What do french drains look like

Whether the project is construction or excavation, everything starts with laying a good foundation. Sites require diligent preparation before a project can get off the ground.

Quality site prep is a […]. Commercial drainage systems are vital to redirecting rain and water around your commercial property where it will not cause damage or block walkways and entrances. As you research the different types of commercial drainage, you can find out what options are best for your property.

Keep in mind that performance is an important point to […]. Posted Dec 4, by Dennis Mikula. How trench drains operate Trench drains are also referred to as channel drains and are classified as an above-ground drainage method even though the actual materials are embedded into the ground.

Explaining French drains French drains are actually an American innovation, invented in the 19th century by a New England farmer named Henry Flagg French. Let Mikula Contracting solve your drainage problems Trench and French drains have one other very important thing in common: onsite responsibility.

The sides of the trench should slope away from the building and be at no less than a 45 degree angle so as to ensure that the surrounding ground remains stable. If you would like, you can cover your French drain and conceal the fact that it is there.

You can do this by covering the area with grass or decorative aggregate. For a French drain without the landscape fabric and perforated pipe follow steps 1 to 6, as explained above. Once the drain is filled to the top with aggregate, you can cover with grass, soil or something else of your choosing to conceal the French drain. You should however consider that there is nothing to stop things falling into the drain and causing a blockage.

It is therefore important to take care with what is placed on top of the drain. Your drain will probably need to be maintained regularly to ensure that no blockages occur and that the drain continues to redirect water away from your property. There are many factors that go into calculating the cost of installing a French drain.

It depends on the materials used, the size of the French drain and whether you install it yourself or pay someone else to do it. There will also be a cost of calling out a contractor to inspect the site where you wish to build it. Below is a rough cost guide for materials to create a French drain of mm by mm by 25 metres. If you have any unanswered questions around French drains or their role in external waterproofing then call our technical team for free advice on We are more than happy to share our 30 years of waterproofing knowledge.

Read more on installing French drains and external waterproofing in our guide. Alternatively, get inspired to transform your garden with our sunken garden design and drainage how to guide. Chris is a Certificated Surveyor in Structural Waterproofing. With a background in the communication sector, Chris has made it his mission at Permagard to provide each and every customer with the information they need to get the job done.

Whether on the technical helpline, behind the trade counter or with our How To guides, Chris makes sure that our users feel complete confidence in the systems and products we sell, and know how to use them to get the job done.

View Chris's full profile or connect with him on LinkedIn. You are using an old, unsupported, insecure version of IE. Please consider upgrading. What is a French drain? Why French drains are important? You agree that BobVila. All rights reserved. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY.

Do you always get water in your basement after a heavy rain? A simple solution might help dry things up. Here are the basics. Drainage problems? Hire a pro to do the dirty work for you. Get free, no-commitment project estimates from drainage experts today. Find drainage pros. Adequate fall means at least 2 ft lower per ft of pipe or 0.

In many cases, inadequate slope to drain the area is the original problem that usage of a french drain aims to solve. Once a 4-in. If these conditions are not met, it would be better to allow the water to drain across the surface. For these reasons alone, a french drain, and even a pipeless French drain, can require a lot of effort with minimal effectiveness to avoid French drain mistakes. Another reason why a French drain pipe is not always an effective solution relates to the basic properties of water.

A simple science class experiment in which a penny is placed on top of a glass of water makes the penny float. It does not really float, but rather rests on the surface tension of the water. Once a drop of soap is placed into the water, the penny sinks because the surface tension gives way to the weight of the penny. In much the same manner, rainfall sticks to itself and to the surface of soil, gravel, sand or whatever other surface with which it comes into contact.