HELP FRENCH DRAIN INSTALLATIOn?

Question

I have a problem with water comin in garage and corner of basement. I am goin to put in a french drain system. I have a current drain system at the front of the house but the back and sides of the house are the real problem....the ground it sloped toward house and attatched garage on every side except front. In the back where the house extends farther than the garage is an approximate 10'x10'x6" concrete slab/patio. Water ponds on here real bad because is it below groundlevel approximately 4 inches below dirt around it...i will somehow need to cut through that and put the pipe in...where the garage is i was thinking about puttin system right on wall.....20" deep....because the concrete the garage is on is only 6"thick....i know about all the basic way to install a french drain......but i would like pointers...stuff to stay away from...how far from house do i put drain....holes in pipe up or down? i was told down but that doesnt make sense.. Im doin approx 150' total length system.

Answer 1

Sounds good.  If you need to cut the cement, try renting a real saw for the job.  A hand one will eat you up.

Back in Maryland, I had to do the same thing.  I got good advice and in addition to the installation of the French Drain pipes with the holes in them, I ended the line in three metal barrels filled with big gravel and with large holes punched in the bottoms and sides.  (I'm sure you could use plastic ash cans, but you've got to be sure to get the type that will not be eaten-up by soil.)

It was a big job to dig the trenches and the holes for the barrels, but it was worth it, and the system worked for more than 15 years before I moved away.

The holes in that much pipe won't matter.  I put them to the side.  On line, I've read that the ideal way is for sandy soil, down, clay soil up.  But, I'm sure you can get different ideas based on where you look.

By the way, I've used a pipe on the end of a hose to go under cement to install a 6 inch drain.  Lots of mess, but the hydraulics work.

Good luck.

Answer 2

holes down makes perfect sense...it drains water out and wont let dirt in...

Answer 3

This is just not something you should do yourself.  This kind of job requires the expertise of an engineer who can study the exact lie of the land, etc.  I've seen so many houses screwed up by homeowner drainage jobs.  Call an expert.

Answer 4

there are some good videos on youtube about the installation. That will help you tremendously.

The holes go on the sides