As a homeowner, if one is regularly dealing with a damp area in the lawn or ends up with water in the basement after a heavy rain, consider having a Fresh drain inside or outside the home. Now the question is what is a french drain? One of the most effective building restoration methods, a French drain is a highly effective solution against infiltration and potential moisture-related foundation damages. This article will help to discover what’s the French drain and why it’s valuable for foundation protection.

What is meant by French Drain?

The French drain is also referred to as dispersal or foundation drain. Are building owners wondering what a french drain is? It is a piping system installed outside a home in a trench covered in rocks, stones, and gravel. The draining pipe helps in evacuating excess groundwater or stormwater around a home. This water-draining system prevents excess water from accumulating after heavy rain which further prevents damage to building foundations, retaining walls, basements, and landscaping.

Why should a home have a French drainage system?

The main purpose of the French drainage system is to protect a home from water infiltration. Usually, poor drainage is a problem hidden by homeowners when selling a home to avoid a loss of home value due to the likelihood of cracks. Moreover, these hidden defects can further lead to serious consequences if there are excess water leaks into the structure and foundation of a home.

In addition to structural damage, homeowners might be exposed to bacteria from water infiltration and an increased risk of diseases. Having a professionally installed French drainage system can aid in preventing all these foundation problems.

How to install a Fresh drain?

Professional contractors follow these eight steps to install a French drain in a home:

1. First, contractors locate water accumulation and where accumulated water can be drained.
2. Next, workers dig a trench from the area of the home’s backyard from which water will be drained to the chosen draining point.
3. Now a waterproof fabric and weed fabric are installed in the trench.
4. Pour and compact gravel measuring around 15 cm along the trench and then install a drainage piping on the top of it.
5. An inlet screen is installed where water accumulates the most and fittings are attached in such a way that pipes extend from the inlet screen to the water outlet.
6. Install pipes in the trench and cover them with another 15 cm of gravel.
7. Lastly, the trench is filled with earth to hide the drainage system.

Conclusion

When thinking of installing a French drainage system, consider going through the article. Here one will learn about what is a french drain? Why it’s important to install and how to install it? However, the structure and foundation of a home are not just protected by installing a French drainage system. It’s essential to regularly perform a professional inspection of foundation drain as time and weather conditions can impair their functionality. Certain methods, like water ingress tests, will ensure the proper functioning of the French drainage system.