This type of drain may be the solution to your waterlogged lawn
A French drain redirects water away from your home or yard by using a sloped trench with filter fabric, gravel, and a perforated pipe to prevent flooding.
Expect to pay $2,200 to $6,800 for yard drainage system installation or $500 to $18,000 for a French drain, depending on your property's complexity.
Your French drain needs proper slope and a clear outlet like a municipal drain or rain garden to work effectively and prevent water from pooling.
Hiring a local French drain professional ensures proper installation with correct slope and pipe connections, helping you avoid foundation damage and costly repairs.
If you have pooling water around your foundation or yard, you may want to consider installing a French drain. But what is a French drain exactly, and how does it work? This efficient drainage system is commonly used by homeowners who need to divert water away from houses or lawns to prevent flooding and damage to their property. Let’s dive into the details you need to know about French drains so you can decide if it’s the best drainage system for your yard.
A french drain provides a sunken channel for water to disperse into the soil surrounding your home. Installing this type of system requires digging a trench and hooking up pipe connections, among other tasks, so it's best to hire a professional french drain installation company for this project.
A French drain is a drainage system used to redirect water away from a specific area, such as a home’s foundation or lawn. It consists of a trench lined with filter fabric, a pipe, and rocks. The rocks allow the water to percolate into the ground, collect in the pipe, and disperse to another location known as the exit point.
French drains are dug on a sloped angle, which allows gravity to let the water flow freely and drain effectively. This outlet can be designed to disperse water in many different locations, such as a municipal drain, a rain barrel, a rain garden, a dry creek bed, or a catch basin. This stops water from accumulating and flooding the area which prevents damage to the foundation of a home or lawn.
| Pros of French Drains | Cons of French Drains |
|---|---|
| Efficient drainage | Improper installation can cause serious issues |
| Versatile for many yard types and drainage issues | Expensive to install |
| Prevents mildew and mold growth | May need permit to install |
While a French drain may be the solution to your soggy lawn, there are some pros and cons to consider before you start digging or hiring a pro. Let’s look at the perks of a French drain before we explore the disadvantages.
Efficient drainage: A French drain is excellent for preventing pooling water and redirecting water away from your home or yard.
Versatile: They can be installed in various locations, such as around the foundation of your house, patios, retaining walls, and other areas of your lawn.
Prevents mildew and mold growth: The drain prevents standing water from collecting near your home, which can be a habitat for mold and mildew.
Improper installation can cause issues: Installing a French drain improperly can prevent it from working correctly and lead to flooding and damage to your property.
Cost: A French drain can get costly depending on the size and complexity of the system. Installing a yard drainage system ranges between $2,200 to $6,800. Installing a French drain costs between $500 to $18,000.
Need permits to install: Another potential drawback of French drains is that large, complex yard systems require a permit to install. Building permits cost between $50 to $500 for plumbing-related permits, or $20 to $500 for outdoor permits.
So, how do you know that your yard needs a French drain? Well, there are some tell-tale signs to watch out for that will help you determine if you should install a French drain. Here are some common signs your yard isn’t draining adequately:
Pooling water: Standing water in your yard or around the foundation of your home is a sign of poor drainage.
Soggy lawn: A squishy waterlogged yard can be a sign that it is not draining properly and that you should install a French drain.
Water in basement or crawl space: If you have water seeping into your crawl space or basement it can also be a sign that there is a drainage problem.
Soil erosion: Eroding soil in low-lying areas of your lawn or around your home can be caused by poor drainage as well.
If you are showing any of these signs then you should contact a French drain installation company near you to help determine if you should have one installed.
Another common drainage system is a trench drain. But what is the difference between a French drain and a trench drain, and which should you use?
A trench drain is designed to divert surface water runoff. It is a long, narrow drain usually installed in the ground and covered with a grate to prevent debris from clogging it. Depending on their purpose, trench drains are made with various materials, such as polymer concrete, steel, and fiberglass. They are commonly installed in paved areas such as driveways, walkways, and parking lots.
On the other hand, a French drain manages subsurface water flow and redirects it away from an area. So, which one you should install depends on your specific needs. It’s best to consult with a French drain professional to determine which drain will be the most beneficial for your property.
In most cases, it’s best to hire a professional to install a French drain. While you may be able to install a simple French drain system yourself, you should seek the advice of a pro for complex drainage systems. If you do not install the drain properly, it can lead to a slew of problems and damage your foundation and yard.
Although hiring a pro may be more costly upfront, it can save you money later by avoiding property damage if you install it incorrectly. Plus, you can rest easy knowing the drain will be properly installed and that it will work efficiently.
Cody did a great job!
ItzelpaintingWonderful. I am going to have them remove and replace my driveway in the spring.
All Star Paving and SealingWe had a 20+ year old landscape lighting system that needed replacement. Midwest Lightscapes worked with us to design a much improved lighting system, lighting the exterior of the house and the back yard. Installation of the 45 light system took one and one-half days, and went very smoothly....
Midwest LightscapesDid an amazing job transforming my yard. Also installed sod in places, would recommend to everyone.
Cardinal Landscaping & Construction LLCAlways been satisfied with the service work and how they have taken care of my pool.
Bill Gerhardt sold the company to his employees at the end of 2019, apparently without a workable succession plan and without notifying prospective customers of this fact. Most aspects of the maintenance contract have not been fulfilled: no installation of anual plantings per contract, no...
They show up and they did take us on as a client which seems to be a problem with other lawn care providers. We have multiple properties and this one was located close to downtown and no one really wants to mess with it.
I was very happy with the service provided by AK Irrigation. They responded quickly to my email, and the woman I spoke with was polite and professional. I was able to get an appointment that same week. <br /> The technician (Tyler) arrived on time. He was very knowledgeable, and worked...
AK IrrigationThe worker came out when he was supposed to come. He informed me he would honor the Angie's List deal, but would not do any more work for me since my son in law owns lawn care company as well, even though they do not do the same type of work. He said he did not feel comfortable giving me...
Bello Giardino LLCE & L Lawn Care was super. They were very responsive before and after service. They were efficient and were able to complete the job within 1 day. I have had concern about one section of sod - the owner was pro-active and did a visit to evaluate. I have no doubt they will stand behind...
E&L lawn careFrom average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
A French drain costs around $9,250 to install, but several factors will determine the final price you pay. Learn the cost to install French drains in this guide.
You’ve decided on a French drain system but need to determine whether the drain holes should face up or down. Our guide can point you in the right direction—literally.
How much water can a French drain handle? Find out a French drain’s drainage capacity and the factors that impact it.
French drains help keep water away from the interior and exterior of your home. There are three different French drains to choose from, based on where water collects.
Do you need a permit for a French drain installation? If you’re ready to try out a new yard drainage solution, here’s what you should know about the logistics.
How deep is a french drain buried and how does it work? Learn how deep a french drain needs to be to work properly and other aspects to consider.
