A French drain system can be the answer if flooding frequently occurs in your yard or basement. A network of pipes and ditches known as French drains is used to direct water away from a particular location, such as the foundation of a house. To shield the foundation of the house from water damage and stop basement flooding, weeping tiles or inside French drains can also be utilized. One kind of French drain used to shield a building from hydrostatic pressure is the weeping tile. To divert water away from the foundation, they are positioned around the house.
By directing water away from your house and yard rather than allowing it to pool in your yard or seep back into your basement, French drains are used to minimize flooding in yards and basements, according to the Home Improvement Network and Information Organization. Standing water in your yard can be easily caused by low-lying areas and poorly draining soil. This may not only be an annoyance, but it may also pose a risk to your property. Standing water can cause damage to your home's foundation, basement, trees, and lawn, which lowers its value and necessitates expensive future repairs.
French drains are an affordable way to lessen the likelihood of flooding and protect your home from standing water. Additionally, it might demonstrate to potential buyers that you've made the necessary upkeep investments to safeguard your property. A French drain system is made up of a gravel-lined ditch and a perforated pipe that allows water to be drained off of it. Water may easily pass through the gravel and into the drainage pipe thanks to the French drain. To help gravity do its work, the perforated pipe should also be angled downward.
Although the precise cost will vary depending on the system's size, design, and location, installing a French drain installation cost typically costs $5,000. What to anticipate in terms of supplies, labor, permits, etc.
Drains around the outside perimeter: $10–$50 per linear foot
French drains inside buildings: $40–$100 per linear foot
$10 to $25 per linear foot for curtain drains
Costs for trench drains range from $10 to $35.
The installation process for French drains is generally the same. The affected area is excavated, and the width and depth of the trench are determined by the location and the volume of water that must be drained at a time. After the trench is dug, a fabric weed blocker is placed over it, and gravel is placed along its bottom. More gravel is added to the trench after the drain—typically made of perforated PVC, though it might also be flexible hosing—is placed there. Soil can be backfilled on top if desired. The price of a linear foot of French drain pipe can range from $0.70 to $3. The procedure is the same for basements; however, for strategically located drains, the finished drain is typically capped with a thin coating of concrete.
The primary advantage of interior systems is their lower cost. Furthermore, because the system is internal, dirt and debris are less prone to clog it. All furniture in the basement, however, must be moved temporarily. Furthermore, excavation of the flooring surrounding the perimeter is required. If you have engineered flooring, hardwood floors, or other high-end flooring, this can dramatically increase the cost. Interior systems are also less efficient. There is a greater chance of failure since the water still passes through the foundation walls.
Price
Per linear foot, interior French drain systems can cost between $40 and $100.
In the event of floods, exterior French drains are built outdoors. They are also installed around the foundation of your house to guard against moisture damage and flooding. There is no sump pump needed because the water will naturally drain to a predetermined spot, unlike interior systems. About an external perimeter drain, there are two major limitations. The first is that for contractors to work, the area surrounding the house needs to be excavated eight to ten feet deep and wide enough. In addition, everything surrounding the house must be taken out. This covers driveways, sidewalks, decks, and shrubbery. This significantly raises the total cost.
Because a crawl area is smaller and requires less material and labor, installing a French drain there may be slightly less expensive, ranging between $40 and $50 per linear foot. Note that these are estimates of average costs. The complexity of the installation, the length of the drain, and your location can all affect the final cost. Regretfully, not every property is situated in a way that makes it easy to empty hundreds or thousands of gallons of rainwater. Then, your contractor must install a dry well or irrigation ditch. A subterranean construction that gathers water and releases it into the surrounding soil is called a dry well. A French drain installation cost can cost anything from $300 to $2,100, while a do-it-yourself dry well costs roughly $200.