French Drain, Drainage System, Sump Pumps, Drain Pipe

Since 1993 we have gained a lot of experience addressing drainage problems.  Solving Drainage problems can be complicated.  The solution is not always clear to the untrained eye.  CMG has redone or overhauled many drainage systems that were installed by, "weekend warriors, a brother-in-law, or a landscaping company that also installs drains."  They all can install Drainage Systems, Just not very well.


 CMG has over 20 years of experience Diagnosing Drainage Problems.  We utilize French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains and Sump Pumps.  This ensures that a Drainage System that we install won't have Drain Pipes that are too small, or Surface Drains installed where French Drains Should be placed, or Exit Points that allow water to Stand and become stagnant.  The above examples are just three of many "Pit - Falls" that our experienced Drainage System Experts can easily avoid.

If you live in Yukon and have water standing in your yard after a hard rain, or if you live in Oklahoma City and your driveway turns into a pond after a thunder-storm, Give CMG Sprinklers and Drains a call! We service all of Central Oklahoma including, Moore, Norman, Edmond, Yukon, Midwest City, Del City, Oklahoma City, Mustang, Tuttle, and Blanchard, and all surrounding areas.

Too much of anything is never good, especially water.  Standing water can cause damage to sidewalks, driveways, and foundations.  Water can also seep into floor vents and under homes.  During a hard rain water can even run inside homes and business when Drainage is poor.

Surface Drain installed in Oklahoma City

For 21 years, CMG has solved Drainage Problems for people in Central Oklahoma.  Experience is key in diagnosing Drainage Problems.  Some Drainage Problems are Simple and straight forward others are complex and difficult.  CMG utilizes a wide variety of Drains and Drain Pipes when designing a Drainage System.  A Simple Drainage System may use one type of Drain running through a Drain Pipe to an Exit Point.  A Complex Drainage System may use several types of Drains and Drain Pipes running to many exit points.  CMG Utilizes:  French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, Trench Drains and Sump Pumps.  The Drain Pipe we use may be  ADS, PVC, or Sewer and Drain Pipe.  Which Drain and Pipe used depends on the particular Drainage Problem.

Installing French Drain and Curb Outlet in Drainage System in Norman.

A Drainage System using a 4 inch French Drain, connected to a 12 inch basin with a grate, which is also connected to the Gutter Down-Spouts and running to two separate exit points is an example of a moderately complex Drainage System.

Installation of a Drainage System, French Drain, In Norman Oklahoma

CMG has installed Drainage Systems all across Central Oklahoma including,  Oklahoma City, Edmond, Norman, Moore, Purcell, Newcastle, Tuttle, Yukon, Mid West City, Mustang, Del City, and Purcell, and all surrounding areas.

French Drain, Drainage System, Surface Drain, Channel Drain, Pop-Up Emitter

Edmond Oklahoma has been the location for many French Drain Installations for CMG in the past several years.  Recently we ripped out an old Surface Drain that was under a deck.  The Surface Drain was too small for the job and did not Protect the Foundation from Standing Water. 

 The First step was to take out part of the deck along the wall.  Next we took out the Surface Drain and the Three Inch Pipe which was too small.  Digging a trench along the foundation came next.  We had to ensure the, "Fall" to make sure the water would run from left to right. 

 Next a French Drain Liner  needed to be installed.  This was necessary to maintain the integrity of the trench and to keep the French Drain Pipe from filling up with sand and getting clogged over the next few years.  CMG then installed 4 inch ADS Perf/Soc French Drain Pipe along the course of the French Drain.  Next we connected the end of the French Drain Pipe to Solid 4 Inch ADS Drain pipe to continue along the trench to the Pop-Up Emitter at the Exit Point.

Connecting a gutter to a Drainage System

CMG installed a 4 inch French Drain in East Norman this week.  The customer had water standing on the side of his house that was causing foundation damage.  He contracted a Structural Engineer to come out and look at the Drainage Problem and to give him some advise.

6 inch French Drain

The Structural Engineer recommended a French Drain to protect and draw water away from the foundation.  He said that, "he had recommended French Drain Installation to solve similar problems for home owners many times in the past.  The Structural Engineer was confident that it would solve the Drainage Problem.

Next, our customer went online and found us by searching under, " Norman Oklahoma French Drain."  He also checked us out on Angie's List and Found that we were one of the highest ranked Drainage Contractors in the state of Oklahoma for installing French Drains.

