.
A Trench Linershould be used to prevent this type of soil from moving into the gravel of the French Drain. Trench Linersare relatively inexpensive and are not hard to install. If you are not sure what to do then install the Trench Liner in the French Drain.
Recently we installed a 4-inch French Drain with Trench Linerand Pipe Filter in West Norman on Harrogate Street. Our customer had a heavy water build up area on the side of her house. Water would pool up during a rain and sink down into her flower bed. Once the slab and foundation of the house got very wet, the water would seep into the floor ducts for their Central Heat and Air unit. This is bad for several reasons.
A wet foundation causes deterioration of the cement. Cracks can occur leading to all sorts of other problems.
Oklahoma Drainage Installed 4 Inch French Drain with trench liner and pipe filter about one foot away from the wall where all the water was standing and penetrating the Duct Work. The French Drain ran parallel to the house for 60 Feet. At that point the French Drain transitioned to 4 Inch solid ADS Drain Pipe and continued South an additional 80 feet to a Curb Outlet installed at the street.
Curb Outlet
We cut the curb and installed a Curb Outlet With Acrylic Concrete to make it look nice and last without chipping.
Along the course of the French Drain, we also connected 2 Gutter Down Spouts Directly into the French Drain..
This provides more efficient movement of the storm water to the exit, but also creates suction in the French Drain behind it.
This is called the “Bernoulli Effect.” If you remember your High School Science Class.
Oklahoma Drainage has used these simple concepts many times to provide a solution to the above problem.
Water still had to be vacuumed out of the Duct Work. But Future water was and is kept out of the Duct Work and Floor Vents. Also, the Foundation Stays Dry. No mold or foundation Break Down.
Channel Drain in Concrete. Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair has installed Channel Drains since 1993. We service all of Central and Western Oklahoma.
Oklahoma City Channel Drain Installation, Oklahoma City French Drain
Standing Water on a Driveway or Sidewalk can be a real pain. Stepping out of your car into standing water is no fun. Many times, a channel drain can solve this kind of problem.
Channel Drains are usually set in concrete. This requires that the concrete be cut and removed and a drain installed in its place with new concrete around the edges.
Channel Drain Installed against wall
Obliviously Skill, Expertise, and Experience is required to make a big cut across a driveway or sidewalk.
Oklahoma Drainage
Before
Breaking out the cut concrete
After
If a channel drain is installed correctly, it is very strong. A car can be driven over it.
Channel drains are of two kinds, Metal or Composite.
Metal Channel drains can be Crome, Cast Iron, or Stainless Steel.
A Composite Channel Drain is made up of very tough plastic combinations.
Channel Drains can look great and be very functional and durable.
However, A Channel Drain is not an easy thing to install! It takes a great deal of precision, Experience, and Attention to Detail. This is Definitely Not something to allow your Landscape Company to attempt, or your Brother-In-Law!
Just because someone is skilled at pushing a mower around, doesn’t mean you should let them cut across your driveway with a concrete saw.
I get a lot of business fixing and replacing Drains of all types that were installed incorrectly by landscape companies and armatures. Typically, they stick to messing up French Drains, but I have fixed Channel Drains that were an absolute “Train Wreck!” as well.
Oklahoma Drainage has been installing Channel Drains in Oklahoma City, Norman, and Edmond for 31 Years. We service all of Central and Western Oklahoma.
Channel Drains look great around a pool or across a sidewalk or driveway. They are a type of “Surface Drain,” that is long and narrow like a gutter. Most of the time, Channel Drains are set in concrete.
Sometimes people need new drains installed near their pool set in concrete. The old drain may not work anymore or there may be a low area that needs one. The old drains may be too small or they may be clogged. Many times it is difficult to unclog a pool drain. The only solution is to cut out the old drain and put in a new one.
Cutting out the concrete and installing a Pool Drain.
We put Duct Tape on the Channel Drainbefore pouring concrete around it. Channel Drains are one type of Drain used around pools.
Channel Drains can also be installed across Driveways and Sidewalks.
