How To Build a French Drain That Lasts FOREVER
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ก.พ. 2019
- www.frenchdrainman.com
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Welcome to the French Drain Man TH-cam channel. We're going to go over some do's and don'ts for French drains. I'm going to show you some of our competitor's systems that failed and we had to replace them. And I'll show you how to build a French drain that lasts forever. Let's begin.
Here's a failed French drain that we did not install. None of our systems fail. The stone gravel French drain will last forever. A French drain that's installed correctly will last forever. Simply put, what happened here is they didn't use a geotextile fabric to separate the stone from the subsoil. So you can see the stone in subsoil migrated into one another. You can see that the pipe is just plugged. The inside of that pipe is not plugged. It's plugged externally. The water can't get through all the clay and stone mixed since they didn't use a filter fabric. You need to use a non-woven geotextile filter fabric. We'll get into that in a little bit here. So there again, you can see that that is a real shallow pipe. We just cut the sod off. The pipe was pushed up to the surface. The frost will do that in Michigan in any place in the north where you have a real winter.
Here's another failed system. We did not install this. I want to keep emphasizing that I'm showing you pictures of failure. These are things that we run into out in the field. This pipe was just a pipe that we abandoned because we went in, and put a system in that would last forever. This pipe has a filter fabric on it. We don't endorse that for a French drain, a yard drain. I'll go over that detail. You can see they used a larger stone aggregate, which I like, but they didn't use a geotextile non-woven fabric, so the stone migrated into the subsoil. The subsoil migrated into stone and you can't get water through that. It's plugged. So the pipe hasn't plugged the pipe. You can see some dirt that's pushed in it from the backhoe or excavator, but the pipe was not plugged. You just couldn't get water to the pipe. That's the problem. It's because of how they installed it.
So here's another. We see this a lot. They, this is a corrugated drainpipe and they wrapped it with drainage fabric. You don't want to do this either. This is another bad idea and it just results in failure. These systems only work if you can get the water to the pipe and the way we build them with so much stone, the water will move through the gravel.
This was another failed pipe and it just went to a pop-up and then the water was supposed to define gravity and go up into the storm drain catch basin, which that don't work. So we core drilled here and then we ditched out a really big trench and I'll show you how we go about building our French drain systems.
Okay. We use an excavator or backhoe and you can see the gentlemen down in the trench,w we're ditching out a really nice French drain trench here. We're taking all that dirt out. Notice how there are not piles of dirt. There are not piles of dirt anywhere on this job site. As soon as the shovel gets a scoop of the heavy soil, he's putting it in a mini loader and we're getting it off-site.
Here's another example. You can see we have a spotter in the trench. He's looking for sprinkler pipes and he's also taken topol readings with a laser level to, um, he's got a transit onsite on a tripod and he's communicating with the operator. Now, look how clean that is. We're taking all the dirt, we're scooping it out of this trench. We're putting it in this mini-loader and we're carrying it out to the front to dump trucks.
Now compare these other methods, they bring in a trencher and look at the damage they do. Look at the damage to that turf. Now, not only most trenchers are only gonna make a six-inch groove. That's not ditching a job. You need to ditch a job for a good French drain. I do know that they make big commercial trenchers that will go wider than six inches. I'm well aware. However, I want to restore the homeowner's yard. I don't want to destroy it. I want to be as I want to go in and be as noninvasive as possible. That's, that's the goal here. [...]
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French Drain Man - Michigan’s Yard Water Drainage Experts. Masters in the art of constructing contained French drain systems & curtain drain systems that and fix your yard drainage problems for years to come. Over 30 years’ experience in solving yard water drainage problems in Oakland, Macomb, Lapeer and St. Clair Counties.
French Drain Man / Sherwood Landscape Construction, LLC
122 S Rawles St
Romeo, MI 48065
248-505-3065
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This guy owns a non-woven geotextile filter fabric factory, doesn't he?
Thank you French Drain Man. I ordered the high octane pipe and the non woven geo textile fabric several years ago and installed it by myself with the help of my tractor and my yard now drains within an hour compared to days .
