Posts Tagged ‘Oklahoma City french Drain Information’

French Drain and Drainage, Oklahoma City, Norman, Moore, Edmond, French Drain Repair, French Drain Photos

Posted: July 24, 2020 in DIY Drain Installation, Drain Repair, french drain, French Drain Information
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French Drain and Drainage by Oklahoma Drainage.  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 Information

A good place for a French Drain

A Channel Drain Across the, soon to be installed driveway would be a good idea too!

channel drain driveway

Channel Drain set in Driveway

FRENCH DRAIN  CONNECTED TO GUTTERS

Many different types of Drains can be hooked together by one Drainpipe.  The Drainpipe then runs to an Exit Point.  This makes up a Drainage System.

One common type of Drain used in a Drainage System is A “French Drain.”

Many times, a French Drain is installed close to a building foundation or in a low area next to a home or business.  This puts the French Drain in close proximity to Gutter Down Spouts.

Rather than have water come off the roof and out the Down Spout and on to the ground below, it is much better to tie a Gutter Down Spout Directly into a French Drain.    Connecting The Down Spouts Directly into a French Drain is much more efficient and causes suction to occur in the French Drain.  This makes the Drainage System work better.

What French Drain Can Do

Keep water away from foundations — A French Drain is best because it can move Surface Water and Sub-Surface Water (water moving underground) away from the foundation.

French Drains can move large amounts of water over a broad area.  They can move Surface Water and Ground Water.

Many times, less experienced companies install Surface Drains to 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.  They can easily become overwhelmed during a heavy rain.  A Surface Drain can’t cover or protect a broad enough area.

Surface Drains are designed to be placed in smaller areas that have a specific low area.  They can move low to moderate amounts of water.  They can only move Surface Water.

Surface Drain Installed next to sidewalk in Oklahoma City.

Surface Drain along sidewalk

Surface Drain move water based on the size and number of basins and are limited by the size of the Drainpipe.

Surface Drain Installation in Norman

What is A Drainage System?

Simply put, a Drainage System is one or a group of underground Drainpipes 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 Drain for the water to enter, a Drainpipe to move the water away from the Drain, and an Exit Point for the water to be released out of the Drainpipe.

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 downhill 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 Counts

Experience at diagnosing drainage problems helps, however.  How much water needs to be moved will help determine the type and size of the Surface Drain or French Drain that 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:

6 inch, 9 inch, and 12 inch Surface Drains –

3 inch, 4 inch, and 6 inch Drain Pipes —

3 inch, 4 inch, and 6 inch French Drains —

French Drains move more water than Surface Drains —

French Drains move Surface Water and Sub-Surface Water

Surface Drains move Surface Water only

Surface Drains look nicer than French Drains in most cases

Once the type and number of drains is determined and what size Drainpipe will connect them, an exit point must be selected.  (Where is the Drainage System going to take the water to and release it?)

Curb Outlet

The Drainage Curb Fitting is installed when the desired exit point for the French Drain will release the Drainage Water into 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 Pipe coming from a French Drain or Surface Drain is connected to the Drainage Curb fitting and then covered with dirt.

Pop-Up Emitter

The Drainage Pop-Up Emitter is connected to the end of a Drain Pipe.  It is downhill from a French Drain or a Surface Drain.  It is a small release basin with a green pop-up lid.  When releasing water, it pops up about an inch to release the water from the French Drain or Surface Drain.  When the Storm Water has moved through the Drainage System and out of the Pop-Up Emitter, the green lid closes back to its original closed position.  The emitter is designed to release water out into a yard or down a hill or other desirable Drainage Exit Point where there is no curb.

Popup Emitter to release water from a Drainage System in Yukon.
Popup Emitter to release water from a Drainage System in Yukon.

Drainage System installation and design is a big part of our business.  Does your sidewalk turn into a moat after a hard rain?  Does part of your yard look like a pond after a thunderstorm?  Worst of all, are you experiencing concrete deterioration to your foundation, sidewalk, or driveway. 

Oklahoma Drainage can design a Drainage System to solve your Drainage Problems.  Our Drainage Systems can be simple or complex.  We utilize, French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, Basin Drains, Basement Drains, Trench Drains, and Sump Pumps.  Estimates are free!

French Drain Installation In Yukon

Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair: Servicing all of Central and Western Oklahoma since 1993.

Standing Water on Your Driveway?  A Surface Drain set in concrete may be what you need. Or maybe you need a French Drain Running alongside your driveway instead.  Handling water problems is what we are good at.  If you need help, Oklahoma Drainage can provide the best solution for your unwanted water problems.

