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 its 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
French Drain Installation — French Drainsare 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. A French 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 Pipe has 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 uses 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.
Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair 405 203 9419 — We provide:
Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair Recently installed a Drainage System in Nichols Hills. The Drainage Systemwas made up of a 4 inch French Drain starting in the back yard. It ran between the garage and the pool. Several gutters were connected directly into the French Drain. From this point, we expanded up to a larger 6 inch Drain pipe to handle the added water into the system from the gutters. In several places the French Drain had to run through areas where Sprinkler Pipeswere in the way. We had to re-rout all the Sprinkler Pipes and Wires under the French Drain.
When water come in contact with the French Drain, it seeps down through the stones and into the French Drain Pipe. It then flows through the Drain Pipe to the exit point. Typically a French Drain will have two possible exit points. The First is called a “Pop-Up Emitter.” It is a Green Lid on top of a release basin for the French Drain.
The second type of Exit Point for a French Drain is a “Curb Fitting.” The Curb Fitting is installed through the curb going out into the street. The French DrainPipe runs to the Curb. The curb is cut out and the Curb Fitting is cemented through the Curb.
French Drains are designed to move large amounts of water. AFrench Drain moves water away from the Drainage Problem area from the Surface like a large Surface Drain, But also below ground, or sub surface. Most people don’t take into account the water that flows to a problem area underground. Sub surface water flow is not eliminated by a Surface Drain. A French Draincan move away water that is below the surface of the ground and drain away water that is on the surface.
Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair Recently installed a Drainage System in Nichols Hills. The Drainage Systemwas made up of a 4 inch French Drain starting in the back yard. It ran between the garage and the pool. Several gutters were connected directly into the French Drain. From this point, we expanded up to a larger 6 inch Drain pipe to handle the added water into the system from the gutters. In several places the French Drain had to run through areas where Sprinkler Pipes were in the way. We had to re-rout all the Sprinkler Pipes and Wires under the French Drain.
Once the Sprinkler System had been redesigned and the gutters had been connected, we ran the 6 inch Drain Pipefrom the end of the French Drain, around the house to release through the curb. We cut the curb and installed a 6 inch curb fitting with acrylic concrete. A few days later a major thunderstorm poured down on the property. The French Drain and the Drainage System Worked Perfectly.
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.
A French Drain is completely different from a Surface Drain. A basic French Drain consists of a Perforated Drain Pipe in the bottom of a trench. A Trench Liner is sometimes used depending on the Drainage System Design and the type of soil. The Drain Pipe should have a neoprene sock around the Perforated Drain Pipe. This is to ensure that the Drain Pipedoes not become clogged. A trench is dug that is slightly wider than the French Drain Pipe that is being used. There are several sizes of French Drain Pipe. Three Inch, Four Inch, and Six Inch are the most common sizes of French drain Pipe. 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 lime stone. It is the most economical option in my area. Pea Gravel or some other type of small stone can work just as well. The lime-stone or gravel is placed in the trench on top of the perforated Drain Pipe and filled all the way to the surface (ground level). 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 Drain Pipe 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 about 20% of the time. Most of the time a liner in not needed.
If you have water standing in your back yard after a hard rain, or If water stands on your driveway or sidewalk, we can help with all types or Residential Drainage and Standing Water problems.
Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair has over 26 years of Experience Solving all types of Storm Water issues. We utilize French Drains, Surface Drains and Channel Drains. Our Drains are installed in Yards, Sidewalks, Driveways and Basements.
The most common Drainthat we install is the French Drain. This is because the French Drain is versatile. It can handle Surface Water Problems or Underground Water Problems (sub-surface). A huge mistake that many people make is assuming that water gets to a Problem Drainage Areaby flowing over the surface only. For example, if water is flowing down hill underground toward your home’s foundation, the only way to stop or intercept it is with a French Drain. Water can flow laterally into a perforated French Drain Pipe. It is then diverted away from the Problem Drainage Area to an Exit Point.
Pop Up Emitters can release water from Surface Drains or French Drains. They can release water on to sidewalks or driveways, or out in the middle of yards.
A French Drain is completely different from a Surface Drain. A basic French Drain consists of a Perforated Drain Pipe in the bottom of a trench. A Trench Liner is sometimes used depending on the Drainage System Design and the type of soil. The Drain Pipe should have a neoprene sock around the Perforated Drain Pipe. This is to ensure that the Drain Pipe does not become clogged. A trench is dug that is slightly wider than the French Drain Pipe that is being used. There are several sizes of French Drain Pipe. Three Inch, Four Inch, and Six Inch are the most common sizes of French drain Pipe. 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 lime stone. It is the most economical option in my area. Pea Gravel or some other type of small stone can work just as well. The lime-stone or gravel is placed in the trench on top of the perforated Drain Pipeand filled all the way to the surface (ground level). 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 Drain Pipe 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 about 20% of the time. Most of the time a liner in not needed.
