|
Home
/ French
Drain
French
Drain Systems -
Not For Your Basement!!!
A french
drain
is simply a drain without a pipe. Water is collected in a shallow
trench filled with stone, that leads the water to a different
area. French drains are easy to construct and can even be used
for beautifying the landscape.
Installing
french drains is a simple 4 step process. First, dig a trench
in the ground. The only rule to abide by here is to keep a slope
of 1:10 (1 inch of drop every 10 feet). This will allow gravity
to  pull
the water down the path of the trench.
Secondly, line
the trench with a ground sheeting (available at most home stores
such as Lowes or Home Depot). This material will allow water to
pass through but not silt and settlement particles which are known
to clog the french drain.
Third, fill
the trench with a clean, prewashed stone. Pea gravel (20mm) is
typically the best material for this. The trench can be filled
in its entirety with stone. As another option, fill the trench
within a few inches of the ground level, wrap the sheeting around
the stone, and backfill with topsoil. This will allow you to plant
seed and appear as if the trench never was dug.
Finally, the
trench will need to end in a soakaway. This is a large cube filled
with the same stone that the water will flow into. The idea is
that the water will dissipate through this cube of stone and soak
freely into the surrounding soil. It is best to end your trench
in an area that allows for water to flow freely.
Unfortunately,
installing french drains will do little to solve your basement
water problems.
They can be
used to capture above ground water (similar to the affect of a
gutter system along the roof of a home), but will do nothing to
solve the water problems below ground. Before investing the time
or money into installing french drains, it is recommended to consult
a professional waterproofing contractor to determine which solution
will work best for your individual situation.
Need
a basement waterproofing system for your water problems?
CLICK
HERE to see how you can get our evaluation free of charge.
|