In the Above picture, we installed a French Drain under the left edge of the pool walkway.  The Drain PIpe From the French Drain runs perpendicular from left to right under the walkway stones.  Check out the pictures below.

Installing french drain

Installing French Drain Under Walkway

Oklahoma Drainage

Heavy rain went through central Oklahoma last night.  Many Oklahomans have homes or businesses that don’t Drain very well.  Water stands on sidewalks and driveways.  Storm-water runoff turns yards into ponds.  Water can damage foundations, driveways and sidewalks.  Standing water doesn’t do trees, grass or plants any good either!  Good drainage is important.  If you have water in the wrong place, give us a call.  We utilize many types of Drains when designing a Drainage System.

WE install: French Drains, Channel Drains, Basin Drains, Trench Drains, Basement Drains, Surface Drains, and Sump Pumps.

Give us a call for a free estimate if you live in Central Oklahoma.

French Drain pictures and Information –

Posted: May 29, 2020 in french drain, French Drain Information, French Drain Photos, French Drain Pictures
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French Drain Pictures and information provided by Oklahoma Drainage.

French Drain Repair and Installation is a Central Focus for Oklahoma Drainage.  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

 

 

muddy french drain installation

Installing a French Drain in the mud

 

Above you see us digging a French Drain Trench.

Standing water can cause a lot of damage to your yard.  The above picture was from a French Drain Installation in Oklahoma City.

French Drain Near Driveway

French Drain Protecting Driveway

In the picture above you can see where the water would normally stand on the driveway by the stains in the concrete.  Once the French Drain was installed the water no longer stood on the cement.

Many times we wait until things dry out a bit before beginning a French Drain Installation.  Some times the water never goes away.  So we start digging in standing water and putting the mud in a wheelbarrow.   We then haul it to a dump trailer to be hauled away.  It isn’t the easiest thing to do.

 

Liner and French dran

Perforated Pipe, Filter, and Liner installed in a drainage trench.

The water started draining away as soon as we dug the Drainage Trench.  Once the Pipe and Limestone were installed, it drained away even faster.

The trench liner allows sub surface water to pass through it and reach the French Drain Pipe.  The reason it is installed is to maintain the integrity of the drainage trench so it doesn’t collapse over time.  It also helps protect the pipe from filling up with mud or sand, clogging the French Drain.

Below is a picture of a French Drain that we had to take out and replace because it had no liner or filter around the Pipe.

clogged French Drain Pipe

result of French Drain Installed Incorrectly

 

 

Installing concrete channel drain

Setting the concrete around the channel drain

The French Drain Pipe shown above has a neo Preen soc around it to prevent sand and debris from clogging the French Drain.  The next step is to add the lime stone on top.

Other types of stone can be used as well.

colored gravel french drain

French Drain with colored gravel.’

 

FD River roc

A French Drain with River Rock

The type of rock that covers a perforated French Drainpipe can be just about any type of quality gravel or crushed stone.  Very small crushed stone or sand is not a good idea, however.  The water must be able to flow through the stone to reach the perforated pipe.

Oklahoma City French Drain, Moore French Drain, Norman French Drain, Edmond French Drain

Posted: July 12, 2010 in Drain Installation, french drain, French Drain Contractor
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Oklahoma City French Drain Installation, Moore French Drain, Edmond French Drain. Installing a French Drain in the mud Standing water can cause a lot of damage to your yard.  The above picture was from a French Drain Installation in Oklahoma City.

Many times we wait until things dry out a bit before beginning a French Drain Installation.  Some times the water never goes away.  So we start digging in standing water and putting the mud in a wheelbarrow.   We then haul it to a dump trailer to be hauled away.  It isn’t the easiest thing to do.

 

Liner and French dran

Perforated Pipe, Filter , and Liner installed in a drainage trench.

The water started draining away as soon as we dug the Drainage Trench.  Once the Pipe and Limestone were installed, it drained away even faster.

The trench liner allows sub surface water to pass through it and reach the French Drain Pipe.  The reason it is installed is to maintain the integrity of the drainage trench so it doesn’t collapse over time.  It also helps protect the pipe from filling up with mud or sand, clogging the French Drain.

Below is a picture of a French Drain that we had to take out and replace because it had no liner or filter around the Pipe.

clogged French Drain Pipe

result of French Drain Installed Incorrectly

 

The French Drain Pipe shown above has a neo Preen soc around it to prevent sand and debris from clogging the French Drain.  The next step is to add the lime stone on top.