Excellent videos! You have addressed most of my questions and concerns about the installation process as well as many design details. I only wish we had you and your crew here in upstate New York. All of the “professional” contractors here are doing it wrong. Thank you so much for taking the time to put this information online.
Very nice work I have redone many french drains myself and just when you thought you seen it all you do another job that you just can't get your mind around what they were thinking. I learned a couple things here even though I been doing french drains for 25 yrs.with great success. Great content very professional and much appreciated. Keep up the good work !
Do add more soil than this guy back in? If you lay the sod right on top of the geotech how is it supposed to "catch"?
@@Wildspirit2016 They cut 2 and a half inches down on the initial cut through the sod. This gives them the whole root system and an inch of soil. The grass that bridges over the drain gap will have nutrients running off from the whole yard, and plenty of water underneath.
Thank you for all the tips! I'm doing this myself and DO NOT want to mess it up :-)
Thank you for your invaluable information. This helped me tremendously.
I've done geotech work for years. Everything you said is correct and right on the money. Looks like you guys do great work. I just had a roofing contractor do a footing (curtain) drain at our home. He thought he was helping us out when I was working out of town. Well, when I got home, I found the drain wouldn't even drain any water. Come next spring, I'll be doing it myself again.
I appreciate that you call out things that are appropriate or not appropriate based on geography or climate. Textile fabrics should be in that category. Non-woven geo-textiles are not appropriate in some areas (the South) because the punched holes will clog with clay. Woven textiles allow small particles through, but if you provide a clean-out, those particles can be cleaned out before the pipe clogs. Once a filter fabric clogs its done and the drain doesn't work. Cleanouts are more work, but that's a system that will last in this area. Multi-million dollar commercial projects specify woven fabric systems; that should tell you something.
You 'da man, French Drain Man. This is exactly what I needed to know. Thanks!
Extremely helpful - have a place up in Northern MI - your video will be my guide
You have done an excellent presentation with great detail explaining exactly why each item is done in a particular way. An engineered solution. this is the first video that has been done with great accuracy. Thank you for the detailed knowledge.
How about a sumpump tied into your style French drain to a canal
Man you are thorough. Definitely investigating to do a DIY!! Thank you for the many insights into ground water management❤
Kudos on the views.
Thanks for the info!
Great job and an even better explanation as to why you do the things you do. Being an engineer, I already knew these things, and I spec out exactly what materials and construction techniques are to be followed by drainage contractors. People don't much care about drainage, until they have water problems, then they're ready to sue any and everybody involved. As I do most of my work in NH, we also have to provide a Radon elimination system, subsurface. Interestingly, though I did oversee an install of one of these radon systems, the house contined to have abnormally high radon levels. It took so detective work, but the culprit ended up being the granite countertops. Certain slabs of granite are radioactive, moreso than other slabs. My two cents.
Look very professional bud.
Awesome video, thanks for the great tips! Do you have recommendations for which specific non-woven geotextile fabric and drain pipe to use, and where to get them? I can Google of course, but it looks like you have some great materials to "last forever" as you put it. I was also planning on using 5/8" chip gravel - is that big enough?
Great video! Was wondering I'm not far from your weather pattern. I'm up by Chatham Ontario.. Anyway I got to put tile around house. So was wondering the tilenis installed level around house right.? Than since I dont have any low spots to run water too can I just make some run off lines into gravel French drain collector 15 ft long with 2 feet gravel around pipe.
Thanks. ROB
Great video!!!
My friend I have watched 20 of your videos. I love watching your crews work. You sound like a nice guy but yesterday I watched 10 videos of you explaining how great that trenching method was. You were 100 % on that ditch which. I almost ordered one today, for drains. Man yesterday videos showed all round stone.I’m getting confused. Thanks again for the video.
th-cam.com/video/VFYj7sbmXGg/w-d-xo.html
Great video. Wish you guys were in my area.
Oh geeze so I really do need the fabric, thank you for the URL
th-cam.com/video/VFYj7sbmXGg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=XnLWaO4OvtwR36rU
Awesome video. How would you recommend crossing utilities with a quad of the blue pipe?
