French Drain Installation & Repair Washington, DC USA

French Drains are used to drain ground water from a garden, yard or farm to a lower region where it can be handled for other uses. A French drain or weeping tile, also known as a trough filled with stone or gravel or containing an underground perforated pipe is a trench lined with soil or rock with an outlet pipe. These drains are generally constructed with a type of closure device such as a French Drain stopper that keeps water inside the drainage system. The system can then be covered with a waterproof membrane to protect it from leaks.


Drainage systems in commercial and residential buildings are constructed differently than French drains. For instance, French drains are dug straight down from the outside into the foundation. This prevents any sump pump action that can occur with a traditional excavating process. The excavation of the French drain allows for a more efficient use of existing soil for construction purposes, reduces the amount of excavating required and reduces the amount of water that seeps into the basement or cellar. If you're considering a French drain, there are several benefits to installing one:

A French drain allows for a direct 
water removal path to the main sewer line. Water can enter your home through an open or covered hole in the foundation. A trench lined with a French drain pipe makes it difficult for water to move into a basement or cellar. A perforated pipe on the outside of the pipe collects rainwater runoff from the exterior of the house and channels it away from your foundation. This channeling of water away from the foundation lessens the amount of water that can pool in your basement.

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A French drain also provides better water circulation and hydrostatic control than do-it-yourself home excavating methods. It creates a watertight seal against soil erosion, which decreases water infiltration into the foundation. In addition, French drains can be made from materials that resist damage from evaporation like clay or rocks. These types of drains have a much smaller water consumption footprint than traditional pipe systems. In addition, the inlet grate directs water down into the sewer line and the drain, thus reducing the amount of water that leaks from your sewer system.

Installing a French drain is not as difficult as you might think. First, you must choose the proper diameter of French drain trench. Typically, French drains are available in three different pipe sizes - 24 inches, 48 inches, and 72 inches. Once you've selected the proper size of French drainage, you can then install the French drainage in your chosen place.

To create an effective French drainage, you must first prepare the area you will install the French drains. The trench drains are installed inside the ground, and you will need to remove some top soil to expose the bottom of the French drain. Once the soil is removed, you should excavate at least a foot into the ground and excavate in a direction that keeps the trench drains and soil together.

After the trench has been excavated, you should then build a frame that will hold the French drain installation. You can use steel tubing or wooden boards to make the frame. This frame will serve as a support for the French drain and will also keep the soil from draining away. The frame is then topped with a layer of soil and another layer of gravel.


Once the French drain pipe is securely placed, you can then dig a small hole for the drainage. Before digging a hole, however, you should make sure that you have a safe slope. Using a sloping surface that meets the depth of the trench will help ensure that the trench will have no water sitting on it and no way for water to flow away.

“We thought we needed to install a completely new foundation, but they had some really great other options that were far more affordable and just as durable. We are so happy we called them for help.” –  KJ Tomms

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“After seeing them repair our neighbor’s foundation, we decided to give them a call and they handled our work just as well as we expected and we highly recommend them to everyone.” – Sarah U.

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“They are the first and only call we make when we are seeking third party data that is impartial and accurate. They’ve helped us make sound decisions in our construction practices.” – Joey T.

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