In 1993 we had no website. I stuck little signs on the side of the road as advertisement. I got my first Drain Installation work in March of 1993 in Norman. It was in Brookhaven North of Robinson Street on the West side of I 35.
The majority of our customers live in Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, Yukon, Mustang, Moore, Midwest City, Del City, Blanchard, New Castle, Yukon and Choctaw.
Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair hasn’t been limited to those areas, however. We have also installed French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, and Sump Pumps in many other cities.
Working Drainage Systems Installed by Oklahoma Drainage also reside in: Lawton, Duncan, Ardmore, Chickasha, Shawnee, Enid, Weatherford, Elk City, El reno and many other places.
If you live in any of these Cities or towns, we have installed a French Drain, Surface Drain, Channel Drain, or Sump Pump within 5 miles of your home.
Trench Liner and Pipe Filter Installed with French Drain
Here is a description of other recent work.
A little bit North of Downtown Oklahoma City, OklahomaDrainage installed a 6-inch French Drain between two businesses which were less than three feet apart. The French Drain went between a Law Firm and a Tire shop. Water was leaking through the walls of both businesses. Gutters between the two establishments were dumping a huge amount of water. We installed a 6-inch French Drain between the gutters.
It took a long time to get the dirt out of the trench for the French Drain. It was a very tight fit. We had to use a little red wagon to haul out the dirt for the French Drain and haul back in the crushed limestone for the French Drain. It looked a little silly, but it was the only thing we could find that was narrow enough to fit between the buildings. A French Drain that normally would take 1 day to install took three.
We also have fixed a broken Sprinkler Pipe or Two. Seems like a million. Ok, not that many.
I wonder how many? A lot!!!!
Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair provides Service for all of Central Oklahoma Including: Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, Moore, Yukon and Mustang.
Channel Drains can look great and be very functional and durable.
However, A Channel Drain is not an easy thing to install! It takes a great deal of precision, Experience, and Attention to Detail. This is Definitely Not something to allow your Landscape Company to attempt, or your Brother-In-Law! Just because someone is skilled at pushing a mower around, doesn’t mean you should let them cut across your driveway with a concrete saw. I get a lot of business fixing and replacing Drains of all types that were installed incorrectly by landscape companies and armatures. Typically, they stick to messing up French Drains, but I have fixed Channel Drains that were an absolute “Train Wreck!” as well.
Oklahoma Drainage has been installing Channel Drains for 30 years. We have been installing Channel Drains, French Drains, Surface Drains and Sump Pumps since 1993.
Channel Drains can look great and be very functional and durable.
However, A Channel Drain is not an easy thing to install! It takes a great deal of precision, Experience, and Attention to Detail. This is Definitely Not something to allow your Landscape Company to attempt, or your Brother-In-Law!
Just because someone is skilled at pushing a mower around, doesn’t mean you should let them cut across your driveway with a concrete saw.
I get a lot of business fixing and replacing Drains of all types that were installed incorrectly by landscape companies and armatures. Typically, they stick to messing up French Drains, but I have fixed Channel Drains that were an absolute “Train Wreck!” as well.
Standing Water on a Driveway or Sidewalk can be a real pain. Stepping out of your car into standing water is no fun. Many times, a channel drain can solve this kind of problem.
Channel Drains are usually set in concrete. Many times standing water requires that a new drain be set in concrete. This requires that the concrete be cut and removed and a drain installed in its place with new concrete around the edges.
Channel Drain Installed against wall
Obliviously Skill, Expertise, and Experience is required to make a big cut across a driveway or sidewalk.
Oklahoma Drainage
If a channel drain is installed correctly, it is very strong. A car can be driven over it.
Channel drains are of two kinds, Metal or Composite.
Metal Channel drains can be Crome, Cast Iron, or Stainless Steel.
A Composite Channel Drain is made up of very tough plastic combinations.
Channel Drain Installation is a primary focus for OklahomaDrainageand Sprinkler Repair. We have been installing Channel Drains as part of Drainage Systems since 1993. We also install Surface Drains, French Drains, and Sump Pumps to fit our customer’s needs.