Pipe running to street form French Drain in back yard.
When we run Drain Pipe across yards to an Exit Point, the sod usually can be put back into place and in a few days you can’t tell a French Drain was ever Installed.
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-Spoutsconnected to it.
The main downfall of a French Drain is that they, for the most part aren’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 lime stone. 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 French Drain. In some cases thick grass growing up through the French Drain will create a natural “Thatch” filter. This makes the French Drain invisible. The trick is to allow the grass to grow over the French DrainGravel without covering it up with dirt. Grasses such as Bermuda which grow well in the sun will put out runners and new roots and will grow up and through the French Drain. This will not affect the performance of the French Drain. The problem is that some times depending on the type of soil involved, it may take a long time to completely cover up the French Drain. Sprinkling grass seed down in the gravel will speed up the process.
DON’T 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.
Installing a Curb Outletfor a French Drain in Oklahoma City
If you install a French Drain in a sunny area, you can:
A. Leave the French Drain as-is and allow grass to grow over it in time.
B. Add grass seed directly to the French Drain gravel with (Light Hand Watering) to speed the growth process
C. Leave the French Drain as-is but decorate it with stepping stones and landscaping rocks ( leaving large cracks between stones to allow water to get into the French Drain,
2
If you install a French Drain in a shady area you can:
A. Leave the French Drain as-is, it will work well and look as it did for many years.
B. Leave the French Drain as-is, but decorate it with stepping stones or landscaping rocks. ManyFrench Drains are hidden under rock walk ways.
Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair – 405 203 9419 — Servicing all of Central and Western Oklahoma
Recently we had a customer call us with a drainage problem. She had water standing in front of garage door. If it got high enough it would run into the garage. We installed Surface Drains in the Driveway in front of the garage door in the concrete. The Surface Drains had metal grates and could easily support the weight of a car once the concrete had cured.
A basic French Drain consists of aPerforated Drain Pipein the bottom of a trench. The French Drain Trench runs through a Problem Drainage Areathat needs to be drained. The French Drain Pipe is perforated (Full of Small Holes) and has Neo-Prene Soc around the pipe. This soc helps prevent debris from clogging the French Drain Pipe.
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 lime stone. It is the most economical option in my area. Pea Gravel or some other type of small stone can work just as well. The lime-stone or gravel is placed in the trench on top of the perforatedDrain Pipeand filled all the way to the surface (ground level). In some cases where theFrench Drainneeds to be deep or is being placed in sandy soil, a special trench liner must be placed in the trench before the perforatedDrain Pipe 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 Drainabout 20% of the time. Most of the time a liner in not needed.
Do you have water standing in your yard after a hard rain? Does your sidewalk become a moat during a thunder-storm? Is standing water causing your foundation to deteriorate and break down? Is water seeping into your home and causing mold?
Storm-water run off can cause many types of problems. Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair can diagnose your drainage issues and design a Drainage System to fit your specific needs. We install many types of drains including: French Drains, Channel Drains, Surface Drains, Basin Drains, Trench Drains, Basement Drains, and Sump Pumps.
Typically many things must be considered when completing a Drainage Diagnostic.
1. Identify the areas being damaged by water and determine if there are any hidden areas.
2. Identify the sources of water causing the damage. Most Drainage Problems have more than one source. A water source can fall from the sky as rain, or can flow down the hill as storm-water runoff, or can flow from a gutter down-spout (yours or your neighbor’s), or flow under ground as sub-surface water flow, or water can flow off a sidewalk, driveway, or street. (These are the most common)
3. Identify the Exit Pointby determining where we want to take the unwanted water.
5. Determine what type and size of Drain Pipe is needed to accommodate the volume of water to be drained. Larger is always better! Big Drains with Small Drain Pipesnever works!
If you have problems with Standing Water after a hard rain, or your driveway or sidewalk turns into a moat after a thunderstorm, or worst of all, you have water standing against your foundation and seeping into your house and vents, Give us a Call! TYPICALLY A DRAINAGE SYSTEM IS MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE THAN FOUNDATION REPAIR OR REMOVING MOLD FROM YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS!!
Standing water can cause many types of property damage ranging from foundation problems to cracked sidewalks and dead plants and shrubs. If you have need of French Drain or Surface Drain, give us a call. We provide free estimates for all of central Oklahoma.
