French Drains in Norman Oklahoma. The Central focus for Oklahoma Drainage is French Drain Installation. We installed our first French Drain and completed our first Sprinkler Repair in Norman in 1993.
Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair — Installing – French Drains – Surface Drains – Channel Drains – Sump Pumps.
Providing Expert Sprinkler Repair – Broken Sprinkler Pipes – Sprinkler Head Adjustment – Sprinkler Valve Replacement
We provide Service for Folks in: Norman, Oklahoma City, Edmond, and Moore.
Central and Western Oklahoma is our Service Area since 1993.
(405) 203-9419
French Drain Installation is what we specialize in. Since 1993 we have installed over 2000 French Drains or Drainage Systems in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Drainage
It’s Not a Surface Drain
Just what is a “French Drain?” Many times, people incorrectly use the phrase, “French Drain,” to apply to many different types of Drains. 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.
Storm-Water 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 Drain Pipe to an exit point.
THIS IS NOT A FRENCH DRAIN!
Surface Drain connected to a Transition Pipe
A Surface Drain may come in many different shapes or sizes. The Drain Grate may be round or square. Here is a picture of a common Surface Drain.
Channel Drain
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 like a gutter with a Grate on top. It needs to be set in concrete.
Patio Channel Drain Installation
A French Drain is completely different from a Surface Drain. A basic French Drain consists of a Perforated Drainpipe in the bottom of a drainage trench. The Drainage Trench is dug across a low area that has standing water when it rains. The French Drain Trench also can be used to intercept water moving downhill. That water can be above ground and moving fast. Belowground water can also be intercepted moving slowly downhill.
The Drainpipe should have a neoprene sock around the Perforated Drainpipe. This is to ensure that the Drainpipe does not become clogged.
Trench Liner
A Trench Liner should also be used to line the trench before the perforated French Drainpipe is placed on top of it. The Trench Liner lets water through to the perforated pipe. M It is Semi-Permeable. It maintains the integrity of the Drainage Trench over a long Period of time. It also keeps the drain from clogging.
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 Drain Pipe and filled all the way to the surface (ground level).
Installing Trench Liner for French Drain
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 Downspouts connected to it.
The Drawback of Fench Drains
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.
A French Drain can be made to look Nice. Steppingstones can be placed on top of a French Drain. All types of Decorative Stone Can be used as well.
Building a Decorative French Drain
Completed Decorative French Drain
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.
Don’t Cover a French Drain with Dirt
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.
DECORATIVE STONE CAN BE USED TO COVER A FRENCH DRAIN AND THEY LOOK GREAT AND LAST A LIFETIME.
