Reduce Property Drainage Issues with a French Drain

Pour a cup of café au lait, take a bite of a croissant, and enjoy a little lesson about how French drains can divert water problems on your property. Actually, you don’t need to be fluent in French to learn about French drains; they were created right here in the USA. The French drain was invented by Henry Flagg French in the 1800s for use on farms in Concord, Massachusetts, and are still used today.

What is a French Drain?

A French drain consists of gravel, landscaping fabric, sand and a perforated pipe. Simply, the pipe is buried in a trench in the ground surrounded by gravel and landscaping fabric to keep dirt and weeds out. Soil would get into the perforations and clog the holes, keeping water from flowing into the drain. The pipe is placed on a gentle grade, allowing water that enters the pipe in to flow away from your foundation to a designated safe exit away from your house and neighbors.

How Does a French Drain Help?

Too much standing water near your foundation can cause problems. Extra water causes the soil around your foundation to expand and contract unpredictably. This places stress on your foundation. Installing a French drain to keep excess water away from your house will help prevent foundation issues including heaving and settling. We don’t have a lot of basements in the DFW area, but French drains are also used to prevent water from getting into basements. You also might find a French drain helpful for water management if you have or are planning to build a retaining wall.

When installed correctly by the qualified professionals at Atlas Foundation Company in Fort Worth, French drains can last a long time. There no moving parts, so they seldom break nor need repairs. Our experts will identify if a shallow French drain is sufficient, or if one buried much deeper into the ground is required to fix your water problem. We will also map out the best route for the water to drain so that neither your house—nor your neighbors’ houses—are affected by the water flow. We will not affect any other existing pipes and structures. Some weekend warriors may opt to try building a French drain on their own. If you only need a shallow drain, and you aren’t worried about hitting a gas pipe, you can give it a try.  But for safety and security, it’s a wise idea to trust your French drain project with a qualified foundation repair company, contractor, or plumber.

Costs for a French drain will depend on how long the drain is, how deep in the ground the drain needs to be, and if there are any obstacles in the proposed path of the drain. The deeper the trench, the more expensive installation will be. Also, costs will increase if any additional landscaping is required once the drain is complete.

Local Experts to Help with Water Drainage

You can trust Atlas Foundation Company with your water drainage and foundation issues. Experts in the field, the friendly staff will find the best solution to maintain your home’s foundation. If you have excess water near your home and think a French drain may benefit your foundation, contact us at 817-435-4461 to schedule a no-cost estimate. Atlas Foundation Company has been serving the Greater Fort Worth Area since 1958.

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