Drainage Systems and French Drain design in Oklahoma City

Drainage Systems, French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, Sump Pumps, Sprinkler Systems, Sprinkler Repair, with 21 years of experience.

CMG Sprinklers and Drains Recently installed a Drainage System in Nichols Hills.  The Drainage System was made up of a 4 inch French Drain starting in the back yard.  It ran between the garage and the pool.  Several gutters were connected directly into the French Drain.  From this point, we expanded up to a larger 6 inch Drain pipe to handle the added water into the system from the gutters.  In several places the French Drain had to run through areas where Sprinkler Pipes were in the way.  We had to re-rout all the Sprinkler Pipes and Wires under the French Drain.

Once the Sprinkler System had been redesigned and the gutters had been connected, CMG ran the 6 inch Drain Pipe from the end of the French Drain, around the house to release through the curb.  We cut the curb and installed a 6 inch curb fitting with acrylic concrete.  A few days later a major thunderstorm poured down on the property.  The French Drain and the Drainage System Worked Perfectly.

A Channel Drain is a type of Surface Drain and many times is installed in concrete across sidewalks or driveways.  It is long and narrow with a grate on top.

Installing Channel Drain Across Sidewalk in Norman

A French Drain is completely different from a Surface Drain.  A basic French Drain consists of a Perforated Drain Pipe in the bottom of a trench.  A  Trench Liner is sometimes used depending on the Drainage System Design and the type of soil.   The Drain Pipe should have a neoprene sock around the Perforated Drain Pipe.   This is to ensure that the Drain Pipe does not become clogged. A trench is dug that is slightly wider than the French Drain Pipe that is being used.  There are several sizes of French Drain Pipe.   Three Inch, Four Inch, and Six Inch are the most common sizes of French drain Pipe. The dirt that is taken out to make the trench is hauled away.  It is replaced by some type of small stone or gravel depending on what is desired or available.  I prefer crushed 1 inch lime stone.  It is the most economical option in my area.  Pea Gravel or some other type of small stone can work just as well.    The lime-stone or gravel is placed in the trench on top of the perforated Drain Pipe and filled all the way to the surface (ground level).   In some cases where the French Drain needs to be deep or is being placed in sandy soil, a special trench liner must be placed in the trench before the perforated Drain Pipe or the Gravel are installed.  This helps maintain the integrity of the trench over time.  It also increases the cost of the French Drain and the amount of time to install it.  I install a trench liner in a French Drain about 20% of the time.  Most of the time a liner in not needed.

French Drain in Edmond Oklahoma

A French Drain is designed to handle a large volume of water and cover a large area. The Drain is anyplace the trench goes. It has many applications and can be used in many situations.  It can be installed by itself or incorporated into a Drainage System with Surface Drains or Gutter Down-Spouts connected to it.

The main downfall of a French Drain is that they, for the most part aren't very pretty.  They don't look very nice in a yard once they are completed.

Depending on the area the French Drain is installed and the type of grass around the French Drain, will dictate whether grass grows over the lime stone.  Grass can grow up and through the gravel in the French Drain over time eventually covering the gravel.  This is OK.  It won't have a measurable effect on the performance of the drain.

DONT COVER THE GRAVEL IN THE FRENCH DRAIN WITH DIRT.  THE FRENCH DRAIN WON'T WORK IF THE TRENCH IS CLOGGED WITH DIRT.  DON'T EVEN INSTALL IT IF YOU ARE GOING TO COVER IT UP WITH DIRT.

DECORATIVE STONE CAN BE USED TO COVER A FRENCH DRAIN AND THEY LOOK GREAT AND LAST A LIFETIME

Connecting gutter down spout into French Drain

.Storm Water Runoff causes all kinds of problem. Standing water deteriorates concrete in driveways, sidewalks and foundations. Many homes require a drainage system to move water away from their home.CMG can help. We can quickly diagnose the problem and design a drainage system to fit your specific needs. We incorporate several types of drains into our systems. This enables us to address all types of drainage problems. CMG utilizes: French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains and Sump Pumps just to name a few.

CMG also installs new Lawn Sprinkler Systems and Repairs Sprinkler Systems.  If you have a broken sprinkler head in Edmond or a leaking Sprinkler valve in Norman, give CMG a call.  We service all types of Sprinkler Systems.

Lawn Irrigation Systems installed by CMG are fully automatic.  Sprinkler System Controller in the garage or outside on an exterior wall.  The Sprinkler Controller need only be installed be plugged into a 110 electrical outlet.

Drain Pipe for French Drain running under sidewalk

Our Sprinkler Systems are Self-Draining.   The Sprinkler Pipes Drain underground when the Irrigation System is turned off.   Nothing needs to be done to prepare your Irrigation System for winter except turn it off.  There is no water left in the Sprinkler Pipes to Freeze.
CMG Sprinklers and Drains -- Servicing Central Oklahoma including:  Oklahoma City, Moore, Edmond, Norman, Midwest City, Del City, Mustang, Yukon, Blanchard, Newcastle, and Purcell.
Sprinkler System Installation in Oklahoma can be complicated.   There are many details that very important to ensure that a new Sprinkler System be durable and dependable for many years to come.  Attention to detail makes all the difference when installing a Sprinkler System.  Many times, So-Called, " Fly By Night Sprinkler Companies,"  cut lots of corners to save money.  Low price should not be the determining factor for having a Sprinkler System installed.  A cheap Sprinkler System soon becomes very expensive if it has to be fixed all the time or won't work at all.

Above Ground Back Flow Valve Installation in Oklahoma City

Two things you should require on any Sprinkler System:
1.  Make shure PRIMER  is used along with PVC Glue when the Sprinkler Pipe is put together.  Primer helps the glue to bond to the PVC pipe.  This ensures that all the pressurized pipe connections won't leak over time.  I have seen Sprinkler Systems that were no more than a year old that leaked everywhere.
2.  Make shure the connection for the Sprinkler System at the water meter is done with a, "compression T."  This ensures that no leaks will occur over time at this connection.  The Sprinkler Connection at the water meter is highly stressed every time the Sprinkler System is turned on.  A connection with Glue and Primer will not hold up to the stress over time.  This is why a Compression T must be used.
The above two points are just a few of the details that need to be considered when installing a Lawn Sprinkler System.
For twenty years, CMG has been paying close attention to the important details necessary to ensuring the Installation of Sprinkler Systems that are dependable and will last.
My name is Blane Callen. I have owned and operated CMG Sprinklers and Drains since 1993.  I take great pride in my work.  The Letters "CMG" stand for the first letter of the first name of each of my children.  ( Chance, Melissa, Garrett )  = CMG
I have amassed a great deal of experience designing and installing Sprinkler Systems,  Repairing Sprinkler Systems, and designing and installing Drainage Systems.  In the past 19 years, I have made mistakes, but I have learned from them.  As a result I get calls, from time to time,  from other Sprinkler and Drainage companies that have run into a problem that they can't handle.  I am always glad to help.
I usually don't take money up front for Sprinkler Installation, Sprinkler Repair, or  French Drain Installation.  I prefer that the customer pay me when the job.  In a few cases on very large jobs I request a draw or outlay for parts.  The parts are delivered from my supplier to the address where the job is being done and equal the amount of the draw.  The parts stay on the premises until they are installed.

Rotor Sprinkler head in Oklahoma City

Sprinklers Installed by CMG in Oklahoma City