The most common Drainthat we install is the French Drain. This is because the French Drain is versatile. It can handle Surface Water Problems or Underground Water Problems (sub-surface). A huge mistake that many people make is assuming that water gets to a Problem Drainage Areaby flowing over the surface only. For example, if water is flowing down hill underground toward your home’s foundation, the only way to stop or intercept it is with a French Drain. Water can flow laterally into a perforated French Drain Pipe. It is then diverted away from the Problem Drainage Area to an Exit Point.
Pop Up Emitters can release water from Surface Drains or French Drains. They can release water on to sidewalks or driveways, or out in the middle of yards.
A French Drain is completely different from a Surface Drain. A basic French Drain consists of a Perforated Drain Pipe in the bottom of a trench. A Trench Liner is sometimes used depending on the Drainage System Design and the type of soil. The Drain Pipe should have a neoprene sock around the Perforated Drain Pipe. This is to ensure that the Drain Pipe does not become clogged. A trench is dug that is slightly wider than the French Drain Pipe that is being used. There are several sizes of French Drain Pipe. Three Inch, Four Inch, and Six Inch are the most common sizes of French drain Pipe. 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 lime stone. It is the most economical option in my area. Pea Gravel or some other type of small stone can work just as well. The lime-stone or gravel is placed in the trench on top of the perforated Drain Pipeand filled all the way to the surface (ground level). 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 Drain Pipe 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 about 20% of the time. Most of the time a liner in not needed.
Pipe running to street form French Drain in back yard.
When we run Drain Pipe across yards to an Exit Point, the sod usually can be put back into place and in a few days you can’t tell a French Drain was ever Installed.
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-Spoutsconnected to it.
The main downfall of a French Drain is that they, for the most part aren’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 lime stone. 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 French Drain. In some cases thick grass growing up through the French Drain will create a natural “Thatch” filter. This makes the French Drain invisible. The trick is to allow the grass to grow over theFrench DrainGravel without covering it up with dirt. Grasses such as Bermuda which grow well in the sun will put out runners and new roots and will grow up and through the French Drain. This will not affect the performance of the French Drain. The problem is that some times depending on the type of soil involved, it may take a long time to completely cover up the French Drain. Sprinkling grass seed down in the gravel will speed up the process.
DON’T 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.
If you install a French Drain in a sunny area, you can:
A. Leave the French Drain as-is and allow grass to grow over it in time.
B. Add grass seed directly to the French Drain gravel with (Light Hand Watering) to speed the growth process
C. Leave the French Drain as-is but decorate it with stepping stones and landscaping rocks ( leaving large cracks between stones to allow water to get into the French Drain,
2
If you install a French Drain in a shady area you can:
A. Leave the French Drain as-is, it will work well and look as it did for many years.
B. Leave theFrench Drain as-is, but decorate it with stepping stones or landscaping rocks. ManyFrench Drains are hidden under rock walk ways.
A French Drain is completely different from a Surface Drain. A basic French Drain consists of a Perforated Drain Pipe in the bottom of a trench. A Trench Liner is sometimes used depending on the Drainage System Design and the type of soil. The Drain Pipe should have a neoprene sock around the Perforated Drain Pipe. This is to ensure that the Drain Pipe does not become clogged. A trench is dug that is slightly wider than the French Drain Pipe that is being used. There are several sizes of French Drain Pipe. Three Inch, Four Inch, and Six Inch are the most common sizes of French drain Pipe. 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 lime stone. It is the most economical option in my area. Pea Gravel or some other type of small stone can work just as well. The lime-stone or gravel is placed in the trench on top of the perforated Drain Pipe and filled all the way to the surface (ground level). 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 Drain Pipe 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 about 20% of the time. Most of the time a liner in not needed.
French Drains can utilize several types and sizes of French Drain Pipe. An older type that is not commonly used any more is 4 inch PVC Pipe with large half inch holes drilled in the Pipe. This doesn’t work very well, Because the holes are too large and the number of holes in the French Drain Pipe are too few. Also there is no filter or “Soc” around this particular French Drain Pipe. If it is used in sandy or loose soil the holes will clog and the pipe will fill up with sand. PVC French Drain Pipe should be avoided.
ADS French Drain Pipe is much better, the holes are smaller and much more numerous. It also comes inside a soc that acts as a filter and helps keep sand and debris out of the French DrainPipe. It works very well.
