How do you install a french drain in your backyard?
One of the most popular types of waterproofing systems used today is the French drain. These drains have long been known for their quality construction and easy installation options. Many homeowners are using these drains to avoid flooding and costly clean-ups after heavy storms. Here’s how to install a French drain in your basement or on a crawl space foundation.
How To Install a FRENCH DRAIN in your back yard – Do It Yourself Project
The French drain system consists of two parts: the French trench kit and the French drain line. The French trench is simply a wide, open, diamond-cutout shaped trench with a top cutout for the drainage pipe. French drain line is installed from the bottom of the French trench to an established footpath or driveway. If you want to avoid flooding, you can use an excavating machine to dig the trench. If you’re not comfortable with doing it on your own, call in a professional contractor who has experience with installing underground utilities.
Installing French drains in a basement or on a crawl space foundation isn’t much different than regular landscape design principles. First, remember to leave a three-foot gap at the top of the French drain pipe. That’s how to install a French drain in a basement. In a standard yard, the trench would be three feet wide and eight feet long.
Once you’ve determined where you want your French drain to be located, remove any existing sump pit.
There should be enough room to add three foot holes for the French drain line to attach to. With your excavating equipment, dig a hole about six inches deep and wide and four feet long, creating a perimeter of gravel that will be the foundation of your new French drainage system. You can choose to put gravel in the bottom of the hole, but make sure you clear away at least two feet from the outside of the gravel when you are digging. If you have a lot of grass or other vegetation growing in the area, consider trimming these away before you start digging.
If you are using a sump pit, start by removing the water from the hole by putting a digger into the pit and gently squeezing the excavating soil out of the pit. This should free most of the water out of the trench. Then, remove the soil from the trench and put a layer of crushed stone on top of it, followed by a layer of filtering fabric or filter fabric with a mesh screen to prevent sewer gases from siphoning back up into your basement.
You may choose to have the French drain installed inside the existing sewer line, because this way you will only need one pump and one line for your yard.
This is an option if you can’t get your French drains installed directly into the sewer system. The problem with this is that you will be left with a backlog issue, because the sewage will be siphoned back up into the basement instead of going into the yard. If you do choose to install inside, there are a number of ways you can accomplish this. You could use piping that attaches directly to the sewer, or you could use a French drain kit that is filled with piping. The latter method is preferred, because you can match the diameter of the French drain pipe to the existing pipes in your yard.
Once you have the French drain installed, you need to make sure you clear the area surrounding it. Start digging in earnest around the perimeter, using a shovel and a pickax. You don’t want to hit any concrete as you’re digging, because it will cause problems later on. Eventually, you’ll end up with a circle of crushed stone, which is just what you need.
Once you’ve gathered your trenching equipment (which may include a hydraulic arm or hydraulic truck), the next step is to line the newly excavated area with a layer of crushed rock to help filter the water away from the foundation. This is simply done by placing a layer of filter fabric over the bottom of the trench. This fabric acts like a sponge, soaking up any water that makes its way toward the house. As the water works its way down the French drain, it will be pushed back up the trench. By carefully reading the gauge, you’ll know when the water has reached the pre-determined depth.
How to Install a French Drain
How to Install a French Drain Around a Foundation Wall
Knowing how to install a French drain around a foundation wall is essential if you want to avoid any damage to your foundation walls, and you need to know how to install a French drain properly in the first place. It may seem easier said than done but if you don’t have a good foundation wall installation practice then it can cost you more time, money, and worse yet – risk of more damage down the line. Unfortunately most people don’t think about this when they are doing their installations, which is why many plumbing and drain maintenance companies out there will try and charge you way more money for services that actually require less work in the end.
So what should you look for when you are trying to learn how to install a French drain?
There are a few things that you will want to be careful with when trying to learn how to install a French drain around a foundation wall. The first thing that you will want to make sure of is that your local building codes allow you to do so. Some states will only allow you to use an outlet or pipe directly under your home while other states and counties will let you use the pipes that are attached to your home. If you find that any of your states do not allow you to install your new French drain then you may want to contact your local plumbing and drain contractors to see what they recommend for installation practices.
Another important thing that you will want to make sure of when learning how to install a French drain around a foundation wall is how much water resistance your drain provides. If you have ever read the directions for how to install a French drain then you know that you will be able to leave the drain open as long as it doesn’t get water pressure. If you find out how much water resistance your particular French drain has then you will be able to install it without any problems in most cases.
How to Install a French Drain Around a Pool Deck
Learning how to install a French drain can be an intimidating prospect. If you have never completed a major construction project before, or if you are unsure about the best methods for installing drains and other underground systems, this may be one of your biggest jobs as a home owner. In order to make sure that the French drains you decide on are installed properly, you will need to learn some basic information that will help you learn how to install a French drain properly, so you do not have any issues with drainage in the future.
The most important thing you need to know when learning how to install a French drain is how to identify the correct drain for your swimming pool. Although most drains look very similar in appearance, there are a few key differences between the various types of drains that are available. For example, a French drain is designed to work around your pool deck, whereas a typical drain is designed to work around a pool’s liner. Knowing how to recognize the difference between the two types of drains is crucial to making sure that your pool deck or patio is properly maintained.
Once you know how to install a French drain around a pool deck, you will be ready to install the actual device, as well as learn how to properly set it up.
One of the first things you will want to do is choose a suitable base for your French drain system. You will need a concrete slab, or some type of poured concrete, to support the weight of the French drain. This should be a sturdy material, as drains are known to eventually become weaker over time, if they are not supported by a strong foundation. Once you have chosen a good base for your French pool deck drain, you will need to locate the appropriate spot for installation. It is usually recommended that you install the device at least one foot from the edge of your pool deck, in order to avoid potential problems with the ground in the future.
How To Install French Drains around the pool with Pump Discharge
How to Install a French Drain in a Gravel Driveway
When installing French drains in a gravel driveway, you can have it installed quickly without having to spend lots of time on the job. You should be able to have the French drain installed no more than three feet from the edge of your gravel driveway and if you are using concrete or cement for your driveway then it will need to be filled with asphalt shims before you can begin to set up the drain. Once you have your gravel driveway properly installed you can install your French drain in no time at all.
It is important that if you are going to use gravel for your driveway that you only use gravel that is designed for use in driveways.
If you are going to use pebbles, you need to make sure that you get these specially sized pebbles so that they will fit snuggly into your gravel driveway. When learning how to install a French drain in a gravel driveway, you will find that you will also need to get rid of any vegetation that is on your gravel driveway. Even though this can be a tedious task, it is necessary if you want to ensure that your French drain will work properly.
Gravel driveways can be used for commercial applications as well as residential ones. You can make use of gravel for landscaping, for patios, walkways and pools. The first thing that you need to do when learning how to install a French drain in a gravel driveway is to dig a small hole that is about six inches deep. Once you have located the bottom of the hole, you will then need to scoop out about a half yard of gravel. Then you will simply place your French drain inside of the hole and then plug it up.