Great videos. I had a contractor that sized the drainage as 6" then wanted to bring it down to 4" at the end. I like your Y into two 4". It makes zero sense to downsize outlet smaller than the system. I was going to ask. How do you staple fabric in the end? Just U staples pressed down?
3:43 "Soil taken away". This is a key point. When people ask, I tell them when they get drainage done, that no soil will be put back in, as the trench will contain only fabric, pipe and stone.
One company I saw lays down a seed impregnated fabric on top which is pretty cool.
Great video. Would it help to also add rock to bottom or trench before laying down the fabric?
Awesome suggestions. How much would be the cost for a 60 foot straight line along the perimeter ? I live off VA....just a ball park idea would be great.
great info
Great video and great system! I wish I could hire you for my drainage problems. I had a quick question: What if you don't have a natural slope to the street or curb? My front yard slopes towards my house. Would I have to put in a collection box and pump?
Yes a out door sump pump system.
th-cam.com/play/PLjFCqaZ4v1BXXbPw3Vf7e86DbKj7qOnLn.html
You're sure you can't pass through NC and work with my yard? I have clay soil so I really appreciate this video.
Thanks for sharing. Do you know any companies that can install a french drain in Ypsilanti, Michigan? I am in desperate need one.
Brother I need you to do my French drain here in nc 👌🏼
Wow wish you were in the south! So if we wanted to DIY, starting new Landscape on a river side, how do you know what weight fabric should use
Great post. I really like how you used photographs instead of video to illustrate your points. The former inevitably leads to videos that are too long. I am trying to design something for my sister’s driveway and I wonder if you can answer a few questions.
-What about frost heave mitigation for a trench that is above the frost line? Foam board insulation at the bottom of the trench? If so, what about not using a pipe and just burrito-wrapping the stone and insulation board? What extra function does the pipe perform?
-Can you explain how laying the pipe directly on the fabric prevents frost heave? I assumed that a layer of stone, because it’s so porous, allows for expansion/contraction.
-Will the geotextile fabric clog up eventually?
-How do you cut your turf? Do you use a manual sod cutter, or an attachment to your machines?
Thanks again!
Watch "French Drain 101 - Everything You Need to Know!" on TH-cam
th-cam.com/video/VFYj7sbmXGg/w-d-xo.html
Hello. I like your videos. If you have an area prine to alot if surface water along an area of 80 feet, would you suggest gravel all the way to the surface (no dirt on top)? My thinking is the clay we dug out would just prevent a large portion of the surface water from reaching the non woven cloth. Gravel would redirect the water down to the pipe. Thank you sir.
Greetings from Thornton Colorado. Nice video. I don’t require a French drain or at least I don’t think so. My dilemma is this. I would like to direct water from my gutter downspouts. If I have a gutter connection to solid pvc pipe, pitch it correctly and run approximately 20 ft to exit ( no pop up lol) would this suffice? I could also simply drain water through dry stream to street.
Good stuff.
I need an insight on a small water issue in my basement. Under heavy rains three of four corners seep water. If I have CLAY hauled in and raise the grade 1' from ground zero out to about 8-10' will a french drain be needed or should I simply put in a recommended downspout system while raising the grade? Thanks
I can't get anything but 4oz Non woven close to me, is that good enough for a french drain? I was thinking about doubling it over for extra protection since I had to buy 250' and only needed about 75.
I missed what about the frost heave? u said it was 2 feet deep?where I am we have a deeper then that frost line.
Are the ends of the pipe open or capped at the start of the system? Does the geo fabric make for a end cap?
Excellent vid and advice! I also like the way FDM shuck in the marketing! :
I like how you used plywood to keep from tearing the yard up, my contractor messed up the yard so bad they had to bring in a grader to to grade out my front and back yards and throw out some WEED seeds. What a mess!
Do you still apply the 1% grade to your installation ?
If I’m doing a basic 50ft long French drain with the low end emptying into a driveway, do I cap the high end or just leave it open?
After excavation, do you compact the bottom of the sub soil?
