French Drain Around Patio
Place drain pipe atop fabric lining then add gravel covering pipe completely.
French drain around patio. The old way of installing french drains is to do it without the gravel and the fabric. Fill the trench with topsoil and compact to completely cover the entire french drain system. When filling the area around the inlet grate temporarily cover the grate to prevent any stones or soil from falling in. Dig a channel or trench to a depth of about 18 to 24 inches and depending on the size of the drainage pipe 6 to 12 inches wide.
To build a french drain choose a spot with a slight downhill slope then dig a trench that is about 6 inches wide and 18 to 24 inches deep. Make sure the corrugated pipe has slots so it can drain properly. The most reliable way to eliminate undesirable free standing water is to install french drains with slotted pipes filter fabric and gravel. Filling and piping a french drain after.
Leave approximately 5 between top of gravel and ground surface. Line the trench with water permeable landscape fabric leaving at least 10 inches of excess fabric on either side of the trench. But this can also make it prone to leaks and tears. Without the gravel and the fabric however the drain can clog up with sand and soil over time.
Use stakes to indicate the drain s path. The french drain should run from the patio area where the water pools to a lower spot on your property. If you re installing a french drain around your foundation to prevent basement moisture take care to position the pipe below slab or finished floor level.