For Small business and Residential French Drains, Four inch ADS Perf/Soc French Drain pipe is adequate and the most common. It is used for the majority of all French Drainsinstalled. French Drains can be installed using 3 inch ADS Perf/Soc but many times it is too small and can be overwhelmed by a heavy rain or from a bad design. (Too many gutter down spouts connected directly into the French Drain, For Example) Three Inch French DrainPipe should be avoided if possible.
Six inch ADS Perf/Soc French Drain Pipe is usually a good idea when possible. It carries a much larger volume of water. Six Inch French Drains are rarely overwhelmed.
The Drawbacks to 6 inch French Drain installation are: 1. The Materials Cost is higher for six-inch French Drain Compared to Four Inch Pipe.
2. Many times 6 Inch French DrainPipe is too large for many applications, Such as going under a fence or sidewalk.
3. The trench for a 6 inch French Drain must be much larger than a 4 Inch
4. The amount of gravel or limestone or River Rock used to Cover the 6 inch French Drain is Much larger
All things being considered, the performance and longevity of a 6 inch French Drain is well worth it if you are trying to protect something of value to you! If the higher cost and the additional labor and materials are not a problem and 6 inch French Drainpipe is not too big for what you want to do then a 6 inchFrench Drain would be the best.
French Drain Installation can prevent water from getting into your air conditioner floor ducts.
A common Drainage Problemfor people in Central Oklahoma is ground water seeping into floor air conditioner ducts. This can cause very costly damage to a home or business. Water-proofing Ducts, or even worse, trying to remove mold from duct work can cost big bucks. Structural Engineers typically recommend French DrainInstallation to keep water out of ducts. French Drains catch and remove sub-surface water that is traveling underground toward a foundation. It is intercepted by the French Drain before it can seep under the building in question. Because this water is not usually seen, it may not be taken into consideration when diagnosing drainage problems. Surface Water traveling to a problem area is obvious as it flows on the surface in plain sight.
Gutter connected straight into 6 inch French Drain System in Oklahoma City
French Drains can also be used to remove water that is standing in a large area such as up against a foundation or along a fence. French Drains don’t do so well in tight small areas. These areas are best suited for a Surface Drain with a grate. Many times we install French Drains along foundations after a home owner has spent large amounts of money on foundation repair.
Several Foundation Repair companies and Duct waterproofing companies recommend Oklahoma Drainage for French Drain Installation. Typically we install a French Drain by itself or as part of a Drainage System after they have completed their repairs to the foundation or duct work.
Drainage Problems occur in all types of places. Water can stand along fences or driveways, or in yards and flowerbeds. Damage can be done to sidewalks and in yards. Finding a good Drainage Solutionusually involves a French Drain.
Oklahoma Drainage provides quality service for central Oklahoma. If you live in Normanand need a French Drain, or if you live in Oklahoma City and want a Channel Drain installed across your driveway, give us a call. We have installed Drainage Systems and French Drainsin: Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, Midwest City, Norman, Yukon, Mustang, Del City, Blanchard, Newcastle and all surrounding areas.
Del CityInstalling Curb Outlet for French Drain in Oklahoma CityRecently we installed aFrench Drain in Norman. Our customer had water running down the hill from his neighbor’s Sprinkler System into the North wall of his house. Over time the ground became saturated and water seeped under the wall and into his floor air conditioning vents. We installed a 4 inch French Drain along the North wall of his house to provide a barrier to the continuous water flow. In a few days the moss that was growing on the side of his house began to die from lack of water. A Duct company came in and cleaned out is vents. The French Drainremoved the surface and sub surface water that was flowing into his home. Problem solved.
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 lime stone. It is the most economical option in my area. Pea Gravel or some other type of small stone can work just as well. The lime-stone or gravel is placed in the trench on top of the perforatedDrain Pipeand filled all the way to the surface (ground level). In some cases where theFrench Drainneeds to be deep or is being placed in sandy soil, a special trench liner must be placed in the trench before the perforatedDrain Pipe or the Gravel are installed. This helps maintain the integrity of the trench over time. It also increases the cost of theFrench Drainand the amount of time to install it. I install a trench liner in aFrench Drain about 20% of the time. Most of the time a liner in not needed.
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 SystemwithSurface Drains or Gutter Down-Spouts connected to it.
The main downfall of aFrench Drainis that they, for the most part aren’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 lime stone. Grass can grow up and through the gravel in theFrench Drainover time eventually covering the gravel. This is Ok. It won’t have a measurable effect on the performance of thedrain.
DON’T COVER THE GRAVEL IN THEFRENCH DRAINWITH DIRT. THE FRENCH DRAINWON’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.
