French drain installation in Columbus
A French drain is a trench of stone and perforated pipe that gives water an easier path than your basement. Inside along the footing, or outside across the yard.
Two places a French drain goes
Inside, along the footing
The interior perimeter drain under the edge of the basement floor, carrying water to a sump. This is the core of interior waterproofing.
Outside, across the yard
A shallow trench that intercepts water running toward the house from a slope, a neighbor's yard or a low spot, and carries it off.
Downspout lines
Solid pipe that takes roof water underground and releases it at an outlet away from the foundation.
Why clay changes the design
In sandy soil a French drain can soak water into the ground. Columbus clay won't take it, so the pipe has to carry the water somewhere it can leave: a lower part of the lot, a dry well sized for the soil, a sump, or a permitted outlet. Fabric around the stone keeps fine silt from filling the drain, which clay will do otherwise.
Signs a yard drain is the answer
- Water runs across the lawn toward the house in heavy rain.
- One side of the basement leaks and that side faces uphill.
- A soggy strip of yard stays wet for days after rain.
- Downspouts empty onto ground that slopes back toward the foundation.
Related: Interior Waterproofing · Sump Pump Installation · Wet Basement Solutions
Common questions
Where does the water go?
To a point lower on the lot, a sump, a dry well where the soil allows it, or an outlet that local rules permit. We work this out before digging.
Will a French drain fix a wet basement on its own?
A yard drain helps when surface or shallow water is the main source. If water is rising through saturated clay against the wall, an interior or exterior system is usually needed too.
How long does installation take?
Most yard drains take a day or two. Interior perimeter drains take longer because of the concrete work.
What happens to the lawn?
Sod is cut and rolled back where possible and relaid after. Expect a visible line for a few weeks.