tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post7044265519688867707..comments2024-03-23T05:37:06.956-04:00Comments on Dover Projects: French Drain DesignPeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119271007207624360noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-24203517190094301142014-07-11T10:20:06.073-04:002014-07-11T10:20:06.073-04:00Great.Great.timhttp://www.google.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-59843189180911636332014-05-10T01:31:09.362-04:002014-05-10T01:31:09.362-04:00Congratulations on a great and instructive project...Congratulations on a great and instructive project. I have a house in VT with a standing seam roof and no gutters. The foundation is CMU, and the walls in the basement have bowed and cracked from frost forces about 3-4' below grade on one side where the water sheds from the roof. I get some water and moisture entering the basement interior through the wall. Just the other day, a contractor friend recommended a system very similar to yours - essentially an underground gutter system that prevents the water from entering the ground along the foundation wall. He said that a foundation drain would be better, but this approach avoids the need and cost to excavate and waterproof the foundation wall down to the footings. My contractor made a few additional recommendations for my situation, which I will offer here (although the work hasn't been done yet). He has recommended: a) using a rubber membrane, such as used on an EPDM roof, in lieu of sheet plastic; b) adhering the rubber membrane up the exposed side of the foundation wall and painting it for aesthetics; c) digging a little deeper and adding 3" rigid foam insulation angled away from the house to eliminate frost against the foundation wall; and d) widening the excavation a little more. This all assumes, of course, that the source of the water is coming from surface water, as opposed to a high water table - which must be managed differently.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00985866841493773252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-50121164399948684462011-12-28T13:35:02.920-05:002011-12-28T13:35:02.920-05:00French Drains are becoming necessary in NJ with al...French Drains are becoming necessary in NJ with all of the rain we have been having lately. Great article and thank you for sharing your project! It was worth saving the barn!NJ Roofinghttp://www.mmbuilds.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-73905446681682355232011-12-07T21:40:28.754-05:002011-12-07T21:40:28.754-05:00I recently purchased an old house of my own and am...I recently purchased an old house of my own and am going to be tackling many of the projects that you have already completed. Thanks for putting together projects that the average joe can understand. Weren't you on renovation realities for a kitchen do-over. Have you gotten a patent yet on your car jack countertop remover?Max Hallmarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02591235070254367076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-12309788782977131742011-10-14T17:44:21.595-04:002011-10-14T17:44:21.595-04:00Wow, great article. And you listed your resources...Wow, great article. And you listed your resources. I am a first-time homeowner who never has had a knack for technical stuff, but I taught myself to work on a car to save money so I figure I can now learn to work on my house.<br /><br />Our basement leaks on two adjacent walls and I would like to finish the basement in a couple of years so I have been looking all over for resources. You saved the day with this write up as I would have done nearly as much digging just to regrade and would have missed out on the french drain system. I have three questions:<br /><br />1) So this works for someone like me who has gutters because the drainage water only seeps down into the ground a few feet until the soil is too dense for more water penetration? That's what one of your resources seems to say but I just wanted to make sure since I always thought the water just kept going down into the ground. If the water keeps descending it would seem like a drain system 2-3 feet underground wouldn't be much help to someone like me.<br /><br />2) If this is the right project for my problem the big question will be where to drain the water to. The easiest solution would be to a mysterious filled-in pit about 10-15 yards behind my house. It is allegedly the house's former well (we're on city water now). The ground fell in there several years back and the previous owner had it filled in with boulders, rocks, and soil, in that order. Now there is a depression in the ground there and I don't let my kids play on top of it. There's a chance it could also be the old sump (we're on city sewer now too). The other alternative would be a lot more digging and would require some hardscaping removal in the front yard, so is the filled-in pit far enough from the house in your opinion?jtphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18115338745660412682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-52397998183843015262011-04-24T11:04:44.174-04:002011-04-24T11:04:44.174-04:00Thank you so much. I do need to have new gutters a...Thank you so much. I do need to have new gutters above the garage installed before next winter. But there is a huge hill behind the garage that produces run off. The water sat @the back of the garage. I hired guys and directed them to do as your instructions laid out. But I got a good deal on a pipe sock, so I used that. We weather proofed the sides of the garage and laid cardboard near it before dropping the big gravel. It looks great. I am sure it will work great. Thx again!Ted and Bohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18014336410137217190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-9291773129722582762011-03-22T13:29:09.309-04:002011-03-22T13:29:09.309-04:00Andrew, I think it took me a couple of weekends? O...Andrew, I think it took me a couple of weekends? Of course I contoured the grade by hand with a shovel... sore back! :)Petehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06488707011426110003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-89310323589771777252011-03-22T13:20:17.146-04:002011-03-22T13:20:17.146-04:00Peter,
How long did the entire project take?
