Problems that French Drains Solve

• Poor drainage systems in your lawn
• Soggy spots in the yard
• Poorly kept grass in the yard from too much water
• Permanently damp areas in your lawn
• Soil erosion from the displacement of the top layer of soil because of running water
• Flooded basement after heavy rains from water admittance through the foundation
• Standing water in your yard or home
• Excess water anywhere

Benefits of French Drains

Why install a French drain? Good drainage is important to ensure your Denver home stays dry. Standing water around your foundation or in areas of your yard can lead to a variety of problems. If groundwater collects in your basement or crawlspace, it can cause serious damage, major health issues, and cost thousands of dollars to repair. Your foundation may fail if uneven saturation of expansive clay soils causes it to expand and contract at different rates. In addition, damp crawlspaces and basements can lead to wood rot, mold and other health concerns. And standing water in your yard can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes or lead to flooding.

• Prevents damage to landscaping
• Your home stays dry–no flooded basement!
• Prevents damage to the foundation around your home
• Keeps grass healthy and green so you can enjoy your backyard instead of seeing it as an eyesore
• Avoids wood rot, mold, and other health concerns
• Gathers and reroutes groundwater and surface water away from the foundation of your home
• Prevents mosquito breeding, which is usually around fresh standing water around homes
• Affordable: a french drain is a low-cost installation when considering that it avoids thousands of dollars worth of water damage that can occur with standing and excess water

The Process for French Drain Installation

French drain are installed areas that have excess water in your yard or basement that are prone to flooding. A technician will help you decide where you want the direction of water to flow to and from. If you want to prevent basement flooding, the pipe must be laid below the basement slab or finished floor level along the perimeter of the foundation.

We take into consideration safety concerns such as water lines, gas lines, neighbor property, or other underground utilities that might be potential structures in the way of a successful French drain installation. If necessary we get approval of the installation and location with a building authority in your city.

How French Drains are Installed

• A trench is dug to create a drain. The trench must be 12 inches or more in width and 18-24 inches in depth.
• The channel is filled with gravel, loose rocks, or crushed stone.
• The loose rock lets the water flow down from the yard through the pipes using gravity.
• Water permeable landscaping fabric can then be used on top of the gravel to prevent weed growth near your trench.
• Water is taken away from the perimeter of the home and taken elsewhere to prevents excess water damage.
• A thick layer of rocks or grates is placed over the top.
• A perforated (typically plastic or rigid PVC) pipe wrapped in permeable landscape fabric (or use a perforated pipe that comes encased in water-permeable fabric) is laid at the bottom of the trench where the first part of the pipe is elevated and the other part of the pipe is at a lower point. PVC is the suggested material for the pipe due to its rigidity and reliability compared to other pipe materials.