by Kathleen Couch

Created on: August 01, 2010   Last Updated: August 02, 2010

There has just been one of those summer downpours.  The earth has been refreshed and the sun is shining again.  But your main concern is how much got into the basement, or how much of a pond was created in your yard.

One type of storm drain is installed by municipalities, or developers to handle the run off from the streets.  There are different codes and systems concerning storm drains, to make them most effective.  Some of the excess water is directed to specific areas such as retention ponds, lakes, or oceans.  Others are connected to the sewage system.  These are not something an individual homeowner would build.

Another type of storm drain that can be built by a home owner is called a French drain.  There are various types of French drains, and reasons to use them.  Water coming into the basement, or collecting in an area of the yard is a common reason to build a French drain.

Building a French drain is more labor intensive, than costly.  Digging and placing stone or rock is the intense labor.  The general parameters of digging a French drain is to dig it 12 to 14” deep and 6 to 12” wide.  The degree of drop to make the water flow should be at least 1” per 100 feet. 

Capturing the water that is coming from the downspout of roof gutters is a typical reason a French drain is used.  If a house does not have rain gutters then a French drain may be needed all the way around the house.  If the lay of the land around your home slopes toward the house, or is extremely flat a French drain can be used to protect water from going into the basement or crawl space.  Another situation a French drain may be used is when the water settles in a main area of the lot.  The drain will divert the water to another area.  Whenever using the French drain system you must decide where the runoff should go.  That place cannot be your neighbor’s yard.

TYPES OF FRENCH DRAINS

The most common type is dug to the specifications stated above.  Then 2 to 4” of stone is put in the bottom of the trench.  Next a flexible perforated pipe is laid into the trench with the perforations up.  It is then draped with landscaping cloth to protect it from dirt or debris but still allowing the water to go through.  Then another two inches of stone goes on top.  After that, soil and seed or sod finishes it off. Another type of storm drain system can be called

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