Because water and mud can do serious and costly damage to real estate, proper drainage is essential in protecting homes and buildings from water intrusion. Whether it's due to rain water, lawn irrigation, or soil erosion, if property owners notice standing pools of water near their structures, it is vital they either fix an existing drainage system or install a completely new one.
Drainage issues can cause problems under homes in crawl spaces or basements, doing harm to the concrete footing and underground walls. In certain situations, it can even force inside basement walls to bow in due to the high pressure caused by subterranean water pushing in from outside. Water infiltration like this is hard to stop because the ultimate source of the water is almost impossible to locate.
If you've noticed water pooling outside your home, you'll want to install a french drain. This will not only carry away the water, but it will also help prevent water damage to your home.
Typically installed immediately adjacent to an exterior wall, a french drain should be positioned at the lowest point on your property. But french drains can be put in somewhere else in the yard or property if the unwanted water is not directly next to your buildings. The output for a french drain can be almost anywhere as long as it terminates at a location that will not let the water flow back towards your house. If gravity is allowed to work, the water will flow naturally through the french drain and out to the street.
A french drainage system is not buried too far underground. But because these types of drains use gravity to move water away, it's vital they be positioned on a downward slope of about an inch for every linear foot toward the street. In some cases, this may require some further digging to make sure there is enough of a downward slant.
In short, French drains create a subterranean channel to move water from one area to a lower one.
In some situations, french drains may be installed around the perimeter of the home. The drainage set-up ultimately flows out to the street and the city sewer system through pvc pipe and curb-cuts underneath the sidewalk.
Drainage issues can cause problems under homes in crawl spaces or basements, doing harm to the concrete footing and underground walls. In certain situations, it can even force inside basement walls to bow in due to the high pressure caused by subterranean water pushing in from outside. Water infiltration like this is hard to stop because the ultimate source of the water is almost impossible to locate.
If you've noticed water pooling outside your home, you'll want to install a french drain. This will not only carry away the water, but it will also help prevent water damage to your home.
Typically installed immediately adjacent to an exterior wall, a french drain should be positioned at the lowest point on your property. But french drains can be put in somewhere else in the yard or property if the unwanted water is not directly next to your buildings. The output for a french drain can be almost anywhere as long as it terminates at a location that will not let the water flow back towards your house. If gravity is allowed to work, the water will flow naturally through the french drain and out to the street.
A french drainage system is not buried too far underground. But because these types of drains use gravity to move water away, it's vital they be positioned on a downward slope of about an inch for every linear foot toward the street. In some cases, this may require some further digging to make sure there is enough of a downward slant.
In short, French drains create a subterranean channel to move water from one area to a lower one.
In some situations, french drains may be installed around the perimeter of the home. The drainage set-up ultimately flows out to the street and the city sewer system through pvc pipe and curb-cuts underneath the sidewalk.
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Want to find out more about drainage in St. Louis? Then visit MPR Supply's website to discover all your options.
