The term “french drain” is commonly used to refer to shallow subsurface drainage in landscapes, parks, golf courses and athletic fields. People use the term with a wide variety of intents. The exact meaning varies from one geographic region to another and the connotation has shifted with the passage of time. In 2004 alone, nearly 600,000 people googled the term “French drain!” Generally speaking, the term has followed this course of development.
Evolution of the French drain No, the French drain is not some exotic European drainage method. Although the method, as well as the term, is widely used in Europe, it originated in 19th Century New England. It derives its name from Judge Henry French from Concord, Massachusetts, who published Farm Drainage in 1859.Early French drains, and some still today, were merely egress trenches cut through low- lying wet areas and filled with gravel, crushed rock, or fragments of brick. Trenches ranged from 6 inches in width to two feet. They were dug to the depth that desaturation was desired. This method has certainly provided for drier basements, less soggy gardens, and more usable athletic facilities for many years. However, this type of French drain had two chief shortcomings:
Stage 2 French drain Placing a clay drain tile or a slotted or perforated plastic pipe at the bottom of the gravel filled trench dramatically increases the flow rate. The water saturated aggregates readily transfer water to the drainage pipes, which in turn provide a speedy escape path. Although the flow rates differ considerably depending on the size and type of drain tile, all provide flow rates far superior to a simple rock filled trench.
Stage 3 French drain To address the issue of life expectancy, installers began the practice of lining the trenches with a geotextile filter fabric. These drains were also generally more selective in their choice of backfill, usually requiring uniform crushed rock.
TO OUR NEWSLETTE