For sure. I decided not to rent any equipment since I had to avoid electrical (that I trenched 5 years ago myself) that ran to my garage 30 ft, the french drain needed to be 16" low at the max depth because of that, in 2 spots. I choose to hand dig it all 10" wide instead and while it took longer, I sure can hold a lot of water with the 3x 4" pipes (2 french drain pipes, slotted and 1 4" downspout run above those). Worked great but I know the limit is about 20-30' of trench for a project for myself in the future haha. Last little bit is to extend my sump pump french drain and seal it all up better but everything is great and I learned a lot from all these videos. I even did a 2' x 8" open french drain at the start of the run because I have a large patio and back corner of my house that takes on too much water in heavy rains.
Very cool that you used part of your property to show how a DIY is done. I'd say your "2 pipe high knife cut system DIY simulation" is ten times better than some of the "professional" work that some guys do out there. Those guys are all about 1 single pipe that may or may not have fabric or even stone as they pirate around the neighborhoods. Well done FDM!
The snap together parts are a huge benefit for the DIY'er and you guys did a great job with that here! Wish this was available when I was younger and installing the system at my house. Nice work FDM!
I did 200 ft, 100 ft each from backyard to each side yard, digging through rocky (some rocks weighing 50 lbs), hard clay Texas soil mostly using a pickaxe and a shovel to haul away the rocks/clay soil. About 12-14” wide and 12-16” deep (i have some slope towards front of house). It took me about 3 months every weekend before Texas heat rolls around to do one 100 ft. I did the other 100ft the year after and took another 3 months so total 6 months over 2 years to do all this. Using all French Drain Man products, 4” 8 slot perforated pipes (2x 100ft rolls), 250 ft or so of geotextile fabric, end caps. Also put in 3 or 4 cubic yards of 1-2” stone shoveled and hauled all by hand too. (This is like a mountain load of rocks) After all this, my yard is no longer pooling, dries out in hours to a day (vs over 7-10 days of sogginess) and system works better over time.
Your neighbor here from WI, I have been watching your channel for a while and have been waiting for you to start a franchise! You have so much knowledge and I’d love to be able to bring French Drain Man to WI!
Thank you. This is the companion video to the video you just watched, which covers a couple of other details. th-cam.com/video/9LhypCxXkZk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=50IByNMbJWYJ7IQO
I have puddles in my yard around my home and I know I need a French drain. I have watched so many of your videos and I 100% want to use The French Drain Man products. I live in Austin TX. I think I need some help with the design plan but as soon as I figure that out I’m gonna head to your website and purchase some product
@davidrosas-gc1mt 248-505-3065 is our main office. We offer consultations for $500. We will help you lay out your system and figure out your materials. When you make your material purchase, $200 of the consultation fee goes toward the material purchase, so it's $300 for the service, if you need it.
@mattw2383 A 12" bucket will give you a 15" wide clay breakout. It will work, but it will take more stone to fill. I would do a quad pack with that bucket.
Nice video and job 👍 I have a question for you. Don't you recommend leaving the French drain a open one up against the house? Bc i noticed that you didn't have solid down spout tubes in the trench? So I was wondering if you just let the downspouts run into the open French drain or would that be too much? My daughter has a lot of clay on her property so the water doesn't absorb in that good. It pools on it for a while. And when she bought the house they told her that she might have to replace the French drain? I'm wondering if it's bc the water pools on the lawn bc it's mostly clay?
Here are 2 playlists that will help you out. th-cam.com/play/PLjFCqaZ4v1BXFJKxV1EfanZ1Q-lZ1SODD.html&si=bqVqzZGrFk3voANK th-cam.com/play/PLjFCqaZ4v1BVdT-DTxvVZNn0FAXbzCrUt.html&si=_LKZvExo6lq4Vnka
Hi there - does anyone have opinions on using trencher with sprinkler lines? Should I just be prepared to have to fix some lines? Or do people generally just hand dig when they’re near the sprinkler heads?
You'll need to run your sprinklers to see where all the cut lines are, and you'll need to repair them. If you dig by hand with a trenching shovel, you can avoid all that.
