French Drain Definition Archives - Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair

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French Drain Definition

French Drain Definition

Many times, people believe that a French Drain has a Grate on the Top. It does not.

The Picture above is a Surface Drain.

French Drain – A French Drain is a perforated pipe that is basically full of slits or holes. A trench is dug across the problem drainage area. A Semi-permeable liner is placed in the trench which lets in water but not dirt. The dirt from the trench is hauled away. The French Drainpipe has a Neo-Preen Soc around it witch also lets in water but keeps the dirt out.

The perforated pipe is placed in the trench. The Drainage trench is dug deep enough so that the perforated French Drainpipe is several inches below ground level when placed in the trench. Next gravel or some type of crushed stone is placed on top and around the French Drain perforated pipe until the trench is full.

Installing Trench Liner for French Drain

6 Inch French Drain Installation

A basic French Drain consists of a Perforated Drainpipe in the bottom of a trench. The French Drain Trench runs through a Problem Drainage Area that 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 from the trench is hauled away. It is replaced by some type of small stone or gravel depending on what is desired or available.

Gravel or Crushed Limestone

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).

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. It is a good practice to always install a Trench Liner.

Channel Drain set in the Sidewalk

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 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.

WHERE WE HAVE WORKED!

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.

Over the years Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair has installed all types of Drainage Systems in almost Every town in Central and Western Oklahoma.

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.

Here is a description of other recent work.

A little bit North of Downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Drainage 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.

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair has been installing French Drains in Newcastle since 1993. We have helped over 4000 customers in Central and Western Oklahoma.

We install: French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains and Sump Pumps. Sprinkler Repair and Sod Installation are Also Available.

What A French Drain Isn’t! The Surface Drain Mistake.

Posted: March 14, 2023 in french drain, French Drain Definition, French Drain Information, What is a French Drain?
Tags: French Drain Definition, French Drain Information, What is a French Drain?

What a French Drain isn’t? The Surface Drain Mistake.

The Term “French Drain,” is used incorrectly a lot! In my Business I hear the term used the wrong way daily. Many people say “French Drain” to mean virtually any type of Drain.

Surface Drain Installation, this is not a French Drain

The Picture above Shows a Surface Drain Installation – Not a French Drain!

My name is Blane Callen. I own and run Oklahoma Drainage. We have been in business since 1993. We install several types of Drains, Including French Drains.

The Picture Below is Not a French Drain!

Channel Drain Installation

Channel Drains are one type of Surface Drain. A Surface Drain Is any type of drain that takes water in the top (Surface). They have a Grate on top.

Below is a picture of a Surface Drain that many people will tend to call a “French Drain.”

Surface Drain connected to a Transition Pipe

What a French Drain Really is.

A French Drain is a Perforated Drainpipe with thousands of small holes in it. It is placed in the bottom of a Drainage Trench that has been dug by the installer of the French Drain. It should be placed on top of a Trench Liner which is placed first in the Drainage Trench.

The French Drainpipe has a cloth filter around the pipe as well.

French drain Installation
with trench liner and pipe filter

This is a French Drain as well.

Decorative French Drain

Here is the same French drain before we added the colorful river rock.

Installing Decorative French Drain the Right Way

Once this is done correctly, the trench is filled with gravel of some type. We use Crushed 67 grade Limestone. The empty space from the top of the pipe to ground level is filled. THE DEPTH OF EVERY FRENCH DRAIN TRENCH VARIES. What Determines the depth can depend on several things. But for now, just know that some French Drains are Shallow while others are Deep. The Deeper the Drainage Trench, the more gravel it takes to fill it.

Installing 4 Inch French Drain with trench Liner and pipe filter

The White Material is the Trench Liner. The black material is the Pipe Filter.

Look Above

The Above French drain was installed in-between two houses where water was trapped every time it rained.

Driveway with a Water Stain

Completed French Drain

In the Picture above you can see the water stains on the concrete. Water has been standing there a long time to make those types of stains. Eventually the grass will completely grow over the limestone gravel. Note! Dirt should never be placed on top of a French Drain. In sunny areas, grass will put out runners and grow over the limestone gravel. Once covered it creates a Natural Filter called a Thatch Filter. The French Drain continues to work great, and you don’t even know it’s there.

I have installed French Drains all the way back to 1993 that still work great with no maintenance.

Grass Growing over a French Drain

In the picture above, you can see that the grass is growing over the French Drain more slowly in the shaded area by the trash cans. This can be sped up by sprinkling grass seed directly into the gravel.

French Drains in Full or Partial Shade, can be decorated instead of letting grass grow over them.

in the shade.

Oklahoma Drainage. – We installed our first Drainage System 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 Problems, French Drain Mistakes, French Drain Definition

Posted: December 17, 2022 in french drain
Tags: French Drain Definition, French Drain Information, French Drain mistakes, French Drain Problems

French Drain Problems, French Drain Mistakes, French Drain Definition

Don’t put dirt on top of a French Drain!!!!!

It prevents surface water from entering the French Drain. French Drains have gravel or crushed stone at the surface to allow water to flow freely into the perforated French Drainpipe at the bottom of the drainage trench. If you don’t like how a French Drain looks, you should consider:

Do you know exactly what a French Drain is?
Do you know exactly what a French Drain is Designed to Do?

Putting Dirt on top of your French Drain is similar to trying to put gas in your car by opening your gas cap like you always do. Then taking the gas pump hose and spraying gas all over the roof of your car. A drop or two of gas might trickle down and accidentally go into your open gas cap. You sure won’t be able to drive very far! Seems very silly doesn’t it.

I come across French Drains all the time with dirt or sod on top of them. Don’t get me wrong! I make a good living fixing or replacing Drains of all kinds that are installed by people or companies that don’t know what they are doing. “Landscape Companies” and “Brother-in-Laws,” seem to make the most mistakes. Bless them!!

This is not a French Drain!!!

Surface Drain

This is not a French Drain either!

Setting the concrete around the channel drain

What is a French Drain?

French Drain installed under walkway

This is a French Drain!

It is a perforated pipe placed in a drainage trench. The French Drainpipe is placed in a Drainage Trench with a French Drain Liner in the trench and a Neo-preen filter or “Soc” around the Pipe. The trench is then filled with gravel or crushed stone of some kind.

French Drain along walkway

Completed French Drain under walkway

WHAT IS A FRENCH DRAIN? French Drain Installation, Servicing Oklahoma City, Norman, Lawton, Duncan

Posted: October 2, 2014 in french drain, French Drain Contractor, French Drain Repair, What is a French Drain
Tags: French Drain Definition, French Drain Help, French Drain Information

Oklahoma Drainage – Drainage System Installation, French Drain Installation, Since 1993.

Servicing: Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, Lawton, Duncan, and all of Central and Western Oklahoma

Just what is a “French Drain?” Many times, people incorrectly

: A French Drain can protect your foundation!

use the phrase, “French Drain,” when they mean “Surface Drain” or “Channel Drain.”

6 Inch French Drain Installation

The dirt that was taken out to from the trench is hauled away. It is replaced by some type of small stone or gravel depending on what is desired or available.