Posts Tagged ‘El Reno French Drain Installation’

El Reno Oklahoma French Drain Installation

Edmond Oklahoma has been the location for many French Drain Installations for Oklahoma Drainage in the past several years.  Recently we ripped out an old Surface Drain that was under a deck.  The Surface Drain was too small for the job and did not Protect the Foundation from Standing Water


 The First step was to take out part of the deck along the wall.  Next, we took out the Surface Drain and the Three Inch Pipe which was too small.  Digging a trench along the foundation came next.  We had to ensure the, “Fall” to make sure the water would run from left to right. 

As Seen above, we also install Channel Drains.
French Drain Installation Next to Wall

French Drain Installation Next to Wall, Installing Trench Liner


 Next a French Drain Liner needed to be installed.  This was necessary to maintain the integrity of the trench and to keep the French Drainpipe from filling up with sand and getting clogged over the next few years.  We then installed 4 inch ADS Perf/Soc French Drainpipe along the course of the French Drain.  Next, we connected the end of the French Drainpipe to Solid 4 Inch ADS Drainpipe to continue along the trench to the Pop-Up Emitter at the Exit Point.

 

Oklahoma Drainage installed a 4-inch French Drain in East Norman this week.  The customer had water standing on the side of his house that was causing foundation damage.  He contracted a Structural Engineer to come out and look at the Drainage Problem and to give him some advice.

 

The Structural Engineer recommended a French Drain to protect and draw water away from the foundation.  He said that “he had recommended French Drain Installation to solve similar problems for home owners many times in the past.  The Structural Engineer was confident that it would solve the Drainage Problem.

 

Norman Oklahoma French Drain Installation, Water in Floor Vents and Duct Work.

Recently we installed a 4-inch French Drain with Trench Liner and 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.

Water In your floor vents promotes mold and all the problems that come with that as well.

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 Drainpipe and continued South an additional 80 feet to a Curb Outlet installed at the street.

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.

Bernoulli Effect

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.

Oklahoma Drainage – We install French Drains, Channel Drains, Surface Drains, Sump Pumps and Sod.

If You live in Oklahoma City and water damaging your foundation, we can install a French Drain for you.

 Or If you live in Norman and have water standing on your driveway, we can install a Channel Drain for you.

If you live in Edmond and have water flooding your basement, we can install a Sump Pump for you.

Or If you live in Moore and have water washing out your flower bed mulch, we can install a Surface Drain for you.

If you live in Yukon and need grass to grow, we can install Sod too!

 

Drainage System Installation in Norman

Drainage System Installation in Norman

 

 

Storm Water Runoff

causes all kinds of problem.  Standing water deteriorates concrete in driveways, sidewalks and foundations.   Many homes require a drainage system to move water away from their home.    We can quickly diagnose the problem and design a drainage system to fit your specific needs. 

We incorporate several types of drains into our systems. 

This enables us to address all types of drainage problems.  utilizes: French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains and Sump Pumps just to name a few.

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 BasinStormwater Drains through the grate into the Drain Basin.  Once in the Drain Basin, water travels out of the basin through a Drainpipe.  The Stormwater continues downhill in an underground Drainpipe to an exit point.

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.

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 Drainpipe 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.

Limestone Or Gravel

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 Drainpipe or the Gravel are installed.  This helps maintain the integrity of the trench over time.  It also increases the cost of the French Drain and the amount of time to install it.  I install a trench liner in a French Drain every time for quality and longevity.

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 main downfall of a French Drain

is that they, for the most part isn’t very pretty.  They don’t look very nice in a yard once they are completed.
Depending on the area the French Drain is installed and the type of grass around the French Drain, will dictate whether grass grows over the limestone.  Grass can grow up and through the gravel in the French Drain over time eventually covering the gravel.  This is Ok.  It won’t have a measurable effect on the performance of the drain.
DONT COVER THE GRAVEL IN THE FRENCH DRAIN WITH DIRT.  THE FRENCH DRAIN WON’T WORK IF THE TRENCH IS CLOGGED WITH DIRT.  DON’T EVEN INSTALL IT IF YOU ARE GOING TO COVER IT UP WITH DIRT.

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