French Drainage Systems are a venerable and simple way to eliminate excess water in your yard. They are ideal for allowing water to flow from low spots, and other areas prone to flooding, down to storm sewers.
Despite what you might believe, French drains were not invented in France or in such French-dominated cities as New Orleans. Instead, they were devised by Henry French, a 19th century lawyer from Concord, Massachusetts, who later was appointed Assistant U.S. Treasury Secretary. In his seminal book, Farm Drainage, French wrote extensively about these simple yet effective drains.
French's first drains were simply ditches, angled from a higher area to a lower one, and filled with rocks. The concept was that water could flow through these drains but that dirt and other debris would be trapped by the rocks, allowing an unimpeded flow of H2O.
French's own drains were made of sections of ordinary roofing tile laid with a 1/8 inch gap left in between the sections to admit water. Later, specialized drain tiles were designed with perforations allowing water in but designed to keep soil out.
French drains are not costly and they are simple to install. Additionally, they can be hidden with turf after they're put in, which allows them to blend in with the landscape.
Here are the goals of a French Drain:
* to stop ground and surface water from penetrating and/or harming building foundations;
* to disperse water flowing from the outlet of a typical septic tank sewage treatment system;
* to relieve ground water pressure from behind retaining walls;
If adjoining property sits at a higher elevation, your yard may fall prey to pooling water. In this scenario, installing a French Drain could be your best bet to channel away excess moisture.
Keep in mind that some municipalities may require building permits before installing a French Drain, as federal law requires water sent to storm drains to be free of certain contaminants and sediment.
Despite what you might believe, French drains were not invented in France or in such French-dominated cities as New Orleans. Instead, they were devised by Henry French, a 19th century lawyer from Concord, Massachusetts, who later was appointed Assistant U.S. Treasury Secretary. In his seminal book, Farm Drainage, French wrote extensively about these simple yet effective drains.
French's first drains were simply ditches, angled from a higher area to a lower one, and filled with rocks. The concept was that water could flow through these drains but that dirt and other debris would be trapped by the rocks, allowing an unimpeded flow of H2O.
French's own drains were made of sections of ordinary roofing tile laid with a 1/8 inch gap left in between the sections to admit water. Later, specialized drain tiles were designed with perforations allowing water in but designed to keep soil out.
French drains are not costly and they are simple to install. Additionally, they can be hidden with turf after they're put in, which allows them to blend in with the landscape.
Here are the goals of a French Drain:
* to stop ground and surface water from penetrating and/or harming building foundations;
* to disperse water flowing from the outlet of a typical septic tank sewage treatment system;
* to relieve ground water pressure from behind retaining walls;
If adjoining property sits at a higher elevation, your yard may fall prey to pooling water. In this scenario, installing a French Drain could be your best bet to channel away excess moisture.
Keep in mind that some municipalities may require building permits before installing a French Drain, as federal law requires water sent to storm drains to be free of certain contaminants and sediment.
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