Did I hear you Correctly, when you were using that red trenching shovel, you said the "slope doesn't have to be perfect" because you can use gravel to create the correct slope on a job like this one I have about 130ft from back of backyard to street. I have decent slope from back of backyard down to my back door and this is were it pools water right near my back door, but, only minor slope from back door to the street. Don't really want to use a sump pump if I don't have to THX for another Great Video.
Nice system. I did hear mentioned slope being utilized but nothing about 1/4” per foot standard slope or 1/8” per foot for drainage. I suspect there is a great deal of standing water in the pipe especially for the long runs you made. Maybe placing a 8’ 2x4 on top of the drain pipe with a level and measuring for the 1/8” slope would improve the system? The 8’ works well for convenience of eight eighths equaling one inch over the length of a eight foot 2x4. Would welcome your comments regarding slope.
It depends on the work site. If it's new construction, you just back-blade it into the yard. If it's existing turf, you just take a flat shovel, and it's easy to handle. If you have plywood or turf mats, you can scoop a lot of it up with a mini skid.
I am at a quandary. Our house is on the ridge line of a hill..road to the front, other houses to the rear. There isn't an easement to the rear (stormwater pipe through those properties...) Should I build drains to a massive pit and hook up a submersible pump to trigger when nearly full, to take water to front stormwater pipe and drain, where it can go downhill? Many thanks!
I want a professional like you to do my install but I’m in the catskill ny area! I can’t find anyone I trust that much! Well I partly do but I dont like the system he’s suggesting to use….any suggestions or any way to help!
What are they complaining about? I did 14 inch wide 30 inches deep max by myself in my back yard all with a shovel. Using all French Drain Man components, besides sump basin (Sorry Robert). DIY or contract, use the right materials. Picked up all the stuff from your Almont warehouse.
In this example, we are using 4" pipe. However, we do have a 3" double-pipe French drain without catch basins for small, soft areas. th-cam.com/video/VyC_Bj9KZAE/w-d-xo.htmlsi=uj8zwwlaqln5EzDU
![French Drain, Yard Drain, Roof Runoff System Combined [ 3 Great Systems In 1 Trench ] 2024 Updates](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/FK5ZlN0Ogow/mqdefault.jpg)
![French Drain, Yard Drain, Roof Runoff System Combined [ 3 Great Systems In 1 Trench ] 2024 Updates](/img/tr.png)
Part 2
th-cam.com/video/9LhypCxXkZk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ZeQ_vc9fEzfJzQ1Q
Me gustaría que me ayudaras si hablan español y si tienen alguien que hagan estos trabajos en NY 🙏🏼
FDM, thanks for taking the time to show all DIYers the simplest , and cost effective FRENCH Drain Install for Northern exposure.
It is a VERY important for a DIY'er to do whether they are renting a trencher, excavator or digging by hand is to call 811 for underground utilities.
For sure. I decided not to rent any equipment since I had to avoid electrical (that I trenched 5 years ago myself) that ran to my garage 30 ft, the french drain needed to be 16" low at the max depth because of that, in 2 spots. I choose to hand dig it all 10" wide instead and while it took longer, I sure can hold a lot of water with the 3x 4" pipes (2 french drain pipes, slotted and 1 4" downspout run above those). Worked great but I know the limit is about 20-30' of trench for a project for myself in the future haha. Last little bit is to extend my sump pump french drain and seal it all up better but everything is great and I learned a lot from all these videos. I even did a 2' x 8" open french drain at the start of the run because I have a large patio and back corner of my house that takes on too much water in heavy rains.
Very cool that you used part of your property to show how a DIY is done. I'd say your "2 pipe high knife cut system DIY simulation" is ten times better than some of the "professional" work that some guys do out there. Those guys are all about 1 single pipe that may or may not have fabric or even stone as they pirate around the neighborhoods.
Well done FDM!
The snap together parts are a huge benefit for the DIY'er and you guys did a great job with that here! Wish this was available when I was younger and installing the system at my house. Nice work FDM!
