French Drain Vs Weeping Tile

A french drain is typically installed just below the surface and its main intent is to prevent the over saturation of soil.

French drain vs weeping tile.

A french drain or weeping tile also trench drain filter drain blind drain rubble drain rock drain drain tile perimeter drain land drain french ditch sub surface drain sub soil drain or agricultural drain is a trench filled with gravel or rock or containing a perforated pipe that redirects surface water and groundwater away from an area. Essentially it s a gravel lined ditch that has a pipe embedded that carries water from one place to another. A french drain also called a weeping tile drain tile perimeter drain or sub surface drain is a common basement waterproofing solution. It s made of plastic it s four inches wide and is full of holes to let the water drain from the inside.

A french drain can be an effective option to redirect water but it also has several disadvantages. Problems with exterior french drains. The black corrugated pipe seemed like a cheaper and easier option but something told me i shouldn t dismiss using schedule 40 solid 4 pvc pipe. Drain tile is the term most commonly used today but in some regions of the country such agricultural drainage systems are still referred to as french drains.

The pipe carries rainwater away from problem areas that may sustain water damage if left alone. A french drain sounds fancy but it s actually a pretty simple drainage system. How do they work. One question i grappled with was whether to use corrugated vs solid pipe.

There s a multitude of different systems of french drains but the most commonly used is the big o an agricultural drain. The water is then drained into a more desirable area. It s a trench containing a perforated pipe that redirects surface water and groundwater away from the foundation. A weeping tile is a type of french drain and it is a drain that is built to protect a structure against hydrostatic pressure.

It is also sometimes referred to as a french drain because this drainage method was popularized by henry french of concord massachusetts back in the 1800 s. Johnston was not secretive about his methods however and in 1860 henry french wrote a book that had such a profound effect that these drainage systems were renamed french drains.