French Drain

[herdfan]

I used the geotextile on my french drain project, but do any of you know any comparisons to using straw instead?

 

[Darren]

I haven't seen any comparisons, but straw depending on the soil and soil microbes will decompose over time. Geotextile won't.

 

[at_obuk]

Thanks Guys, no doubt, I'm going with the fabric need it or not.
Also the pea gravel and perf pipe.

Thanks Again

Ericm P.

 

[herdfan]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I haven't seen any comparisons, but straw depending on the soil and soil microbes will decompose over time. Geotextile won't. )</font>

I assume decomposition would take a while, and then there would be a lag before the drain would fail, but would this process reach a critical level (ie drain failure) over the course of a couple of years, 10 years, 20 years? I realize there must be some variabilty due to the soil composition, but is there a general rule of thumb?

 

[Darren]

Here's one I just made up. The more worms you have in your soil, the faster the straw will rot. It's not the worms that will chew up the straw, but the presence of worms indicates a somewhat healthy soil meaning lots of other critters that will work on the straw.

If you buried the straw far enough down that you're into the subsoil, forget the rule of thumb.

 

[herdfan]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Here's one I just made up. The more worms you have in your soil, the faster the straw will rot. It's not the worms that will chew up the straw, but the presence of worms indicates a somewhat healthy soil meaning lots of other critters that will work on the straw.

If you buried the straw far enough down that you're into the subsoil, forget the rule of thumb.
)</font>

ha . . .
ha . . .

 

[herdfan]

/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Maybe if I rephrase my question . . .

Has anyone had to repair/replace a french drain that was installed utilizing straw?

 

[OhioGuy]

My neighbor recently did about 600Ft of drain this way. They used a Ditchwitch, much less soil disturbance, easy to backfill and reseed. Maybe the smaller gravel bed would be less effective than a larger trench but it really helped dry out a wet area of the property.

curt

 

[rambler]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Hi

I have just built a huge one for our septic tank overflow. They work very well. I dug about a 15 m x 2m x 1.5 m deep trench. ( This was all done by hand as I dont have a backhoe). I then drove in 8 x 1.5m3 loads of building rubble. Sizes ranged from 1/2 to full bricks. Dumped that load in and covered it with old plastic sheeting and shovelled some topsoil on top. I have been told that you can use old tyres - by placing the sidewalls as close togeather as possible. This forms a hollow in the middle for the water to drain away. The tyres will never break down and it should work well for rain water.

The brick drain lasts us about 10 or so years. Our soil is very sandy ( Beach sand at lower levels)

Hope that answers your ques.

Cheers

Siphoxolo )</font>

Nothing you have done would be legal in the USA any more. They have really regulated septic systems here.

Tires also may not be burried.

I have no problem with what you are doing, just pointing out that it is illegal in the USA. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

--->Paul