A simple Drainage Systemmight consist of a French Drainwhich runs to a Pop-up Emitter which lets water drain over the curb and into 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.
1. Keep water away from foundations— A French Drain is best because it can move Surface Water and Sub-Surface Water(water moving under ground) away from the foundation. Many times less experienced companies install Surface Drainsto keep water away from foundations. This can be a big mistake. A Surface Drain can’t move or drain Sub-Surface Water. 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. Surface Drains should be designed in a Drainage System to be located in smaller Drainage Areas moving moderate amounts of water. 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. A Surface Draincan 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 pipe that is connected to the drain.
Simply put, a Drainage System is one or a group of underground Drain Pipes that 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 theDrain Pipe.
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.)
5. It flows from a gutter downspout
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 a sprinkler 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 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 Drainor French 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.
For home and small business use typical materials used are:
Surface Drains look nicer than French Drains in most cases
Once the type and number of drains is determined and what sizeDrain Pipe will connect them, an exit point must be selected. (Where is the Drainage Systemgoing to take the water to and release it?)
The Drainage Curb Fitting is installed when the desired exit point for the French Drain will release the Drainage Waterinto 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 Drain or Surface Drain is connected to the Drainage Curb fitting and then covered with dirt.
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.
A French Drain is completely different from a Surface Drain. A basic French Drain consists of a Perforated Drain Pipe in the bottom of a trench. A Trench Liner is sometimes used depending on the Drainage System Design and the type of soil. The Drain Pipe should have a neoprene sock around the Perforated Drain Pipe. This is to ensure that the Drain Pipe does not become clogged. A trench is dug that is slightly wider than the French Drain Pipe that is being used. There are several sizes of French Drain Pipe. Three Inch, Four Inch, and Six Inch are the most common sizes of French drain Pipe. 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 lime stone. It is the most economical option in my area. Pea Gravel or some other type of small stone can work just as well. The lime-stone or gravel is placed in the trench on top of the perforated Drain Pipe and filled all the way to the surface (ground level). 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 Drain Pipe 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 about 20% of the time. Most of the time a liner in not needed.
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 aren’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 lime stone. 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 LIFETIME.
CMG also installs new Lawn Sprinkler Systems and Repairs Sprinkler Systems. If you have a broken sprinkler head in Edmond or a leaking Sprinkler valve in Norman, give CMG a call. We service all types of Sprinkler Systems.
Sprinkler System Installationin Oklahoma can be complicated. There are many details that very important to ensure that a new Sprinkler Systembe durable and dependable for many years to come. Attention to detail makes all the difference when installing a Sprinkler System. Many times, So-Called, ” Fly By Night Sprinkler Companies,” cut lots of corners to save money. Low price should not be the determining factor for having a Sprinkler System installed. A cheap Sprinkler Systemsoon becomes very expensive if it has to be fixed all the time or won’t work at all.
1. Make shure PRIMER is used along with PVC Glue when the Sprinkler Pipeis put together. Primer helps the glue to bond to the PVC pipe. This ensures that all the pressurized pipe connections won’t leak over time. I have seen Sprinkler Systemsthat were no more than a year old that leaked everywhere.
2. Make shure the connection for the Sprinkler Systemat the water meter is done with a, “compression T.” This ensures that no leaks will occur over time at this connection. The Sprinkler Connection at the water meter is highly stressed every time the Sprinkler System is turned on. A connection with Glue and Primer will not hold up to the stress over time. This is why a Compression T must be used.
The above two points are just a few of the details that need to be considered when installing a Lawn Sprinkler System.
For twenty years, CMG has been paying close attention to the important details necessary to ensuring the Installation of Sprinkler Systemsthat are dependable and will last.
My name is Blane Callen. I have owned and operated CMG Sprinklers and Drains since 1993. I take great pride in my work. The Letters “CMG” stand for the first letter of the first name of each of my children. ( Chance, Melissa, Garrett ) = CMG
I have amassed a great deal of experience designing and installing Sprinkler Systems, Repairing Sprinkler Systems, and designing andinstalling Drainage Systems. In the past 19 years, I have made mistakes, but I have learned from them. As a result I get calls, from time to time, from other Sprinkler and Drainage companies that have run into a problem that they can’t handle. I am always glad to help.
I usually don’t take money up front for Sprinkler Installation, Sprinkler Repair, or FrenchDrain Installation. I prefer that the customer pay me when the job. In a few cases on very large jobs I request a draw or outlay for parts. The parts are delivered from my supplier to the address where the job is being done and equal the amount of the draw. The parts stay on the premises until they are installed.