We do French foundation drainage with perforated PVC, similar. One issue is that it drains too well. The grass yellows over the excavation in dry conditions
One would think that there would have to be more dirt over top of everything so the sod could " catch and get roots in again
Question: o live I Delaware. Having a house built. Mh house sits high and the only way to run drain pipes is down hill. How do i get this water from down spouts to a safe place without affecting neighbors? Should i do a pop-up?
Thanks!
What kind of fabric is it?
I’m building a 75 French drain. I’d like to tie a Corrugated pipe behind a retaining wall into the top of my French drain (high point of French drain). Should I use a wye connection? Or just dump the retaining wall pipe onto a blind inlet for my French drain? Thanks.
French Drain Man Guy: "I wish I had all that time back for when I had to say, 'non-woven geotextile filter fabric' every 20 seconds!"
And “we haul our dirt away!”
What is the best way to cut down on ground water that is 4ft below grade? Trying to keep my cottage from heaving with the frost.
i have a lot of trees so some places no grass so what would cover the burrito stone with dirt since the grass want grow ?
With such awesome advice, I thought I would give this a shot. The first purchase I made of materials was supposedly 1 in river rock but what I received was 12 tons of pea gravel with some larger chunks mixed in. I suspect it will drain but it won't cover very much distance as opposed to the larger gravel. I wonder, what advice would you give to those who are ordering gravel for the first time sight unseen?
1 1/2" screened round rock
Sorry for the novel. I've watched several of your videos.
Is it legal for my neighbor to connect their subpump to a drainpipe under the ground and discharge it into the mid front of our yards/ the street? Because it has to be perforated or something because its causing my driveway to heave and our sidewalks to sink/heave. Its like I sit lower than my neighbor and his front yard slopes into my driveway and front of my garage while the side & back my house slopes into my neighbors back of his house/ back yard. They had water issues ergo why they started directing water onto my property at initially an incline... then slopes into my yard as previously said. I don't know where we can actually direct the water except to the back where it slopes but then that would flow into a 2nd neighbors back yard. The 2nd neighbors backyard/the model homes back yard is huge and the water wouldn't collect around their foundation like it does mine but idk whats legal and aloud. But running it to the street or sidewalk isn't working. Does it need to go under the sidewalk? Like I don't get it. And I probably need to install an frend drain infront of my 3rd car garage bc thats also where the water runsoff and collects but I imagine it will just fill up and get my driveway or garage wet unless I run another drain bordering my driveway. I actually had to replace my subpump this year and I've only been in my home for 3 years.... it's being overworked and obviously taking in some of my neighbors water. I don't even think the street is low enough to properly collect the water. And I also don't recall the pipe being wrapped or gravel or sand used. We have a pretty high clay content in Eastern Nebraska which the builder denies but lol its definitely not Iowa or Michigan black dirt I can tell ya that much.
I’m renovating my garden because there was an 8-10 layer of clay under ~10 inches of top soil, after 2 years the soil has become saturated and is now ruined. I’ve taken all the ruined soil and clay out and I’m now left with a 20 inch excavation plus a soakaway which I have centred in the middle. I’m putting down a layer of drainage gravel on the base and having that channel towards to soakaway, and on top of that premium quality top soil. I’m thinking 8 inch layer of gravel and 12 inch layer of soil with a pourous membrane separating them. Would this be ok to grow grass on? Many thanks
I wish you guys were near me in New England......
How was the harvest? Lol
My home in St Petersburg FL is just 7 feet above sea level and my slope from home to street is likely two feet or less (measuring tomorrow), so dispersing water during heavy rains/storms is important. Would burying the drain pipe one to two feet below ground, cover with rock, wrap both in non-woven geotextile fabric, then add some more rock on top be adequate? Grass grows everywhere here with or without soil so a couple handfuls of soil on top produces grass in a few days. Thanks.
go for it
Thanks for the video! What type of stone (larger than normal) do you use? I wish you were nearby to help!
th-cam.com/video/mgyLjwvS5a8/w-d-xo.html
Man I wish you guys were in Florida.
