Drainage System Installation, French Drain, Surface Drain, Channel Drain,

CMG Sprinklers and Drains -- Providing: French Drains, Surface Drains, Drainage Systems, Lawn Sprinkler Systems, and Sprinkler Repair.

CMG is based in Norman.  We Service Surrounding Central Oklahoma including:  Oklahoma City, Moore, Edmond, Yukon, Mustang, Midwest City, Del City, Blanchard, Newcastle, and Purcell.  405-226-0629  cmgsprinklers@gmail.com

 

French Drain Installation this week was a little more difficult than normal.  Many times the route that a Perforated French Drain Pipe must travel to its exit point is not very easy from an installation point of view.  French Drains may have to travel through tree roots, (big ones) under sidewalks, through retaining walls, around swing sets or dog kennels or Mom's Prize Rose Bush.  The 4 inch French Drain we installed this week was in Oklahoma City south of 23rd in an old part of town where all the houses were old 2 or 3 story homes with lots of huge Elm Trees.  The Elm Tree in Question actually was just an old stump that had been topped out but not completely removed.  They left the roots just for us!  The roots were growing into the homes foundation and were right in the way of the path of the French Drain.  Forty feet of solid Elm Roots and 4 chain-saw blades later CMG was successful in running a new French Drain through a tree stump.  Yuck! "Well you gotta  do what you gotta do!"

 

French Drain with colored river rock

A little info about French Drain Pipe and Tree Roots.  Normally tree roots don't seek out and penetrate French Drain Pipe.  Tree roots seek moisture and residual water that may stay inside Solid Drain Pipe.  French Drain Pipe is perforated.  Water that does not reach the exit point of the French Drain will seep out of the Pipe into the surrounding dirt.  Solid Drain Pipe that is used with Surface Drains can be penetrated and eventually clogged by roots if the pipe does not have good slope or "Fall".  If the solid pipe does not drain well and has residual water, tree roots will seek it out.

Check out our most popular blog!

Drain Pipe running from French Drain to the street in Oklahoma City

Drainage Systems are designed to protect your home or business from standing water.  Storm-Water Runoff can cause damage in many ways.  Water from your gutters can seep down into your home's foundation if it has no good way to drain off.  If the temperature then drops below freezing, the water around your foundation can freeze and cause serious damage to the home's foundation.  Foundation repair can cost more than a Drainage System.

Drainage Systems typically make use of , French Drains, Surface Drains, or Channel Drains.  Depending on the Drainage Problem, A Drainage System may utilize one or several types of Drains.  CMG might install, for example, A Surface Drain in the middle of a driveway that runs to a gutter that is connected into the drain pipe.  The Drain Pipe might continue to a French Drain running parallel to a homes foundation.  Next the drain pipe might continue to a channel drain cutting across a sidewalk.  The Drain pipe might then reach its exit point running out through a curb fitting installed and cemented through the curb.

A Surface Drain basically is a basin that has a grate on the top.  A drain pipe is connected to the basin below ground.  The water flows in through the grate and down into the basin.  The water then exits the Basin through the Drain Pipe and move toward the exit point of  the Drainage System.  Surface Drains are designed to handle water that accumulates in a low areas.   These areas should not be too large or broad, and the water that drains into a surface drain should not be moving very fast.  Surface Drains can become overwhelmed if they are placed in an area that must move a large volume of water, quickly.  Selecting the correct drain for the specific drainage problem is a benefit that CMG provides through twenty years of experience.

Helpful Information on French Drains and Drainage Systems

French Drains, Surface Drains, and Channel Drains are the three main ingredients of residential and business Drainage Systems.  Simply put, French Drains are used in large areas, Surface Drains are used in smaller areas and Channel Drains are used in and across Cement.

Some Simple rules about French Drains and Surface Drains.  A French Drain should be installed when there is a large volume of water to be drained over a large area.  Surface Drains are needed when the water volume is smaller and the Drainage Area is small and focused.  French Drains move away Surface Water and Sub-Surface water (water that flows under ground).  Surface Drains move only surface water.

French Drain in Oklahoma City

 Many people don't know what type of Drain to use in a particular situation.

French Drain Design must take into account many variables.  One consideration for a French Drain that many times is missed, is the type of soil.  French Drain Design must take into account the type of soil that the French Drain runs through.  If the soil is "Tight or made up of Clay, A French Drain Liner may not be necessary.  The Gravel or Limestone that is used to fill the French Drain trench may be all that is needed to maintain the integrity of the trench over time.   This means that dirt will not mix in with the French Drain Gravel and clog it up over time.  This is not the case however if your soil is sandy or loose.  A Trench Liner should be used to prevent this type of soil from moving into the gravel of the French Drain.  Trench Liners are relatively inexpensive and are not hard to install.  If you are not sure what to do then install the Trench Liner in the French Drain.

 

Installation of a French Drain in Edmond Oklahoma

Drainage Systems can be made up of one drain or a combination of many drains.  Drainage  problems can be very complex.   Complex Drainage Problems may require a combination of several different types of drains all inter-connected and working together.  Other times the drainage problem may be simple and straight-forward requiring only one drain or several of the same type of drain connected together.

Curb Outlet as an Exit Point for a French Drain in Edmond

An example of a complex drainage system would be:  A French Drain in the back yard connected to a Surface Drain near a flower bed connected to several gutter downspouts, which are connected to a Channel Drain going across a driveway, which is connected to additional Surface Drain in the front yard, which runs to a Curb Fitting that lets all the water drain out on to the street.

Popup Emitter to release water from a French Drain in Yukon

A simple Drainage System might consist of a Surface Drain that is connected to a second Surface Drain which runs to a Pop-up Emitter which lets water drain over the curb and into the street.

CMG Installs all types of Drainage Systems  in Oklahoma.

Today we installed a 6 Inch French Drain at an apartment complex near Lake Heffner.  The French Drain started in the back yard of one unit.  The Drain Pipe went under the fence and into the adjoining unit's back yard.  The French Drain then looped around their patio and out under their fence to the west.  To get the 6 inch Drain Pipe to the correct Exit Point, we had to cut out 30 feet of sidewalk and run the French Drain Pipe under the sidewalk.  Next, we replaced the sidewalk with new concrete.  Finally, we dug a drainage ditch across the front yard to the parking lot.  We covered the Drain Pipe with sod that we carefully removed when digging the trench.  At the edge of the parking lot a 6 inch Pop-Up Emitter was installed to release the Storm water.  Seven Gutters were connected directly into the Drainage System along the way.

Installing Gravel on top of a 6 inch French Drain

This particular Drainage System was made up of 55 Feet of 6 inch French Drain, 78 Feet of Solid ADS Solid Drain Pipe, Seven Gutter Connections, and one 6 inch Pop-Up Emitter.