FRENCH DRAIN

[Bill Hudson]

I NEED TO “BUILD” OR DIG A FRANCH DRAIN DOWN ONE SIDE
OF MY GARAGE TO STOP A LEAK AT THE CORNER BASE OF THE
GARAGE. TO HIRE SOMEONE TO DO IT IS HIDEOUSLY EXPENSIVE.
I FEEL AS THOUGH I COULD DO THIS MYSELF.THE AREA ALONG
THE SIDE OF THE GARAGE SLOPES DOWN TO THE ALLEY. I’VE
LOOKED AT 10′ PIECES OF PVC PIPE WITH HOLES, OR
PERFORATIONS IN IT. AS FAR AS ANYTHING ELSE:
DEPTH OF THE TRENCH, TOOLS FOR DIGGING THE TRENCH,
ASSEMBLING THE DRAIN, HOW MUCH GRAVEL OR ROCKS TO USE,
I DON’T HAVE A CLUE. I CAN’T SEEM TO FIND ANY LITERATURE
ON THE SUBJECT, AND THE FOLKS AT THE LOCAL HOME DEPOT
DON’T SEEM TO KNOW MUCH EITHER.

I’D APPRECIATE ANY HELP OR SUGGESTION YOU MAY HAVE.

THANKS,

BILL

[JT]

Bill, there was an ariticle in Fine Homebuilding
about keeping a basement dry, French drains were
mentioned and I think there was an illustration.
I think the article was in the last issue, but it
could have been the one before.

[Bruce M]

Hi Bill:
It sounds like the water collecting in the corner of your garage is coming up from underneath the slab, because it can’t drain under the footing on that side of the garage and run-off down the hill to the alley….yes?

If so, the way I would tackle it is as follows. Mark your floor 18″ out from the wall with a heavy pencil. Rent an electric jackhammer (the Hitachi I have found to work the best) and break up the slab back to your pencil line. I would do this several feet on each side of the low corner, or until you get to dry soil/sand under the slab. Then dig down along the foundation about 12″ or so and install 4″ slotted plastic drain pipe, sloping it down to the low corner. At that corner dig a hole deep enough to sink down one of the fiberglas sumps available at Home Depot, and run the slotted pipe along the foundation wall and into the sump. Cover the pipe with builders mesh, cover that with p or 3/4 minus gravel, tamp down well. Take the gravel line up to the bottom of the existing slab. The top of the sump should be at the level of the finished slab. Then mix up concrete, fill and finish the rest of the trench. Put a small submersible pump into the sump, with a PVC exhaust pipe from the pump up the sump and out the wall.

Hope this gives you a few ideas

Bruce M

[Keny McClurg]

I have read much on French Drains, and they mostly seem to apply to areas near buildings or foundations. My problem is water that settles in the back of my sloped yard. It all heads downhill and congregates in one spot, at times 4 to 5 inches deep, covering the rock trim around my shrubs. How can I disperse this water?

Thank you in advance,

Keny

[Barry Davis]

I would like information on how to install a French Drain. Also what material im going to need.

I am a plumbing instructor here at the Mississippi Gulfport JobCorp.

[wayne weeks]

I have alot of standing water in my back yard. What is the best way to drain the water? french drain or multi-flow? it’s only bad in the winter months but I need rubber boots to walk outside.I would appreciate any advise for my water problems

[Author]

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