Whats the maximum distance between the top of the burrito wrap and ground level before the water cant flow through it properly, i see you say yours are 2.5 inches as thats the thickness of the grass you cut out but can you go thicker than that? Or does the dirt stop the water getting through to the filter fabric, thanks from NZ
im no expert but i did stay at a holiday in express last night, i mean watch a lot of french drain youtubes. Anyway one good point I learned is that actually a lot of the water youre draining is ground water from the water table rising UP into the pipe. Thats why perforated pipe has holes at the BOTTOM and all around. For surface water (aka, a pool or big puddle) I think youre more wanting catch basins. So in conclusion I'm not sure LOL, but probably the exact depth you bury the pipe isnt that important.
Would the same thing happen to the filter fabric over time? Could the dirt ever plug the fabric so water won't get through?
@Cupid
NOT IF YOU USE THE RIGHT FABRIC
How do you put a French drain combine with two catch drains 12x12. Please
Live in Florida in a very fine sand area with water table around 15'-20' no limestone or clay near surface. Do I need to back fill with gravel? The soil naturally drains very quickly but will overload the surface during heavy rainfall. What is the best method for my area?
@John H
Go to my playlist watch
HOW TO COMBINE YARD DRAIN WITH A FRENCH DRAIN
Where are you located? I have big problems with a section of my yard. Always wet and muddy
Thanks, very informational, need your advise to install French drain , I’m planning to install French drain around my house, I’m not sure how to end water when pipe is goin to be almost 2 feet deep, I have side walks where drain pipes going to end, I can’t dig under sidewalks, so can I just leave pipes open under drain, or shd I install pop up emitter at ends before sidewalk with gravel on top, but for that I have to connect drain pipe to 90degree pvc pipe with pop up emitter. I appreciate if you can advise, thanks, Vishal
*what type or kind of gravel is the best for a 20 feet French drain?*
I noticed the area code for your number is based in Michigan. Would you happen to know of any reputable french drain experts in South Carolina?
Why corrugated pipe versus PVC with holes? Mostly cost?
What if you need to snake it?
What kind of filter fabric is that again ..
Where can order the fabric and pipe you use online im in the Kansas City area?
WWW.FRENCHDRAINMAN.COM
"...A junky for tools..!" I used to joke with customers that they were taking me to the hobby store.
Somebody please help! So if I’m only using the pipe to take away downspout water do I still need to do all of this as long as the inside of the pipe is clean right? I bought a 50 foot wrapped 4 inch perforated pipe and a 12x12 grate for the water downspout to drop into. I’m going to fill gravel around the grate tho and use a filer inside the grate
How long will u complain about the trencher?
How do I find someone in Arkansas that installs french drains using your method and materials?
I want you to install a French drain at my house and I live in the desert lol
What if you don't have grass, and only have Virginia red clay/dirt? I have a new build that has yet to have grass planted on it. How much clay/dirt should I fill over the rock if any, and should I put my clay over it, or truck in some top soil?
You need a sprinkler system to grow grass over a good French Drain. No clay put back over the Drain just topsoil mixed with sand.
I wish you were near our area. We're in Rockmart, GA and looking for a contractor that will help us with drainage problems on our house...
What would you suggest when you dont have anywhere to drain to water too. No storm water access.
garden or pool - its filtered water
@@Deucealive75 Drain into a swale or pond.
Wish you were located in Texas! Can you recommend a like minded company in the San Antonio Area?
What size aggregate do you use?
@Kyle
Always use Round Rock. The bigger the rock the larger the void for water to move.
I am in central New York. What make of wrap, pipe and size of stone (#2 or 1A) do you use? I have yet to see anyone carry the yellow colored pipe.
biggest you can get
make your own holes or make the holes bigger like with a screwdriver
me too. cny. I'm wondering the same things
Seems like the longevity of a french drain solely rests on geo textile fabric. Any alternatives, cause its not easily available in my country.
what about the drain pipe that has the fake foam agreagate that is pre-wrapped unit?
I’ve thought of this for mine, but I like solid ground under the pipe so the water doesn’t just pass by the tile. It may work as a drainage field to disperse the water into the surrounding ground however.