NDS Grey Channel Drain Running Across Driveway in Edmond
Channel Drain Installation Is a Central Focus for Oklahoma Drainage. We have been Installing Channel Drains set in Concrete since 1993.
Channel Drains can look great and be very functional and durable.
However, A Channel Drain is not an easy thing to install! It takes a great deal of precision, Experience, and Attention to Detail. This is Definitely Not something to allow your Landscape Company to attempt, or your Brother-In-Law!
Just because someone is skilled at pushing a mower around, doesn’t mean you should let them cut across your driveway with a concrete saw.
I get a lot of business fixing and replacing Drains of all types that were installed incorrectly by landscape companies and armatures. Typically, they stick to messing up French Drains, but I have fixed Channel Drains that were an absolute “Train Wreck!” as well.
Hard rain and flooding seem to be more common all the time. When I started this business in 1993, having over an inch of rainfall in an hour was pretty extreme. Now having over 4 inch an hour rainfall is not unheard of and is becoming more common.
Connecting Gutter to French Drain
Oklahoma Drainage has seen and dealt with virtually every possible Drainage and Standing water problem that can occur in or around your home. With over 2000 Drainage Systems installed since 1993, we have amassed a great deal of experience. This is help full in seeing underlying problems and secondary issues that may be hard to see at first for the ” Untrained Eye.” This allows us to get things right the first time. In this business
EXPERIENCE TRULY COUNTS!
Hiring your brother-in-law to put in your Drainage System or French Drain is as bad as hiring a Lawn mowing company that does landscaping and drains too? Water can cause a huge amount of damage. How important is your money and your home?
designs and installs Drainage Systems. Water Drainage is a big concern to homeowners and small businesses. Standing Waterfrom Storm-Water runoff can cause all kinds of problems. Concrete in driveways, sidewalks, and foundations can be damaged. ProlongedDrainage Problems allow mold to occur along with deterioration to plants, trees, and property.
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 undergroundDrainpipe to an exit point.
AChannel Drain is a type of Surface Drain, and many times is installed in concrete across sidewalks or driveways.
Channel Drain
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. The Drainpipe should have a neoprene sock around the Perforated Drainpipe. This is to ensure that the Drainpipedoes not become clogged.
The dirt that was 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.
Crushed Limestone
The lime-stone or gravel is placed in the trench on top of the perforated Drainpipe and filled all the way to the surface (ground level). In some cases where theFrench 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 aFrench Drain Every time.
French Drain
Large Water Volume
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 aDrainage System with Surface Drains or Gutter Down-Spouts connected to it.
The main downfall of aFrench 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 theFrench 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.
DON’T COVER THE GRAVEL IN THEFRENCH 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 AFRENCH DRAINAND THEY LOOK GREAT AND LAST A LIFETIME.
Recently Norman Oklahoma had 4 inches of rain in two hours. That’s the most rain in a short time that I can remember. Storm-Water runoffcan cause damage to all types of property and buildings. Water getting inside your house is never a good thing. A Drainage System that utilizes a French Draincan help. Drains can protect your home and property from water damage. Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair installs a wide variety of Drains in many different places. ADrain or Group of Drains with Drain Pipe going to an exit point is a “Drainage System.”
Drainage Systemscan be made up of one drainor a combination of many drains. Drainage problemscan be very complex. Complex Drainage Problems may require a combination of several different types of drainsall inter-connected and working together. Other times the drainage problem may be simple and straight-forward requiring only one drain or several of the same type of drainconnected together.
An example of a complex drainage system would be: A French Drain in the back yard connected to a Surface Drain near a flower bed connected to several gutter downspouts, which are connected to a Channel Draingoing across a driveway, which is connected to additional Surface Drain in the front yard, which runs to a Curb Fitting that lets all the waterdrain out on to the street.
An “Exit Point” is the term used for where all the water leaves theDrainage System. Determining the Exit Point is very critical. It is one of the first things we do when diagnosing a Drainage Problem.
