No one likes to have to worry about underground pipes on a Saturday. However, when your backyard becomes like a sponge whenever there is a little rain, then you will be sick of it. That is why you should be looking for French drain installation near me.
Here’s the problem: drainage work is one of those projects that looks easy at first glance until the job becomes a complete disaster. If you choose the wrong contractor, then you have essentially dug a very expensive hole for yourself and nothing more. This is how you can avoid doing that.
Don’t Just Hire the “Truck and a Shovel” Guy
Although it will seem very tempting to take the lowest quote from a random telephone post, please don’t. Draining is a fifty-fifty situation of numbers and physical labor. If he doesn’t know what “fall” means, then your water will just collect in the pipe and stink.
- Find out how they go about checking the slope of the ditch.
- Ensure that they are truly insured.
- See if they have experience dealing with hard-to-remove, sticky clay.
- Do they have photos of finished yards, or just the messy digging part?
The Material Trap
There is no shortage of people who will attempt to save fifty dollars by going with that lightweight “sock” pipe that you find at the mega-stores. It will flatten out if you look at it funny. What you need is something tough enough to withstand a lawn mower or vehicle running over it.
- Insist on rigid, perforated PVC pipes instead of the flimsy stuff.
- Make sure they use a heavy-duty fabric liner; this is a huge deal.
- The gravel needs to be “washed”; no dust or tiny rocks allowed in there.
- If they don’t use fabric, your drain will clog with mud in a year.
Where’s the Water Actually Going?
This is where things get really awkward with your neighbors. You can’t just point a pipe at the house next door and call it a day. A real pro will walk your property and show you exactly where that water is going to exit so it’s not someone else’s problem.
- Is it going to the street or a natural low spot?
- Are they hooking up your downspouts to the same line?
- Will the exit point have a grate to keep frogs and mice out?
- Did they call the “diggers hotline” to mark your power lines first?
The “Hidden” Costs of Cheap Labor
A low-ball quote usually means they’re cutting a corner somewhere. Most of the time, it’s the cleanup. Digging a 50-foot trench creates a massive amount of extra dirt. If they don’t haul it away, you’re left with a mud mountain in your flower bed that you have to deal with.
- Determine whether dirt removal is included in the overall cost.
- Will they lay down fresh sod or will they throw some random seeds on the grass?
- See if they will be using plywood to protect your grass from the equipment.
- Get a flat cost estimate and not some hourly estimate which doubles.
Why Local Knowledge Wins
The dirt in our area is stubborn. It is mainly thick clay soil, which does not have any tendency to allow water flow through it. An out-of-town contractor may not realize that he will need a deeper trench and a type of stone to ensure the system will work.
- More gravel is needed for clay compared to sand.
- The trench may have to be dug deeper in order to get past the “hard pan.”
- Local boys know city inspectors and what they want.
- They’ll know if your neighborhood has specific runoff rules.
The Cleanup Phase
Your yard is going to look like a construction site for a few days. There’s no way around it. However, a good team will not forget to close the gate at the end of work and will not leave garbage in your bushes. Your property should be treated as their own.
There are situations when it is easier to hire professionals who know everything about such matters. For instance, Cora Landscape faces these problems on a daily basis. It is much more convenient for you to deal with the team that knows all local “mud spots”.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, you just want a dry yard where your kids or dogs can play. Finding a reliable French drain installation near me can be a daunting task, but it is a worthwhile one. Read the reviews, inquire about the fabric used and do not pick the first cheap offer you come across.
FAQ Section
Q. What is the best way to determine if my French drain is working?
Wait for a heavy rain and go look at the discharge pipe. You should see water gushing out away from your house. If it is dry but your yard remains a lake, the slope is probably incorrect, or the pipe was crushed when the backfill was done.
Q. Will the tree’s roots damage the pipe?
They certainly can, particularly if there are willows or maples nearby. This is where the use of high-quality geotextile fabric is crucial. It allows water to get in but prevents your roots from clogging the pipe and blocking the water flow.
Q. How often should these drains be maintained?
In reality, it’s not often. Inspect the outlet once or twice a year to ensure it is not covered with leaves or mulch. Run the garden hose through it every few years just to get rid of some accumulated small amount of silt.
Q. Are French drains allowed under driveways?
Yes, however, you need to use special piping here, something like SDR-35 or a comparable one. Otherwise, all the pressure put on the light pipe by the car would crush it like a pancake, and you would need to cut up the costly driveway.
Q. Why am I still getting water in my yard after installing French drains?
It takes a little time for the soil to “settle in” and form channels of water drainage into the gravel layer. Plus, if the soil was completely soaked, it may take up to one or two draining cycles for the system to function perfectly.