The foundation of your home is its first line of defense against water damage, and a French drain can be a vital addition to protect it. A French drain around the foundation is an excellent choice! But you might be wondering, how do you install it correctly?
You have to dig trenches, lay gravel and a pipe, cover it with fabric, add more gravel, and finish it the way you prefer with the outlet. The depth needs to be from six to twelve inches and the distance around one to two feet from the foundation! Easy, right?
Read the complete guide to having all the answers to your questions and the details about essential insights on depth, placement, installation, costs, and more information about a foundation drainage system. Start now!
Can You Put A French Drain Next To A Foundation?
Absolutely! Installing a French drain around your house foundation is a smart move to prevent water from seeping into your basement or crawl space. This effective exterior foundation drain can redirect water away from the base of your home, ensuring a dry and secure structure.
How To Install A French Drain Around Foundation: 8 Easy Steps
Knowing how to make a French drain around the foundation involves several crucial steps, including planning, digging trenches, laying gravel, laying a pipe, covering with fabric, adding more gravel, installing the outlet, and finishing it up! Continue reading for the ins and outs of it!
- Start by mapping out the drainage path. Identify where water is pooling and plan the route for your drain.
- Dig a trench around your foundation. The depth of the trench will depend on your specific circumstances but typically ranges from 6 to 12 inches deep and 6 to 18 inches wide.
- Place a layer of gravel at the bottom of the trench to facilitate water flow and prevent soil from clogging the drain.
- Position a perforated pipe on top of the gravel bed. Ensure that the holes in the pipe face downward to allow water entry.
- Wrap the pipe in landscape fabric to prevent debris from entering and clogging it.
- Cover the pipe and fabric with another layer of gravel, filling the trench to just below ground level.
- Replace the soil and sod over the gravel-filled trench, leaving a slight slope away from the foundation to encourage water flow.
- Connect the French drain to an outlet, such as a house storm drain or a designated drainage area, ensuring water is directed safely away from your home.
Try to follow all these steps to have a perfect French drain system installed around your house foundation. This will definitely prevent unwanted water damage in your place!
How Deep Should A French Drain Be Around A Foundation?
As a general guideline, aim for a depth of 6 to 12 inches. Deeper drains are typically more effective at diverting water away from your foundation.
However, the ideal depth for a French drain around a slab foundation varies depending on factors like soil type and the severity of your drainage problem. Having a home foundation inspection might be a good idea to identify the price depth of your case.
How Close To The Foundation Should A French Drain Be?
Your French drain should be positioned at a distance of approximately 1 to 2 feet from your foundation. This distance provides adequate space for the drain to capture water without compromising the structural integrity of your home.
What Is The Cost Of A French Drain Around Foundation?
On average, you can expect to invest anywhere from $ 1,500 to $ 6,000 for a professionally installed French drain. While this may seem like a significant expense, it is a wise investment in protecting your home from potential water damage and costly repairs, it will prevent basement flooding and other worrying consequences.
Having a French drain installed around the foundation of your home might sound like a simple task, but it will avoid some serious and costly damage that drainage issues would bring to your life. To make sure that doesn't happen, call homeyou’s plumbing services!
