When should you opt for a French drain?
Whereas gutters collect precipitation as it runs off the roof, French drains manage water at ground level, where water may pool after a heavy rainstorm if there is not appropriate surface grading. A properly located French drain can move large volumes of water out of these areas, protecting your basement and creating a lawn that is usable in all seasons.
French drains are typically several feet deep with a perforated PVC tile at the bottom of a 2’ wide ditch filled with gravel. This allows surface water to escape down through the gravel to the drain pipe. The drain pipe is then trenched in and routed out to a more convenient location on the property, or into the storm drain.