Other types of stone can be used as well.

colored gravel french drain

French Drain with colored gravel.’

 

FD River roc

A French Drain with River Rock

The type of rock that covers a perforated French Drain Pipe can be just about any type of quality gravel or crushed stone.  Very small crushed stone or sand is not a good idea, however.  The water must be able to flow through the stone to reach the perforated pipe.

Drain Basin Connected into a French Drain and Several Gutters

Drain Basin Connected into a French Drain and Several Gutters

Servicing Central Oklahoma including: Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, Midwest City, Del City, Yukon, Mustang, Moore, Norman, Purcell, Newcastle, Blanchard and surrounding areas.

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 Drain Pipe 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 Storm-Water 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.

Surface Drain and Drain Pipe

A Channel Drain is a type of Surface Drain and many times is installed in concrete across sidewalks or driveways.

channel drain in driveway

Driveway Channel Drain

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 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 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 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.

French Drains Can Look Great!

 

 

 

French Drains can look great!

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 Drain Pipe 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 Storm-Water 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.

Surface Drain and Drain Pipe

A Channel Drain is a type of Surface Drain and many times is installed in concrete across sidewalks or driveways.

Channel Drain

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 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

Drain Pipe running to street from French Drain

Drain Pipe running to street from 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 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.  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.

French Drain in Oklahoma City

French Drain in Oklahoma City

 

 

French Drain, – Norman Oklahoma — Edmond, Oklahoma City, Moore, French Drain Repair

Posted: July 10, 2010 in Drain Repair, Driveway Drain, french drain
Tags: , , ,
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Channel Drains

Before

cutting the driveway for a channel drain

Breaking out the cut concrete

After

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

Servicing all of Central and Western Oklahoma since 1993.

French Drain Installation, Drainage Systems, Surface Drain, Sump pumps, – Oklahoma Drainage and Sprinkler Repair

 

Emergency Sprinkler Repair Service — Drainage Systems — French Drains — Surface Drains— Sump Pumps —  Scheduled Sprinkler Repair

Sprinkler Repair

Popup Sprinkler Heads

Servicing Central Oklahoma including: Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, Midwest City, Del City, Yukon, Mustang, Moore, Norman, Purcell, Newcastle, Blanchard and surrounding areas.

 

Channel Drain in Oklahoma City

Channel Drain in oklahoma city

Drainage System Installation is a big part of our business.  If you have trouble with standing water after a thunderstorm, or if your sidewalk turns into a moat every time it rains, or worst of all you have water seeping into your home, Give  us a call.  We can quickly diagnose your Drainage problems and design a Drainage System to solve your Drainage Problems.

 

Large 6 Inch French Drain Installed in Norman
Large 6 Inch French Drain Installed in Norman

Drainage Systems can be made up of one drain or a combination of many drains.  Drainage  problems can be very complex.   Complex Drainage Problems may require a combination of several different types of drains all inter-connected and working together.  Other times the drainage problem may be simple and straight-forward requiring only one drain or several of the same type of drain connected together.

An example of a complex drainage system would be:  A French Drain in the back yard connected to a Surface Drain near a flower bed connected to several gutter downspouts, which are connected to a Channel Drain going across a driveway, which is connected to additional Surface Drain in the front yard, which runs to a Curb Fitting that lets all the water drain out on to the street.

A simple Drainage System might consist of a Surface Drain that is connected to a second Surface Drain which 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 the Drainage System.  Determining the Exit Point is very critical.  It is one of the first things we do when diagnosing a Drainage Problem.

Drainage Systems can:

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 Drains to 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 Drain also 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 Drains look 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.

Surface Drain Installed next to sidewalk in Oklahoma City.

Surface Drain on Sidewalk

Surface Drain Installed next to sidewalk in Oklahoma City.

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 Drain can 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 Water away 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 Drain Pipe that is connected to the Drain.

Surface Drain Installation in Norman

Surface Drain installation

Surface Drain Installation in Norman

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 Drain for 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 the Drain Pipe.

Recently we installed a large 6 inch French Drain in a home in North West Edmond.  The home owner was getting water in their floor Duct Work every time it rained.  Installing a large French Drain along the wall in their flower bed solved the problem.  No longer is water seeping into their foundation and coming up in their vents.

Installing Drainage Pipe coming from French Drain in Back Yard

Installing Drainage Pipe coming from French Drain in Back Yard

Looks like a good place for a French Drain!