We might not put much thought to the drainage on our property, but drainage systems play an important role in protecting homes in the San Francisco and Oakland areas. Poor drainage can result in a variety of different types of damage.
French drains are some of the most common types of drainage systems that you will find on residential properties. In this post, we are going to take a closer look at French drains and how they can be used to protect your home.
What is a French Drain?
A French drain is a type of drainage system that uses very simple principles to remove subsurface moisture from soil. The design of a French drain provides the moisture in soil with an easy channel for it to flow into.
Basically, the design relies on two points: that water will always follow the path of least resistance, and that gravity will cause water to flow downhill. With a French drain, you have a gravel-filled trench. The water will flow into the trench because it offers less resistance than the surrounding soil. Under the gravel, you will have a perforated drainage line. The drainage line collects the water, and the trench is graded on a slope to allow gravity to carry the water to the desired location.
In some cases, the French drain will just terminate and discharge the water to a low-lying area of the property, in others, it will discharge at a sump pit where a pump can be used to remove the water.
How does a French drain protect your home?
A French drain can offer an affordable solution for managing subsurface water on your property. Along with being a simple and effective way to remove water from a location, they can also be applied to a number of different situations.
One of the most common uses for a French drain is to protect a foundation from water damage. When the soil around a foundation has moisture problems, it can exert hydrostatic pressure on the foundation. When this occurs, water can seep into the concrete, and it can cause problems with basement flooding. Along with that, the water can also cause foundation damage. To prevent this, a French drain can be installed around the footing of the foundation. This will remove the moisture from the soil, and it will relieve the hydrostatic pressure.
If you have a retaining wall on your property, a French drain can be used to protect that structure as well. A retaining wall is designed to hold back the earth. If the soil above the retaining wall becomes saturated with water, it can add pressure and this could cause the retaining wall to fail. To prevent this damage, you would install a French drain near the footing of the retaining wall.
Some properties might have problems with soggy patches in the yard or areas of the property that become overly saturated with water. A French drain can be installed to remove water from an area that has moisture problems, and this can relieve issues with surface water. By installing a French drain, you could prevent erosion in these areas of the yard and it could also prevent issues that you would have with pooling water and muddy terrain.
A French drain could be a vital element for protecting your home against foundation damage. It could also protect other structures like a retaining wall, and it could be used to manage problems with water on the property.
For French drain installation in the Oakland or San Francisco area, contact the team from Montclair Construction. We have years of experience with installing and maintaining French drains, and we have been working on foundations in the Bay Area for more