Also A Surface Drain often can’t move enough water fast enough and easily becomes overwhelmed during a heavy rain. A Surface Drainalso can’t cover or protect a broad enough area. should be designed in a Drainage System to be located in smaller Drainage Areas moving moderate amounts of water.
Surface Drains Can Look Good
Surface Drainslook better than French Drains. If ,”appearance” is more important than Drainage Capacity, Go with the Surface Drain. Just know what you are getting into and what your expectations should be. One side of a foundation alone, can be over 100 feet. A 4 inch or 6 inch French Drain is best when protecting a large area such as a foundation.
2. Keep water away from small or enclosed areas. This might be a low area just through a gate on the side of a house, or the low area between a flowerbed and the wall of a house or standing water on or near a sidewalk or driveway. These types of Drainage Problems are best served with Surface Drains.
Surface Drain Information
A Surface Drain can move water away from a low area that is relatively small. This can occur in yards, flowerbeds, sidewalks and driveways. A Surface Drain is designed to move Surface Water away from a problem area to a predetermined exit point. Surface Drains are available in many sizes. How quickly they remove standing water is usually determined by the size of the Drain Pipe that is connected to the Drain.
Simply put, a Drainage System is one or a group of underground Drain Pipesthat take water away from a place that has water standing on it or flowing across it. The water that is in the problem area, can be causing damage or may be inconvenient or both. (Usually Both) A simple Drainage System is a Drainfor the water to enter, a Drain Pipe to move the water away from the Drain, and an Exit Point for the water to be released out of the Drain Pipe.
Drainage System Considerations
Drainage Systems quickly can become more complicated. Considerations must include:
How does the water get to the problem area? There may be one or many sources.
Water Sources:
1. It falls from the sky directly
2. It flows down hill over the surface (surface water)
3. It flows underground under the surface (sub-surface water)
4. It flows from the edge of a roof ( There may be many roofs near the problem area, neighbors etc.)
6. It flows over the edge of a gutter because the gutter is too small is is clogged
7. It flows up from the ground (seeps and springs are common in Oklahoma)
8. It flows from asprinkler system use ( yours or your neighbors)
9. It flows from a leaking pipe ( water mains, water meters, water lines, sprinkler pipes, sprinkler valves)
There are other reasons for Drainage Problems, the above reasons are just the most common.
Once the water sources are determined
Once the number of water sources is determined, a rough estimate of the amount of water that needs to be drained away on average must be estimated. This can be simplified down to “SMALL, MEDIUM, OR LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER TO BE DRAINED AWAY. You don’t have to be an engineer trying to calculate fluid dynamics. Experience at diagnosing drainage problems helps however.
How much water needs to be moved will help determine the type and size of the Surface DrainorFrench Drainthat needs to be installed. It also helps to determine the size of Drain Pipe required for the Drainage System. A good rule to follow is, “If in doubt, install a larger Drain and Drain Pipe.” Unused Drainage Capacity is better than property damage caused by a Drain that is overwhelmed by too much water.
Surface Drains look nicer than French Drains in most cases
What size drainpipe?
Determine the size drainpipe that is needed. Do this by counting the number of Drain Basins are needed. More drain basins require a bigger pipe. Four Inch Drainpipe is average in size. Six Inch Drainpipe is considered large.
The Drainage Curb Fitting is installed when the desired exit point for the French Drain will release the Drainage Water into the Street. The Drainage Curb Fitting is rectangular in shape and made to be installed through the curb. A small section of Curb is cut out with a concrete saw. The Section is a few inches wider than the Drainage Curb Fitting. We then install new concrete around the curb fitting. Once the concrete has dried, the Drain Pipecoming from a French Drainor Surface Drain is connected to the Drainage Curb fitting and then covered with dirt.
Recently we installed a large French Drain System for a home in North Edmond. Their gutters were dumping a huge amount of water into the flower beds. Water traveled down into the foundation and filled up the air conditioner vents.
We installed a large French Drain with 6-inch perforated pipe. The gutter down spouts were removed and the gutters were run straight into the French Drain Pipe.