Yes but, do you guys use a non-woven geo-textile filter fabric?
th-cam.com/play/PLjFCqaZ4v1BXWZPUFUNw6SMI64dtHlhzl.html&si=yK12GSOTQY1zLSbc
You lay the sod straight back over the burrito without allowing for another 2-3" of topsoil? That seems like the roots would struggle for water.
Not to mention, its liable to get punctured by an aerator
Yes, but soil won’t freeze on top, creating a barrier for water in the spring. Mine is like that in a couple areas and I have to be aware of this and it works.
These pipes have holes all round them...? (seen it on your other vids) So how does the water not just leak out the bottom of them once they are installed?
Same way Rivers move water. There's just enough water to keep things flowing, and when there's not it just sinks into the ground.
What are your feelings on the EZ-Drain Prefabricated French Drain with Pipe gravel-free drainage system "saves labor by 50%
30% higher flow rate than gravel French Drains"....how long do they last before they are needing repairs and do they last in sandy soil?
Go to TH-cam "WARNING!!!! French Drain Failure "
How deep and wide are your trenches?
Which transit laser level do you use?
Thanks I am a customer of your supplies.
@ Mark Stanchin Question 1 we go as deep as we need to go but a 14 inch by 14 inch is our minimum.
2 we have been using Dewalt Transit for many years no complaints.
I'm installing one right now around a cellar in heavy clay. I just came here to confirm my notion that I had to fill the whole eight foot deep trench with track ballast.
@KC DANIEL It's, I guess, a daylight basement. Below ground on three sides, with the bottom of the pour being about 7'4" below grade.
@ 2:58 yea that water was never going to define gravity, those installers were just being silly
Do you have a sister company in central Florida? We live near Tampa and have a pool. Every hurricane season we are draining the pool because the yard doesn't drain properly and flows into the pool, then almost into the house. We need help
My name is David Randall, I work for LRE Ground Services.... This is one our specialties! Please call for a free estimate!(352) 247-7716
The problem is that your yard wasn’t graded properly for drainage before the pool installation. I have a similar landscape situation and am currently having a pool Installed. The contractor is regrading the yard slope to ensure proper drainage away from the pool and house.
At this point, your options are to either regrade the area around your pool or install (French drains or Catch Basins and pipe) drainage to capture water and divert it away from the pool. Both methods could work although neither option will be as effective as having a properly sloped yard before the pool install. Best of luck with your drainage project.
The back of my property receives a lot of water from surrounding sump discharges as well as rain and snow melt. It appears to have sunken lower than the next property down, which is where it should be running to drain to the street. Everyone else has a nice little stream and I have a lake. My soil is very marshy quite a ways away from the standing water when it's there. What can I do to keep the water moving off of my property? It seems to me a line needs to be installed all the way across all of our lots, but especially across the one between ours and the street.
I think you should raise your grade as high as you can, cut swales into the grade and install sumps in the low areas of the property
Will clay plug this non-woven geotec fabric over time? I'm talking about a deeper french drain like 30-36 inches deep where clay is abundant.
We never had a problem in 35 years. If you want to build a Yard drain in a French drain I've done many videos on it.
Is there any specific type of fabric we should use? I didn’t catch it.
Non-woven Geotextile Fabric in 4 oz and 8 oz
frenchdrainman.com/filter-fabric/
Nice video, congrats! However I got here from your FarmCraft101 Solar Video Series and I believe this video is unrelated to that.
Do you ever get the sod dying from heating up the rock below?
Only if the homeowner doesn't have sprinklers. What we prescribe in a case like this with no sprinklers is to water the grass during the drought season.
PVC vs perferrated hose. I am having to redo mine. Drains put in before I moved in. Just corragated hose buried without lining or gravel. so its full of roots and mud.
I have a hill leading to my house. Water rushes down the hill and hits the house. Would a French drain like this catch the flowing water and prevent it from reaching my house? Thanks.
th-cam.com/video/76EcYaGDboM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=T6kmExoUmNXSOurK