I did 200 ft, 100 ft each from backyard to each side yard, digging through rocky (some rocks weighing 50 lbs), hard clay Texas soil mostly using a pickaxe and a shovel to haul away the rocks/clay soil. About 12-14” wide and 12-16” deep (i have some slope towards front of house). It took me about 3 months every weekend before Texas heat rolls around to do one 100 ft. I did the other 100ft the year after and took another 3 months so total 6 months over 2 years to do all this. Using all French Drain Man products, 4” 8 slot perforated pipes (2x 100ft rolls), 250 ft or so of geotextile fabric, end caps.
Also put in 3 or 4 cubic yards of 1-2” stone shoveled and hauled all by hand too. (This is like a mountain load of rocks) After all this, my yard is no longer pooling, dries out in hours to a day (vs over 7-10 days of sogginess) and system works better over time.
Thank you for sharing!
Your neighbor here from WI, I have been watching your channel for a while and have been waiting for you to start a franchise! You have so much knowledge and I’d love to be able to bring French Drain Man to WI!
th-cam.com/users/shorts-hwjiaQhD2U?si=m058_yodxvFtedzS
Fantasitc !!! Makes total sense..
Great video thank you.
Thank you.
This is the companion video to the video you just watched, which covers a couple of other details.
th-cam.com/video/9LhypCxXkZk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=50IByNMbJWYJ7IQO
Showing the area during a heavy down pour is a good ending.
th-cam.com/play/PLjFCqaZ4v1BUpFHCLJ_sUFTqw1WoXu1Vz.html&si=3fpS4fTp-WM_cukZ
@@FRENCHDRAINMAN Nice..
great system with a trencher i believe i could do this fhanks
I have puddles in my yard around my home and I know I need a French drain. I have watched so many of your videos and I 100% want to use The French Drain Man products. I live in Austin TX. I think I need some help with the design plan but as soon as I figure that out I’m gonna head to your website and purchase some product
@davidrosas-gc1mt
248-505-3065 is our main office. We offer consultations for $500. We will help you lay out your system and figure out your materials. When you make your material purchase, $200 of the consultation fee goes toward the material purchase, so it's $300 for the service, if you need it.
Hello thanks for all your information . I have a 12 inch bucket on backhoe is that to wide ? Thanks 🙏🏼
@mattw2383
A 12" bucket will give you a 15" wide clay breakout. It will work, but it will take more stone to fill. I would do a quad pack with that bucket.
Thanks for the video. How deep are the trenches?
16" deep x 6" wide. At our deepest point, we were 24" deep.
@@FRENCHDRAINMAN Thanks for the response. How do you calculate the depth (16 to 24 deep ) to create the natural slope? Thank you
Nice video and job 👍 I have a question for you. Don't you recommend leaving the French drain a open one up against the house? Bc i noticed that you didn't have solid down spout tubes in the trench? So I was wondering if you just let the downspouts run into the open French drain or would that be too much? My daughter has a lot of clay on her property so the water doesn't absorb in that good. It pools on it for a while. And when she bought the house they told her that she might have to replace the French drain? I'm wondering if it's bc the water pools on the lawn bc it's mostly clay?
Here are 2 playlists that will help you out.
th-cam.com/play/PLjFCqaZ4v1BXFJKxV1EfanZ1Q-lZ1SODD.html&si=bqVqzZGrFk3voANK
th-cam.com/play/PLjFCqaZ4v1BVdT-DTxvVZNn0FAXbzCrUt.html&si=_LKZvExo6lq4Vnka
Hi there - does anyone have opinions on using trencher with sprinkler lines? Should I just be prepared to have to fix some lines? Or do people generally just hand dig when they’re near the sprinkler heads?
You'll need to run your sprinklers to see where all the cut lines are, and you'll need to repair them. If you dig by hand with a trenching shovel, you can avoid all that.
Did I hear you Correctly, when you were using that red trenching shovel, you said the "slope doesn't have to be perfect" because you can use gravel to create the correct slope on a job like this one
I have about 130ft from back of backyard to street. I have decent slope from back of backyard down to my back door and this is were it pools water right near my back door, but, only minor slope from back door to the street. Don't really want to use a sump pump if I don't have to
THX for another Great Video.
th-cam.com/video/5MkELLf--AA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=rg2P-ZUKZ4kLBp4J
How do you DIY an 8 foot deep drywell?