Drain Pipe running to Pop-Up Emitter

The Gentleman gave us a call to set up an appointment.  CMG arrived on the agreed time and provided a ( Free- No Obligation- Drainage Diagnostic and Quote) We came out and looked at his Drainage Problem and designed a Drainage System to solve his, Standing-Water Problem."  We also recommended a surface drain in a corner where water was coming off a steep part of the roof and overwhelming the gutter.

Installing a curb outlet for a French Drain in Norman

The customer let us know that he was ready to move forward.  We scheduled the Drainage System Installation for the following week.  When the scheduled day arrived, we installed the Drainage System.  The Drain was made up of a 6 inch French Drain running 30 feet along the East side of the house.  It curved around the corner of the house.  At that point a 12 inch Surface Drain was connected to the French Drain with 4 inch pipe.  The 6 inch French Drain at that point changed to 6 inch Solid Drain Pipe and continued under ground 65 feet to a pop-up emitter at the curb in the front yard near the street.

Problem solved!

French Drain Contractor Oklahoma City, Mustang, Norman, Edmond

OKLAHOMA CITY FRENCH DRAIN

Angie's List Customer Service Award Winner        Activerain Member

French Drain Installation is a primary focus for CMG.  We have 21 years of experience installing all types of Drainage Systems.  French Drains and Surface Drains are the most common.  French Drains when installed correctly, move water faster and in greater volume than Surface Drains.  French Drain installation requires experience and attention to detail for best performance.  CMG provides both.

French Drain With Colored Gravel

Oklahoma City is one of the communities in  Oklahoma that CMG services.  We have installed almost a thousand French Drains in the Oklahoma City community in the past 21 years.  Oklahoma City  has many hills and valleys.  Many Neighborhoods are built on hillsides.  This causes many Drainage Problems.  CMG has installed French Drains by themselves and as a part of Drainage Systems to protect Driveways, Sidewalks, Foundations all over Edmond.  French Drains may be installed in Flower Beds or grassy areas too.  French Drains when installed correctly can provide many years of property protection and Piece of Mind.

French Drain in Oklahoma City

CMG has 21 years of experience installing French Drains, and Drainage Systems.  This ensures that a Drainage System that we install won't have Drain Pipes that are too small, or Surface Drains installed where French Drains Should be placed, or Exit Points that allow water to Stand and become stagnant.  CMG relies on 21 years of experience to Diagnose a Drainage Problem.   Many Drainage Problems are not as simple as they seem.  Understanding why a French Drain should be installed over a Surface Drain in particular situations is just one of many variables that must be considered when Diagnosing a Drainage Problem.

Many times CMG is asked to look at Drainage Systems that aren't working correctly.  Here are a few common problems that we find:

French Drain Pipe is too small for the Drainage Area.

French Drain is not connected to an Exit Point.

French Drain is installed where a Surface Drain is needed.

Surface Drain is installed where a French Drain is needed.

Too many gutters connected to French Drain.

French Drain covered with dirt.

Exit Point Covered with Dirt.

Water flow is bad for French Drain,  (trying to drain water up hill)

These are just a few of the Problems we are asked to solve when fixing a Drainage System that wasn't designed correctly.

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.

Cutting The Curb and Installing Curb Fitting With Acrylic Cement

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.

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.

An "Exit Point" is the term used for where all the water leaves the Drainage System.  Determining the Exit Point is very critical.  It is one of the first things we do when diagnosing a Drainage Problem.

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

If you have a question about French Drain Installation contact us.  We will respond ASAP!   Send question to Blane at cmgsprinklers@gmail.com

French Drain Pipe Installation

French Drain Installation, Oklahoma City, Norman, Yukon, Edmond, Mustang *

French Drain Installation can be a big part of  installing a Drainage System.  A French Drain is not the only type of Drain that can be used.  A Drainage System can utilize several types of drains including a French Drain, Surface Drain, or Channel Drain.

Installing Gravel on top of a 6 inch French DrainCMG has done a lot of work recently in Edmond, Oklahoma City and Norman, here are some Photos.

We install French Drains, Surface Drains, and all types of Drainage Systems -

21 Years of Service in Central Oklahoma!

Solid Drain Pipe Running from French Drain in Back Yard

Installing Curb Outlet for French Drain in Oklahoma City

Finished Curb Outlet for French Drain

Installing Solid 4 Inch Drain Pipe Between French Drain and Curb

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.

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 French Drain.  In some cases thick grass growing up through the French Drain will create a natural "Thatch" filter.  This makes the French Drain invisible.  The trick is to allow the grass to grow over the French Drain Gravel without covering it up with dirt.  Grasses such as Bermuda which grow well in the sun will put out runners and new roots and will grow up and through the French Drain.  This will not affect the performance of the French Drain.  The problem is that some times depending on the type of soil involved, it may take a long time to completely cover up the French Drain.  Sprinkling grass seed down in the gravel will speed up the process.

