French Drain Vs Trench Drain

However unlike the french drain the trench drain is a surface drainage structure.

French drain vs trench drain.

This barrier trench leads the water to a perforated pipe located at the bottom of the trench which transports it to a connected outlet such as a storm sewer sump irrigation cistern or a swale. French drains come with an underground barrier trench made with a gravel bed which provides an easier route for the water to travel. In other words these drain systems for yards are ideal for properties that have to deal with. Trench drains are usually lined with concrete and sloped appropriately to take advantage of gravity.

Trench drains provide safety and are great for high traffic areas. While french drains deal with water that s underground trench drains divert excess water away from the surface. The two types of drains most commonly used to tackle excess water problems are surface drains and french drains. Explaining french drains.

What is a trench drain. If a trench drain will be a permanent fixture home or business owners can tailor the grating color to better suit its surroundings. A french drain is a trench covered with gravel rock containing a perforated pipe that redirects surface water and ground water away from an area. While designs over the years have varied modern french drain systems usually feature a trench into which a perforated pipe is laid and then covered with gravel.

Unlike the french drain the trench drain is a surface structure. Surface drains vs french drains. To operate properly the drain must have adequate slope and a place to open onto the ground into a drain pipe or somewhere else where water can exit. A french drain can have perforated hollow pipes along the bottom see images to quickly vent water that seeps down through the upper gravel or rock.

Unfortunately this fact oftentimes is overlooked. Most descriptions of a french drain involve a slotted or perforated pipe a trench geotextile fabric and gravel backfill. French drains are named after henry french a judge and farmer in concord massachusetts who promoted the idea in an 1859 book about farm drainage. They are usually put on streets near restaurants and big buildings to ensure non slippery and dry walking areas.

A clogged french drain pipe can lead to flooded basements and other problems. French drains are actually an american innovation invented in the 19th century by a new england farmer named henry flagg french. Trench drains while french drains are more designed in a more subsurface fashion trench drains are used when hardscape areas meet or hardscape and landscape areas meet or areas where there are.