Your Game Day DIY Guide to Building a French Drain in Record Time
Written by: Dave Polisky | Date: Tuesday, 15th November 2011

Weekends were made for relaxing, taking a break from the daily grind and enjoying the game on Sunday. Unfortunately, weekends are also the only time you have to tackle some projects around the house. Thankfully, when it comes to solving your standing water, erosion, and various other yard drainage problems, you don't have to sacrifice your entire weekend. Here is a quick guide for creating a French drain solution so you can solve your drainage problems and still catch kickoff.

PRE-GAME

Before you start digging, you'll need to handle a few logistical issues and gather the tools and equipment you need to get the job done:

• Check with your local public works office to make sure you don't need a permit. You will also need to check and see where utility lines are located in your yard. Call 1-888-DIG-SAFE, or contact your utility companies directly.
• Map out where you will be digging in your yard, drawing a path towards the best place to let the water drain, while avoiding utility lines. Give some thought to how you use your yard, where your kids play and your current landscaping.
• For help with the layout and estimates of how much drainage pipe you will need, you can use the FLEX-Drain builder to plan your installation and print out the results.
• For the trenches you will be digging, we recommend getting a trench digger. It's inexpensive to rent, and will save a lot of time and elbow grease.
• You'll also need a shovel to take care of any debris and make sure the bottom of the trench is relatively smooth.
• You may need an axe to cut any roots from your desired path. If the roots aren't too big, a little elbow grease and the shovel should do the trick.
• For your pipe, we recommend perforated FLEX-Drain with sock, which will save you time since you won't need to measure and layout landscaping fabric, as is common with traditional French drain applications.
• If any pipes will need to be joined together, or if there is an existing drainage system such as gutter downspouts you would like to tie into, you will also need some FLEX-Drain fittings.
• Lastly, get some spray paint that won't blend in with the ground to mark both where you will be digging and utility lines.

THE PLAY BY PLAY

Dig a trench at least 9-12 inches deep and 5-6 inches wide that gets deeper by about an inch per foot, as it moves toward the drainage area.  Be careful of utility lines while you're digging. Though you called to find out where the utility lines are, utility companies may not always be on the money, so be careful.

Expand the pipe to the desired length and put the drainage pipe with the sock in the trench. With the pipe fully in place, tie the sock off at the beginning of the drain and lay it flat in the trench with the rest of the pipe to be buried.  On the end where the water drains out, you can add various end caps, but if you're just draining it out, end caps aren't necessary.

Backfill the trench with the gravel until it is level with the ground. After you have the gravel in place, you can add a decorative landscaping element, or just cover the gravel with soil and some grass seed.

GAME TIME

Despite the name, French drains aren't named for that country across the pond, but a lawyer who, like many homeowners, was looking for a practical solution to his drainage problems that wouldn't take all day. French drains have evolved from stacks of roofing tiles to a quick solution for DIYers who want that winning feeling of accomplishment, but want to cheer on their favorite team, as well. Hopefully, our DIY guide will help you solve your drainage problems in time to make the tailgate.

Dave's bio:

Dave Polisky is the Director of Sales and Marketing for FLEX-Drain. FLEX-Drain is a manufacturer of innovative landscape drainage pipe. FLEX-Drain's products are engineered for superior strength and durability, as well as compact for easier transportation and storage.