I need a French Drain across the front of my house because every year when it rains the basement leaks water. How do you do it and what materials do I need?:confused:

I need a French Drain across the front of my house because every year when it rains the basement leaks water. How do you do it and what materials do I need?:confused:

Here's a link that will give you directions on installing a french drain, (see image) Good luck, Tom
french drains how to - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=t&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLJ,GGLJ:2006-43,GGLJ:en&q=french+drains+how+to)

Just to add to this we do what is called, Water Infiltration" Its required by code on new construction

We Calculate what the rain fall is off the roofs and this determines the size of the "French drain pit"/Water infiltration pit" All down spouts are hooked into this pit(s). The pit is usually on the down slopes of the property. I use the same methods for a water retention but its applied under ground. The pit is wrapped with a screening cloth and the stone in the pit. We plumb the down spouts into the pit(s) Screening over that and then backfill dirt.

It's a good set up except I argue with the inspectors on locations. Too close to drain Fields, or not on a down slope away from a full basement. Some mathematics needs to be used to dig the right size pits.

There are other ways to redirect the water
1. drain tile on the out side footers and piped under footer and sumped out
2. Cut inside of concrete floor around the walls and sump out.
3. If there is a daylight basement then it 1. or 2. except no sump pump is needed simply because you can run the Drainage pipe out of the ground further down the yard.