And...Peter,<br /><br />How long did the entire project take?<br /><br />AndrewA262https://www.blogger.com/profile/03803007409371965144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-67619900231362622142011-03-22T11:25:00.473-04:002011-03-22T11:25:00.473-04:00Andrew, what an oversight! And I forget now what t...Andrew, what an oversight! And I forget now what the rock/landscaper retailer called it. Ask them for the right grade and then they will have a few choices for you depending on how "decorative" you want it to be as well (and the price will go up with it looking more "decorative" too!).Petehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06488707011426110003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-73863024421597600802011-03-22T11:12:21.516-04:002011-03-22T11:12:21.516-04:00Peter,
In your list of materials you didn't m...Peter,<br /><br />In your list of materials you didn't mention the type of stone. What type did you use for your french drain. Also, how long did it take? Thanks for the great information.<br /><br /><br />AndrewA262https://www.blogger.com/profile/03803007409371965144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-56712959759385476422010-08-19T11:55:13.891-04:002010-08-19T11:55:13.891-04:00Right, gotcha. Thanks for the feedback!--PeterRight, gotcha. Thanks for the feedback!--PeterPetehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06488707011426110003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-36644185078361063482010-08-19T11:46:27.171-04:002010-08-19T11:46:27.171-04:00no I did not get notified (I don t think I could h...no I did not get notified (I don t think I could have as I did not enter any email anywhere, I just checked back..thxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-37653633855201066642010-08-19T09:58:21.669-04:002010-08-19T09:58:21.669-04:00Sure thing. Hey by the way, were you notified that...Sure thing. Hey by the way, were you notified that I responded, or did you just check back?Petehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06488707011426110003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-75235649851265444162010-08-19T09:49:14.425-04:002010-08-19T09:49:14.425-04:00thanks it still helps....sorry about the anonymous...thanks it still helps....sorry about the anonymous aspect just lack of time to register, we are in an old 1870s house in Oh and are "Trenching" along so the thick stone foundation can get a break..thx SylvanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-80001129518561850212010-08-19T09:28:42.903-04:002010-08-19T09:28:42.903-04:00Anonymous, Boy... I'm trying to remember now w...Anonymous, Boy... I'm trying to remember now what I got in more detail than what I say above, "thick plastic". I'm sure I got it at the Home Depot (close to me) and it wasn't a special plastic for in ground/landscaping or freezing temperatures uses or anything. That said, mine, where I can see some of the edges now, as the stones have moved around a bit, I have not seen any cracking or deterioration due to the elements. I can tell you it was think and hearty. Might have been 6. Like this http://www.homedepot.com/Paint-Drop-Cloths-Sheeting-Tarps-Plastic-Sheeting/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xh3Zboaw/R-100651779/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053<br /><br />Sorry I can't give you a better answer...Petehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06488707011426110003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-22385442918229570252010-08-19T00:07:01.610-04:002010-08-19T00:07:01.610-04:00Thanks for the clear explanation, it is very helpf...Thanks for the clear explanation, it is very helpful: 1 question: what thickness for the plastic and what kind as when one goes to the regular hardware stores, they direct us to getting painter's plastic sheeting in 4 or 6 mil? wouldn't his kind of plastic crumble over time? thank youAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-55789894225531164322010-05-09T12:01:18.266-04:002010-05-09T12:01:18.266-04:00NEW!!! DOVER PROJECTS ON FACEBOOK! Join in with yo...NEW!!! DOVER PROJECTS ON FACEBOOK! Join in with your DIY spirit! Click on the BIG blue box for "Facebook, Dover Projects" in the right column above! See you there!--PeterPetehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06488707011426110003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-69415411589494385772009-10-28T04:58:15.222-04:002009-10-28T04:58:15.222-04:00Looking: Yeah, the shovel was not a good idea, but...Looking: Yeah, the shovel was not a good idea, but I was too cheap to hire someone and too inexperience to run a Bobcat in that tight area. I remember not being able to stand straight up, quickly, for about a week! The worse part was shoveling/moving the gravel from the driveway to the drains. BTW, I know you mean "swales" not "wales", but it did feel like I created Wales, UK. (Joke)--PeterPetehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06488707011426110003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-74417420915365991472009-10-18T22:52:43.468-04:002009-10-18T22:52:43.468-04:00my backache just looking at your photo of creating...my backache just looking at your photo of creating wales with shovel! great jobLookinghttp://look4houseonline.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-31584868125712642602009-04-18T20:06:00.000-04:002009-04-18T20:06:00.000-04:00Michael,
Feel free to use my photos and diagrams...Michael,<br /><br /><br />Feel free to use my photos and diagrams any way you like. Credit and a link back would be great. Thanks very much for checking.--PeterPetehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06488707011426110003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-3076225923177870972009-04-14T11:00:00.000-04:002009-04-14T11:00:00.000-04:00Peter,
I'd like to use you before and after photo...Peter,<br /><br />I'd like to use you before and after photos (with photo credits), and link to to this page from a free public access page on water control at residential structures I'm writing for my site.<br /><br />Here's an example of how I would use and credit your material:<br /><br />http://paragoninspects.com/kickout-flashings-faq-home-inspections-evanston-chicago-il.html<br /><br />Thanks<br /><br />Michael Thomas<br />mdt[at]paragoninspects.comMichael Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05044480939601824255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-29168313831505829042009-04-01T19:39:00.000-04:002009-04-01T19:39:00.000-04:00From what I've read they go down. That's what I di...From what I've read they go down. That's what I did and it has been working like a charm. Hope the article helps.--PeterPetehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06488707011426110003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-10475379579368160642009-03-30T23:00:00.000-04:002009-03-30T23:00:00.000-04:00Thank you for sharing all your hard work. My husba...Thank you for sharing all your hard work. My husband and I are planning to install a french drain as well. The ground in our yard is sloped toward our house. I have a question please? Should the holes in the PVC pipe face up or down? We have had several contradictory answers. I have bookmarked you page for guidance. Thanks again. DianeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-15516247142824678242009-03-13T04:46:00.000-04:002009-03-13T04:46:00.000-04:00Thanks! Hope it helped you.--PeterThanks! Hope it helped you.--PeterPetehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06488707011426110003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-52273469647872549952009-03-13T01:32:00.000-04:002009-03-13T01:32:00.000-04:00Great Job, Well documented, illustrated and clearl...Great Job, <BR/><BR/>Well documented, illustrated and clearly described !!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com