Drainage around driveway
- Thread starter Slippy
- Start date
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Phred
Veteran Member
Slippy,
A french drain will likely do the job. Do an internet search on "French Drain" and you will find a bunch of how to pages.
Basic idea is to dig a trench and then fill the bottom with a pipe, gravel, and then landscape cloth. The pipe has a bunch of holes that allows water to flow into it. The gravel creates a void that allows water to flow. Land scape cloth keeps the system from silting up over time.
I had one installed and wish I did it myself. Not rocket science but labor intensive so expensive to hire out. Key trick is to keep the bottom of the trench slopped so it drains well. Probably need a transit to get it right.
Fred
A french drain will likely do the job. Do an internet search on "French Drain" and you will find a bunch of how to pages.
Basic idea is to dig a trench and then fill the bottom with a pipe, gravel, and then landscape cloth. The pipe has a bunch of holes that allows water to flow into it. The gravel creates a void that allows water to flow. Land scape cloth keeps the system from silting up over time.
I had one installed and wish I did it myself. Not rocket science but labor intensive so expensive to hire out. Key trick is to keep the bottom of the trench slopped so it drains well. Probably need a transit to get it right.
Fred
CTyler
Veteran Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Probably need a transit to get it right. )</font>
A string line is another option.
A string line is another option.
Knight9
Veteran Member
Slippy,
Sounds like you and I have similiar issues /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif I never got around to digging a trench or drain of some sort last fall and I'm paying for it this spring. My question is, does water freeze in a french drain or perforated tile and prevent the water from flowing down the ditch? Would defeat the purpose if it does!!!
Kevin
Sounds like you and I have similiar issues /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif I never got around to digging a trench or drain of some sort last fall and I'm paying for it this spring. My question is, does water freeze in a french drain or perforated tile and prevent the water from flowing down the ditch? Would defeat the purpose if it does!!!
Kevin
Egon
Epic Contributor
Kevin:
In your area everything freezes. Usually the frost line is at six plus feet depending on the winter, snow cover and traffic over the area. You've had a few real nice winters but that could always revert back to the cold ones.
A surface trench would work best in your area as it will melt first. Buried frozen pipe is the last to thaw unless it is of a size and gradient that it will never fill with water and freeze. Warm winter days let water into the pipe where it freezes and builds up till the pipe is frozen solid. Perhaps you have noticed the county out steaming culverts in the spring.
Egon
In your area everything freezes. Usually the frost line is at six plus feet depending on the winter, snow cover and traffic over the area. You've had a few real nice winters but that could always revert back to the cold ones.
A surface trench would work best in your area as it will melt first. Buried frozen pipe is the last to thaw unless it is of a size and gradient that it will never fill with water and freeze. Warm winter days let water into the pipe where it freezes and builds up till the pipe is frozen solid. Perhaps you have noticed the county out steaming culverts in the spring.
Egon
Knight9
Veteran Member
Egon,
Pretty much what I figured, but the landscaping folks will still put in french drains complete with perforated pipe around here. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
I spent several hours the other night along the edge of my driveway driving the tractor in the swale (barely that even) to move the slush and water. Needed to get the 1/3 of my driveway out from under about 8-10" of water /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Ok now....we're back in the freezer!!! High of -6C and more snow on the way. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Kevin
Pretty much what I figured, but the landscaping folks will still put in french drains complete with perforated pipe around here. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
I spent several hours the other night along the edge of my driveway driving the tractor in the swale (barely that even) to move the slush and water. Needed to get the 1/3 of my driveway out from under about 8-10" of water /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Ok now....we're back in the freezer!!! High of -6C and more snow on the way. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Kevin
Knight9
Veteran Member
Slippy,
Do you get freeze/thaw/freeze cycles in the fall or spring in your area? If so, it would appear that opinion would vote for open ditch/trenches as opposed to covered pipe...unless you can put in a large culvert.
Any pics of your problem?
Kevin
Do you get freeze/thaw/freeze cycles in the fall or spring in your area? If so, it would appear that opinion would vote for open ditch/trenches as opposed to covered pipe...unless you can put in a large culvert.
Any pics of your problem?
Kevin
GregJ
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2002
- Messages
- 708
- Location
- Washington
- Tractor
- Kubota B2301/LA435FEL/BH70 ; John Deere X350
I have a similar problem along my driveway. My "work area" is an area about 100x100 adjacent to my driveway. This was my first winter with my tractor and this area turned into a muddy mess. Overall my soil is quite sandy, but there are a few veins of clay. I dug a test hole a couple of months ago and it was dry down about 3-4 feet. This water seems to just stay on the surface. I'm not talking just mud, but standing water. I have ruts that at times challenge my B7500 in 4wd to get in and out. So everytime I go into the work area I am tracking copious quantities of mud onto our asphalt driveway. I'd like to be able to drain this area better. I was thinking of gravel when things dry out, but then I have rocks mixing in with my mulch piles. I'd like to stay away from graveling the whole area. Has anybody done a french drain for an area like this? I have a BH, so it wouldn't be a big job (in fact, that translates into more seat time!). If so, how would you design this? What would be the spacing of the drain pipe, or would this be a waste since the water can't penetrate the surface?
Greg
Greg
Egon
Epic Contributor
Kevin:
As long as they get paid for installtion but not preformance they'll keep on doing it.
Egon
As long as they get paid for installtion but not preformance they'll keep on doing it.
Egon
chrisjbell
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2000
- Messages
- 956
- Tractor
- Kubota B7300; JD LX233
I just did a french drain behind my house. The spot where the house was built was just bulldozed out of the top of the hill and so the back is pretty close to flat. All of the drain water from the downspouts just got fired back there - drained OK, but I put the drain in because I'm going to put in raised beds and irrigate like crazy.
Anyway, they're easy to do yourself - IF you have a tractor and backhoe! I do /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. But even just cleaning out the trench and then spreading the gravel is a lot of work so I would not want to do it myself if I had to dig it by hand.
But all you need to do is dig trench, put gravel and perforated pipe in (wrapping with landscape fabric is a good idea, and I did that in mine). Takes quite a bit of gravel - I was surprised at how much. But is easy with the tractor.
Anyway, they're easy to do yourself - IF you have a tractor and backhoe! I do /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. But even just cleaning out the trench and then spreading the gravel is a lot of work so I would not want to do it myself if I had to dig it by hand.
But all you need to do is dig trench, put gravel and perforated pipe in (wrapping with landscape fabric is a good idea, and I did that in mine). Takes quite a bit of gravel - I was surprised at how much. But is easy with the tractor.