DON'T 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.   

If you install a French Drain in a sunny area, you can:

                                         A.  Leave the  French Drain as-is and allow grass to grow over it in time.

                                         B.  Add grass seed directly to the French Drain gravel with (Light Hand Watering) to speed the growth process

                                         C.  Leave the French Drain as-is but decorate it with stepping stones and landscaping rocks ( leaving large cracks between stones to allow water to get into the French Drain,

2

If you install a French Drain in a shady area you can:

                                        A.  Leave the French Drain as-is, it will work well and look as it did for many years.

                                        B.  Leave the French Drain as-is, but decorate it with stepping stones or landscaping rocks.  Many French Drains are hidden under rock walk ways.IF YOU NEED WATER DRAINED AWAY FROM YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS CALL CMG.  405-226-0629 
CMG Sprinklers and Drains installs all types of Drainage Systems and French Drains.
French Drain Installation is a primary focus for CMG Sprinklers and Drains.  Angie's List has awarded us their Customer Service Award for the State of Oklahoma for top quality French Drain Installation.  Along with the French Drain Customer Service Award, Angie's List has given CMG their top A+ Rating and placed us at the top of their website for Oklahoma French Drain Installation.  CMG also installs a variety of other types of Drains.  Our Drainage Systems may utilize: French Drains, Surface Drains, Channel Drains, Trench Drains, Basin Drains, and Sump Pumps.  In the past 21 years, we have installed French Drains to keep water away from home and business foundations, Surface Drains to keep water away from sidewalks and driveways,  Trench Drains, and French Drains to keep standing water out of flowerbeds and yards, and Sump Pumps to remove water from basements and outdoor low lying areas.

French Drain with stepping stones

A+ Rating on Angie's List

Since 1993 we have gained a lot of experience addressing drainage problems.  Drainage problems can be complicated.  The solution is not always clear to the untrained eye.  CMG has repaired or overhauled many french drains and drainage systems that were installed by, "weekend warriors, a brother-in-law, or a landscaping company that also installs drains."  They all can install Drainage Systems, Just not very well.  CMG has over 20 years of experience Diagnosing Drainage Problems.  This ensures that a Drainage System that we install won't have Drain Pipes that are too small, or Surface Drains installed where French Drains Should be placed, or Exit Points that allow water to Stand and become stagnant.  The above examples are just three of many "Pit - Falls" that our experienced Drainage System Experts can easily avoid.

Surface Drain installed in Oklahoma City

CMG Sprinkler and Drain, -- Over 20 years of keeping water away from foundations,  Keeping water off of driveways, and Keeping Water  from standing on sidewalks every time it rains.  Our Drainage Systems utilize:  French Drains -- 3 inch, 4 inch, and 6 inch
Surface Drains, 4 inch, 6 inch, and 12 inch
Channel Drains, 2 inch, and 4 inch
Sump Pumps 3/4 horse to two horse
Servicing Central Oklahoma including: Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, Yukon, Mustang, Newcastle, Midwest City, Del City, Moore, Blanchard, Choctaw, and all surrounding areas.

Connecting Gutter into French Drain

French Drains can be installed by themselves, or as part of a Drainage System that uses other French Drains, Surface Drains, or other Drain combinations.  Typically a French Drain is used to protect a broad area that has a lot of standing water.  A French Drain might run along side a homes foundation, or beside a driveway, or on any Drainage Project where Sub-Surface water is the primary problem.  If water is running toward your home under ground ( through sandy soil), A French Drain is the only Solution  for draining away water flowing under ground.

6 Inch French Drain

If you live in Oklahoma City and need a French Drain installed in your yard, or along your driveway, or near your foundation, give CMG a call.  If you live in Edmond or Norman and need a Surface Drain installed in the concrete in your sidewalk or driveway, we can help.  If you live in Mustang or Yukon and would like to protect your trees or flower beds from standing water with a French Drain, CMG specializes in just that!

Cutting the curb for a French Drain Outlet

French Drain Installation, Oklahoma City, Edmond, Yukon, Norman, Moore -

French Drain Installation can be a big part of  installing a Drainage System.  A French Drain is not the only type of Drain that can be used.  A Drainage System can utilize several types of drains including a French Drain, Surface Drain, or Channel Drain.

Installing Gravel on top of a 6 inch French Drain

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.

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.

Surface Drain Installation in Oklahoma City