Does a French drain have to drain somewhere?
Most descriptions of a french drain involve a slotted or perforated pipe, a trench, geotextile fabric and gravel backfill. To operate properly, the drain must have adequate slope and a place to open onto the ground, into a drain pipe or somewhere else where water can exit.
Can you run a French drain under a driveway?
A true French drain is made with gravel, but with gravel driveways, PVC piping is recommended. The PVC piping only needs to be 4 to 6 inches in diameter for draining purposes. It must also be rugged enough to withstand the weight of vehicles driving over it.
Where should French drains be placed?
Dig a trench along the outside of your footing. The trench should be at least 2 feet wide, and can be as deep as 6 feet for a basement or as shallow as two feet for a slab-on-grade home. Lay the pipe on the virgin soil.
How deep does a French drain need to be to be effective?
The trench should be about 18 inches deep and 9 to 12 inches wide. French drains need to have a slope of at least 1 percent, so the force of gravity will work for you. This means that the drain should slope down a total of at least one inch for every 10 feet of pipe.
How much does a French drain cost to install?
The average cost to install French drains range from $2,800 to $6,500. Costs can be as low as $2,000 for a 100 linear foot drain in an exterior location to as high as $10,000 for a 100 linear foot perimeter drain….French Drain Costs.
| French drain Installation Prices | |
|---|---|
| Minimum cost | $2,000 |
| Maximum cost | $10,000 |
How much does it cost to install a French drain?
According to Fixr, the average French drain costs $4,500. An exterior drain located fairly close to the surface could cost as little as $1,000, or $25 per linear foot on average. Drains installed under your basement floor could cost $2,000 or more. Expect to pay $60 to $70 per linear foot for installation.
How much does a 50 foot French drain cost?
French Drain Cost per Foot
| Linear Feet | Average Cost Internal French Drain (Materials Only) | Average Cost External French Drain (Materials Only) |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | $1,000-$1,500 | $2,250-$3,000 |
| 100 | $2,000-$3,000 | $4,500-$6,000 |
| 150 | $3,000-$4,500 | $6,750-$9,000 |
How much should I charge to install a French drain?
What is the best French drain pipe?
Best Pipe for a French Drain. Pipes specified to be used on French drains pipes are normally 6-inch diameter perforated PVC SDR-35. If the job or area to be worked is small, you might want to try a four-inch pipe but remember it will all come down to the amount of water being handled.
What is a French drain, and how does it work?
A French drain is a drainage system devised by Henry French in the 19th century. This system begins with a trench that slopes a minimum of one inch per eight feet, drawing water away from soggy areas of a yard and releasing it in a lower lying area away from homes and structures.
How do I create a French drain?
Making the French Drain Pour in the aggregate or gravel. Once you have completed digging the trench, pour three inches of gravel along the trench. Line it with the landscape fabric. Use the geofabric to line the entire length of the trench, over the gravel layer. Install the pipe. The pipe should be placed over the geofabric. Fold the excess fabric.
How deep do I have to dig for a French drain?
Install a French Drain. Dig a trench that is approximately 18 inches deep and at least 12 inches wide. Dig the trench at a slight angle of at least 10 degrees from the starting point to the outlet for the water to flow easily.