About French Drains
French drains are also called land tiles or drain tiles. They are trenches that are filled up with rocks, sand or gravel. The function of French drains are to direct ground and surface waters away from a certain location. They are common drainage devices that are used to protect buildings from permanent damaged caused by ground and surface waters infiltrating building foundations. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Function
-
One use of French drains is to distribute water--for example, the water that runs out of standard septic tank sewage treatment systems. Also, French drains are commonly used behind retaining walls (constructions that keep dirt and rocks away from a building structure) to relax the pressure caused by increasing amounts of surface and ground waters.
History
-
The first French drains were basic ditches, placed from a high elevation to a low elevation and filled up with rocks and gravel. Henry French (from whom the tiles got their name) from Concord, Massachusetts, created the tiles that later French drains consisted of. Later versions of French drains were made with perforations. Other types of French drains that developed with time included collector drains, filter drains, dispersal drains and fin drains.
-
Types
-
There are two main types of ways in which French drains are installed around building foundations. These ways are by burying the tiles against the foundation walls on the outside part of the foundation. The other way is by installing the drain tiles below the basement floor on the basement's interior edge.
Considerations
-
There are several drawbacks to French drains. These tiles are prone to sudden clogging, therefore causing basements to flood. Also, French drains can be very pricey to maintain. French drain maintenance can involve outside excavation, such as porch, garden and sidewalk removal.
Potential
-
To install French drains, you will need filter fabric, slotted pipes and gravel. Perforated drain pipes are even better than slotted pipes for the process, although both will suffice. First, a trench must be dug up (at least two feet wide). Then the pipe must be laid over the untouched soil. Then the pipe must be covered up by washed gravel. Then, the filter fabric should be placed over the gravel to stop soil from clogging the pipe. After this, fill the foundation up with top soil back up to the original height. Then, plant your grass and your French drain installation process is completed.
-