Is water is seeping into your foundation? A French Drain could solve the problem.
Water is standing in a low spot in your backyard, a Surface Drain will be a good addition.
Drainage Problemsare common with many homes in Oklahoma. Storm-water run-off can cause damage to foundations, driveways, and sidewalks. It will ruin expensive plants and trees and yards too.
Channel Drains can look great and be very functional and durable.
However, A Channel Drain is not an easy thing to install! It takes a great deal of precision, Experience, and Attention to Detail. This is Definitely Not something to allow your Landscape Company to attempt, or your Brother-In-Law! Just because someone is skilled at pushing a mower around, doesn’t mean you should let them cut across your driveway with a concrete saw. I get a lot of business fixing and replacing Drains of all types that were installed incorrectly by landscape companies and armatures. Typically, they stick to messing up French Drains, but I have fixed Channel Drains that were an absolute “Train Wreck!” as well.
Standing Water on a Driveway or Sidewalk can be a real pain. Stepping out of your car into standing water is no fun. Many times, a channel drain can solve this kind of problem.
Channel Drains are usually set in concrete. This requires that the concrete be cut and removed and a drain installed in its place with new concrete around the edges.
Channel Drains are long and narrow and have a grate that runs the length of the drain. They have removable grates. As a result, they are easy to clean. The Grates are Composite Plastic or Metal. (Chrome or Stainless Steel.)
Surface Drains are also set in Concrete. They are Square with a basin underneath the grate. Most Drain Basins Set in concrete are 9 inch or 12 inch in size.
Concrete must be cut and new concrete installed around the new channel drain.
Installing a Channel Drain is a very “Detailed Oriented Process.” Experience is a MUST! It’s not a good project for a ” WEEKEND WARRIOR, A BROTHER-IN-LAW OR A LANDSCAPE COMPANY!”
Many times, Oklahoma Drainage has been asked to come in and finish a Channel Drain Project. (AFTER THE TRAIN WRECK)!!!
French Drain Installation— French Drains are designed to do a lot of things. If you have an area that has unwanted water standing in it or running across it, a French Drain can be the answer. AFrench Drain is a trench that runs across the Drainage Problem Area. A French Drain Pipe is placed in the bottom of the trench. The French Drain Pipe is perforated with thousands of small holes.
In most cases the Drain Pipehas a nylon soc around the pipe to act as a filter for the French Drain. The French Drain trench is then filled with some type of small rock or stone. We typically use crushed 1 inch Lime Stone to cover the French Drain Pipe. The dirt that was dug out of the trench is taken away or spread out around the French Drain. The Lime Stone replaces the dirt and fills the French Drain Trench all the way to the surface.
Before
French DrainInstalled along and under walk way to pool.
Covering a French Drain with dirt is a bad idea. Water can’t get into the drain through the stones if it is clogged with dirt. If you are more concerned about how it looks over what it does, then don’t install it in the first place. French drains can move a lot of water and protect property such as foundations, sidewalks, plants, yards just to mention a few things. If you don’t like how a French Drain looks then change it. Put Stepping stones on top of it, use river rock to improve the look, You are limited only by your own creativity.
Servicing all of Central and Western Oklahoma since 1993. If you have water standing in your yard, we can install a French Drain for you. If you step out of your car into water on your driveway, you may need a Channel Drain. If water is in your basement, you may need a sump Pump. Your Drainage needs may be very complex or very simple. We have been solving every type of Residential Drainage Problem since 1993.
Have you ever had water sanding on your Driveway? Water on Drivewayscan cause cement or asphalt to break down and come apart resulting in cracks and deterioration. Not to mention getting out of your car and stepping into water is never pleasant!
Oklahoma can have very hard rain and thunderstorms. Water standing can cause all types of problems.
Surface Drain installed in Driveway with Metal Grate.
Oklahoma Drainage can help by installing a surface drain in your driveway or sidewalk. If you live in Edmond and need help, give us a call. We service all of Central and Western Oklahoma.
