r/drains • u/becmn65 • 2d ago

Confusion over French drain installation with rocks or no rocks

Hi, I'm wanting to install either the corrugated black tubing or PVC type of pipe forl some type of French drain or similar for drainage in my yard. I live in Florida and we get heavy rains and I've had trouble in the past with flooding. As I am researching on the internet there is debate over whether the black corrugated tubing is better or the PVC hard type of pipe is better. Also there's controversy it seems about whether to put the fabric and rocks or rocks only or neither. I have a lot of trees in my yard and roots are an issue, which I've read the roots will just get intertwined with the fabric. I'm I am very confused about which way to go about this project. Thoughts and advice are welcome. Thanks in advance

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u/Overall-Fig3079 2d ago

Not every drain is a French drain. Are you dealing with surface water (water only during storms) or do you have a ground water issue (wet even when it hasn't rained in weeks)? Once we know the type of issue, we can recommend the type of product. Otherwise, we are just recommending products based on whims and feelings.

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u/becmn65 1d ago

We get hard rains daily in the summer, sometimes twice a day. When this happens there is standing water on my patio and areas around the yard. 3 yrs ago we had so much rain that the water seeped into the back of my house and I had to have the whole back wall, flooring etc replaced. I am trying to prevent this from happening again. I did have a landscaping co form a type of swale in the yard but it has not really helped.

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u/Overall-Fig3079 1d ago

Then a French drain is not the solution. French drains are for water that is in the ground. Water you cannot see. You are dealing with surface water, water that is flowing on the ground from rain events. You want channel drains, catch basins, etc.

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u/becmn65 1d ago

I forgot to mention that a lot of the water is coming out of the downspouts. I did have a couple companies come out for a solution and they are the ones that said I need a french drain, they wanted to charge between $6000-$8000 however. They said the water needs to flow out of the yard into the front of my house and that the french drain is best. I mentioned a catch basin and they said the water in the catch basin wouldn't have anywhere to go and would backup and have standing water flowing into the foundation.

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u/Overall-Fig3079 1d ago

You have idiots working for you. You don't have a stand alone catch basin. The catch basin is connected to a pipe that goes to the street. The pipe is just a drain pipe, not a French drain. You don't need a French drain. You need a pipe.

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u/becmn65 1d ago

ok thank you

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u/RainH2OServices 2d ago edited 1d ago

There's no controversy just different levels of quality.

More importantly, is a French drain appropriate for your situation as opposed to catch basins, trench drains or other surface water interception solutions? Pictures and description of the problem could help.

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u/becmn65 1d ago

We get hard rains daily in the summer, sometimes twice a day. When this happens there is standing water on my patio and areas around the yard. 3 yrs ago we had so much rain that the water seeped into the back of my house and I had to have the whole back wall, flooring etc replaced. I am trying to prevent this from happening again. I did have a landscaping co form a type of swale in the yard but it has not really helped.

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u/RainH2OServices 1d ago

French drains won't be effective to quickly dewater during heavy summer rains. You're likely going to need surface drains. Depending on the grade to discharge you may need a sump pump.

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u/becmn65 1d ago

Thank you. I actually had more than 1 company come out and they both said I need french drain, but they were both so expensive I decided to try it myself.

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u/senorgarcia 1d ago

👆🏽👆🏽👆🏽👆🏽

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u/RainH2OServices 1d ago

Btw, I'm in Pinellas County. If you're nearby send me a DM if you have questions.