A french drain is a trench filled with a perforated pipe and gravel that allows water to drain naturally from your yard.
French drain along retaining wall.
French drains can also help divert water when you re building a retaining wall on a steep slope.
It should be located on the uphill side of the wall so it can catch water running down the hill and prevent it from undermining the wall.
You may have to submit plans for your wall and schedule a property inspection to ensure that building a retaining wall won t create drainage problems.
The size of the gravel used can vary from pea gravel to larger pieces of river rock.
Pipe drains also known as toe drains are perforated pipes that collect water along the length of the wall and drain it to the outside.
A properly designed french drain reduces the pressure exerted upon retaining walls and subgrade walls that with time can induce moisture inside basements and crawl spaces.
You can also use a french drain to keep water from pooling in low areas of your yard.
If aggregate of different sizes is used smaller pieces usually go closer to the pipe while larger pieces sit closer to and on the.
A french drain is a virtual necessity when building a retaining wall on a hill.
The pipe should rest on the same compacted gravel base or concrete footing that supports the wall.
About 8 inches to 2 feet deep should be sufficient for many water diverting projects though related systems such as those built around foundations and sub ground living spaces as well as the bases of retaining walls may be deeper.
Otherwise water moving down the hill will build up behind the wall and undermine it.
It can help if the natural slope of your property directs water right toward a patio or other outdoor structure.
A locking flange along.
If you re building a retaining wall on a hillside if you re building a retaining wall add a french drain behind the first course of stones or blocks.
Depending on the size of your yard and the scale of your drainage issue you can purchase the pipes and equipment to create a french drain yourself.