French Drain Installation in Edmond Oklahoma
Oklahoma Drainage and 405 203 9419
French Drain Installation in Edmond Oklahoma is a Primary focus for Oklahoma Drainage. We have serviced the Edmond Area since 1993.
We Install Drainage Systems to fit various needs for homeowners an businesses. A Drainage System, can utilize French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains or Sump Pumps as the intake part to the Drainage System. The Drain or Sump Pump brings water into the Drain Pipe. The Drain pipe takes the water to the ” Exit.” Which is Either a “Curb Outlet” or a “ Pop Up Emitter.”
The 3 Parts of a Drainage System
The Three parts of A Drainage System are: THE INTAKE ( French Drain or Surface Drain ) etc. The TRANSITION ( The Drain Pipe ) which can be many sizes or type. The EXIT ( A Curb Outlet or Pop Up Emitter )
Differences Between French and Surface Drains.
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. 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.
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). 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.
Lets Talk About French Drains!
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.
Don’t Put Dirt on a French Drain!
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. PUTTING DIRT OVER A FRENCH DRAIN IS LIKE PUTTING A CORK BACK IN A BOTTLE.
DECORATIVE STONE CAN BE USED TO COVER A FRENCH DRAIN AND THEY LOOK GREAT AND LAST A LIFETIME.
Finished Curb Outlet for French Drain
Installing Solid 4 Inch Drain Pipe Between French Drain and Curb
French Drain in Oklahoma City
Solving Water Problems
The Drainage part of our company name means that we solve water problems for people in Oklahoma. Heavy rain is becoming more common. Back in 1993 when I first started, a hard rain was considered to be about an Inch per/hour. It was fairly rare but not too uncommon. Today things are different. A weather report of rain fall at or above 4 inches per/hour was not uncommon in 2019. Excess water causes all types of damage to property both residential and commercial.
Our Drainage Systems drain water away from places you don’t want it to be. You might have water standing along the foundation of your house, or inside your basement. You might have water on your driveway or flowerbed too.
When I talk to a potential customer while doing a Drainage System estimate, I take a lot of things into consideration. First, I have the Customer show me where water is standing or where it is going that it shouldn’t. This is part of defining the specific problem area.
Sometimes the Water Problem Area is larger and more involved than the customer realizes. Once the Water Problem Area is clearly defined, the next step is to determine how the water is getting to the problem area. Many times there is more than one Water Source to the Water Problem area.
A Big Mistake
A big mistake in Drainage System Design is to stop once the most obvious Water Source is found. A Drainage System Designer must be a detective to some degree. For Example: Water running down the hill and onto the back patio might be the most obvious water source. Sub-surface water or a neighbor’s new gutter downspout could also be contributing. Most of the time water gets into the problem area from more than one source.
Next you must decide where to take the water. This is determining an Exit Point for the Drainage System. If possible you want your exit point to be down hill from the problem area. If it is up hill in all directions from the problem area, then the only solution is a Sump Pump.
Determine an Exit Point
Once an exit Point is determined, you must ask yourself if there is any way to install two exit points. Usually this can only work when an exit point can work on both ends of a Drainage System. The benefit of two Exit Points in a Drainage System is it greatly increases the water capacity for the Drainage System. It can move much more water faster during a heavy rain than a system with just one Exit Point. Most Drainage Systems can only utilize one Exit Point. In 21 years of Drainage System Installation, I would say 10% of our Drainage Systems have two Exit Points.
Next we have to decide what type of drain to install in the problem area. If it is a small area with one water source, Usually a Surface Drain is best. If the water problem area is large with one or several water sources, a French Drain is usually installed.
Larger Drain Pipe
If you have several problem drainage areas you must use larger Drain Pipe if you want to connect them together to one exit point. Large French Drains should have their own exit point without attaching other Surface Drains or Gutters to them. It is very common to connect too many drains or gutters into a Drainage System.
A hard rain can overwhelm the Drainage Systems Water Flow Capacity. When that happens, water backs up and the problem area floods.
Sprinkler Repair Service Provided by Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair
Since 1993 we have Replaced Sprinkler Valves that were sticking or were wore out.
Thousands of Sprinkler Heads have been adjusted.
Countless Sprinkler Controllers have been Reprogramed or Replaced.
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.
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
Surface Drain
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 Drain Pipe. The Stormwater continues downhill in an underground Drain Pipe to an exit point.
THIS IS NOT A FRENCH DRAIN!
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.
A Channel Drain is a type of Surface Drain and many times is installed in concrete across sidewalks or driveways.
Gravel on A French Drain
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 limestone 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 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.
What Is A French Drain Ment to Do?
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.
