The spaces we design profoundly effect peoples lives.

I recently received a testimonial from a client that really brings home the fact that what I do has a very personal impact on those I serve. Designing spaces where people live is as important as any other discipline in life.

Here the testimonial:

" What I think of with CGreen is the emotional connection with me and my feelings about my home, my environment, my place to reflect myself, to host others and to nest with my family. Cgreen brings that to life with expertise and service that I see (Landscape & Stonework) and what I don't see but rely on (Irrigation & Drainage). An enjoyable experience that provides an extraordinary environment."

It is so exciting to here about our effect on the lives of our clients.

It is also very humbling.

I sincerely hope and believe that it is my duty to add to the quality of life of each and every one of my clients.

I believe that I am not here to enrich myself, but to enrich the lives of others.

Not bragging, just sharing, which is what this blog is about.

Do you have water under your house?

If you have problem with water in the craw space of your foundation, or you have water infiltration through the bottom of your slab foundation, then a French drain is the most likely solution.

The most likely cause of the water penetration is through sub-surface water movement (Water Moving Below Ground). Barring the existence of a natural spring, this generally happens when surface water ponds or stands on the ground surface with no place to go. It will then "Soak In" and begin to travel below ground. The interesting thing is that through capillary action this water moving below ground can defy gravity and flow up to the surface. For many an unfortunate homeowner this happens under their per and beam foundation or in their sunken living room and even under their wood floors. If your house is on a pier and beam foundation and you have this musty oder that you just can't get rid of, water in the crawl space could be causing mildew and rotting under the house. Are your wood floors warping and becoming unlevel and unsightly, could be moisture from below.



French Drain Illustration

 If the water can't be caught at the surface before it travels below ground (which is often impractical), then the best solution is probably a French drain, sometimes called a curtain drain, which will create a barrier that will catch this subsurface water before it moves under the house. It is imperative that the bottom of the French drain system, where the perforated pipe is located, is below the footer or grade beam of the foundation. Preferably at least 6" below. It is necessary to maintain slope on the bottom of the French drain toward the discharge point. The drain may start out at 2.5 ft. deep, but by the time it gets to the end of the foundation it may be 3.5' deep. Many times a sump pump and pit will be necessary as a result of the required depth of the drain pipe.

 

Typical French Drain Plan

Hopefully the Illustration will help in understanding how the system works. Note that the shallowest point is at the upper right corner and the French drain is sloped so that the water will through the perforated pipe to the sump pit, where it is pumped uphill, out to the street.

There are many more applications for French drains, and there more components that can be added to the French system for those different applications, but for now, this is a simple system that can solve a terrible problem. I have seen many flooded crawl spaces and wet sunken living rooms that have been completely dried out with this system.

More on Drainage

Atrium Grate
To prevent clogging

There is a basic protocol when it comes to residential drainage drainage correction.

1. Correct the issue by re-grading. In other words re-shape the ground to direct the flow of water away from the house and off the property. Preferably into the street, alley or drainage easement and not into the
neighbor's yard.

2. If re-grading alone will not work then the use of surface drains is the next step. There must still always be some slope away from the house. If when creating that slope a new low spot is formed where water will
pond, it may be necessary ti install a surface drain. This is a drain grate attached to a catch basin which collects water as it flows across the surface of the ground. This surface drain is connected to a pipe which then carries that water (driven by gravity) down hill to a predetermined discharge point. Many times at the bottom of a curb or into an alley.

3. If the property to be drained is so flat that there is no "Down Hill" to drain water to, or even worse, the    
    house is completely surrounded by higher ground, it may become necessary to pump the water out to the
    street or alley. The ground should still be re-graded to provide slope away from the house and to direct
    water to the location of catch basins. The pipe that the catch basins are connected to will then lead to a  
    pre-manufactured pit that is dug in at least 4' in the ground and is at least18" in diameter. A sump pump is
    placed in the bottom of this pit. the sump pump is typically operated by a float switch. As the water level in
   the pit rises it will activate the float switch. The last stage in this system is the discharge pipe which is
   installed from the pump to the street or alley. The discharge pipe is almost always going up hill, but that's 
   OK,  that's why there is a pump.

In summary the first way to  solve a drainage problem at a typical residence is to try #1, if that will not work then try #2, and lastly if #2 will not work then use the last protocol. Water goes downhill, if you do not have a down hill then the only way to get it up hill is to pump it.

A Typical Surface Drain

Bottom of Curb Discharge

Down spout adapter collects water directly
from the gutter and puts it into the drainage system

If you have problems with water below your foundation and in the crawl space of a pier and beam foundation then stay tuned for the next drainage blog where French drains and subsurface water will be explored.