You make two dry wells that are four feet deep.
Nice system. I did hear mentioned slope being utilized but nothing about 1/4” per foot standard slope or 1/8” per foot for drainage. I suspect there is a great deal of standing water in the pipe especially for the long runs you made.
Maybe placing a 8’ 2x4 on top of the drain pipe with a level and measuring for the 1/8” slope would improve the system? The 8’ works well for convenience of eight eighths equaling one inch over the length of a eight foot 2x4.
Would welcome your comments regarding slope.
th-cam.com/video/5MkELLf--AA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Wbpeeul5_MiYbDJA
You slacked on those external couplers in the gitgo but amazing quality...You can hear those clicks almost instantly... amazing quality
Thank you, I think.
What have you found to be the most efficient way to remove the trenched soil?
It depends on the work site. If it's new construction, you just back-blade it into the yard. If it's existing turf, you just take a flat shovel, and it's easy to handle. If you have plywood or turf mats, you can scoop a lot of it up with a mini skid.
th-cam.com/video/9LhypCxXkZk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=91mAzsZ7BBnrBaDo
I am at a quandary. Our house is on the ridge line of a hill..road to the front, other houses to the rear. There isn't an easement to the rear (stormwater pipe through those properties...)
Should I build drains to a massive pit and hook up a submersible pump to trigger when nearly full, to take water to front stormwater pipe and drain, where it can go downhill? Many thanks!
th-cam.com/play/PLjFCqaZ4v1BXXbPw3Vf7e86DbKj7qOnLn.html&si=oKCwoWuO0_SraUMl
Would this have worked in NC?
Yes, two knife-cut pipes on seven catch basins flow 400 gallons per minute.
I want a professional like you to do my install but I’m in the catskill ny area! I can’t find anyone I trust that much! Well I partly do but I dont like the system he’s suggesting to use….any suggestions or any way to help!
th-cam.com/users/shortsIVAyCnmMPbM?si=BPDBLBtEm2e1s8yH
Just to confirm my understanding - you’re creating slope with the trencher and not the pea stone - correct?
th-cam.com/video/5MkELLf--AA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=afWp56vnDc1TLcMP
What are they complaining about? I did 14 inch wide 30 inches deep max by myself in my back yard all with a shovel. Using all French Drain Man components, besides sump basin (Sorry Robert). DIY or contract, use the right materials. Picked up all the stuff from your Almont warehouse.
Are you using 3 or 4 inch pipe?
In this example, we are using 4" pipe. However, we do have a 3" double-pipe French drain without catch basins for small, soft areas.
th-cam.com/video/VyC_Bj9KZAE/w-d-xo.htmlsi=uj8zwwlaqln5EzDU
Good video bud. How wide is that roll fabric that you used here, 4 foot ?
4 ft wide would be perfect. 4 oz non woven Geo textile filter fabric.
In this video, you installed a pipe sock in a french drain that was burrito wrapped, whereas in another video, you did not. I am confused.
This video goes into great detail on the topic you're inquiring about:
th-cam.com/video/9LhypCxXkZk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=91mAzsZ7BBnrBaDo
4 years ago, you wanted 3/4-1.5inch round rock to create large voids. Why are you using smaller rock?
th-cam.com/video/VZTCBeIVWCc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=p6lC3UWyZOxK_8J8
If you're ever in NC, PLEASE fix my yard 😭
Drain My Lawn
(704) 489-3444
g.co/kgs/7sE2UYY
This is the French Drain Men of NC
Would this work in north ohio
Yes
We are in Michigan ✋️
@@FRENCHDRAINMAN is there anyone in my area that you work with or recommend I'm about 30 mi west of Cleveland
Every time I have tried ordering a sump pump system on the Canadian store they are out of stock…
Call Mike to place an order. We just shipped a bunch to Canada, but they were pre-buys.