No one likes a soggy lawn. They’re difficult to mow and create a giant, muddy mess. And wet basements are even worse. One solution to both of these problems is a French drain.
French drains are designed to redirect surface and subsurface water to another area, saving your lawn and/or basement from being on the receiving end of too much water. These types of drains are made by digging small ditches about six inches wide. (Some experts suggest wider ditches, but six inches is the generally accepted width). A four-inch plastic pipe, usually perforated PVC, is placed in the ditch and covered with gravel. The gravel should be three-quarters of an inch to one and one half inch of crushed rock wrapped in filter fabric.
There are two types of French drains – shallow and deep. The shallow French drain, also known as a curtain drain, works best for water that collects on the surface of your lawn. The drain runs horizontal and diverts excess water to the sides and out to an alternate drainage area. The deep French drain, also called a footing drain, goes around the structure of the home and is typically used to prevent subsurface water from soaking your basement.
It is important before you even get started to determine where your French drain will deposit the excess water. Options include a dry well, diversion to a drainage ditch, or redirecting the water to a part of your yard where excess surface water is not an issue. Just be sure certain not to divert your problem water to your neighbor’s yard!