How to Build a French Drain
Materials Needed:
- shovel
- striping spray paint
- top soil
- sand
- 6' drain pipe (or more, if needed)
- roll of landscape fabric
- gravel
- turf
- landscaping stones
Determine Area for Re-Routing and Draining
Locate the appropriate area of yard for excess water to be re-routed. Choose a location where the flow of water won't affect neighboring properties. Determine a slightly downward-sloping route at least 1 meter from walls or fencing that's clear of any obstructions such as posts, trees or shrubs. Tip: Drains that slope 6" for every 50 feet ensure the best result. Use striping spray paint to mark drainage route.
Create a Trench and Add Gravel
Referring to spray paint marks, use shovel to dig a 6" wide trench with a depth no greater than that of the nearest foundation (Image 1). Tip: Proper trenches run parallel to buildings and horizontally across slopes. Once trench is dug, add a 3" layer of gravel along bottom (Image 2).
Digging a Drainage Ditch
Using a shovel dig a trench that is six inches wide to make a drainage ditch.
Add a Layer of Gravel to Trench
After digging a trench, place drainpipe atop fabric lining, add gravel layer and cover pipe completely. Leave approximately 5" between top of gravel and ground surface.
Add Fabric Lining
Use landscape fabric to line entire span of trench atop layer of gravel, leaving roughly 10" of excess fabric on each side of trench.
Insert Drain Pipe
Place drain pipe atop fabric lining, then add gravel, covering pipe completely. Leave approximately 5" between top of gravel and ground surface.
Drainage Pipe in Fabric Lining
Lay the drainage pipe in a fabric lining in the dug ditch. Place drain pipe atop fabric lining, then add gravel, covering pipe completely. Leave approximately 5" between top of gravel and ground surface.
Bury Drain Pipe in Gravel
In the next step of building a French drain, place the drain pipe on top of a fabric lining. Add gravel until the pipe is completed covered. There should be 5 inches from the top of the gravel to the ground.
French Drainage System
Are having problems with standing water in your yard? A French drain maybe what you need to solve your water issues. When burying the drainage pipe for a French drainage system in gravel, there should be about five inches from the top of the gravel to the surface of the ground.
Fold Over Excess Fabric Lining
Fold excess fabric over gravel, creating an overlap. This will help protect the lined drain pipe.
Fill and Cover Trench
Use shovel to fill trench with sand then topsoil. Cover sand and topsoil with turf and add a bed of stones around open end of drain pipe.
Fill Trench with Sand
Use shovel to fill trench with sand then topsoil. Cover sand and topsoil with turf and add a bed of stones around open end of drain pipe.
Add a Layer of Topsoil to Drainage Ditch
After securing the drainage pipe in the trench and adding a layer of sand, add a layer of topsoil for extra weight.
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