I have a regular handyman who just recently put in a "french drain" by one of my basement windows. He did this on the recommendation of his friend. However, he admitted he had no idea what one was. Both of these guys told me to dig a 2' deep hole around the window. I did. Then, after he attached the window surround and grate (which look to me like it's placed too high), he said to fill it with rock.

This is how it looks now:
Picasa Web Albums - erin - house - may 2007 (http://picasaweb.google.com/callisto3/HouseMay2007/photo#5063857486320183954)

Somehow, this doesn't seem right to me.

When we dug the area out, there was a layer of styrofoam against the wall (which got removed when we dug the hole) - I am assuming for water protection/waterproofing. I had this wall repaired when I bought the house as it was bowed in. they never did attach the window surround back correctly, so that's why I had my handyman do this in the first place.

So now I have a giant hole filled with rock. No protection, no pan, no plastic pipe leading elsewhere. I don't want to fill the rest up 'cause I have this strange suspicion this has been done incorrectly.

Please help! I think he's actually made the problem worse!

What SHOULD have been done? I need something simple and cheap as I've already spend close to $100 for this goofy solution.

I think this will help. I just googled 'french drain' and there is a lot of information on this system. I think you should take a look.

I think this will help. I just googled 'french drain' and there is a lot of information on this sytem. i think you should take a look.

I have already googled french drain. I am pretty sure what was done is wrong, but I'd like someone to give me advice, tell me exactly what went wrong here.

i have already googled french drain. i am pretty sure what was done is wrong, but i'd like someone to give me advice, tell me exactly what went wrong here.

Never mind the way the drain was run -- Or in this case, the closed Skeeter pond and cootie breeding ground...

Exactly what is this 'French Drain' draining?

Nevermind the way the drain was run -- Or in this case, the closed Skeeter pond and cootie breeding ground....

Exactly what is this 'French Drain' draining?
Um, nothing as far as I can tell! I trusted my handyman on this one and I really shouldn't have.

What do I do now? What's the best fix? Just fill it back up with dirt?

um, nothing as far as i can tell! i trusted my handyman on this one and i really shouldn't have.

what do i do now? what's the best fix? just fill it back up with dirt?

Well, typically a "French Drain" is installed to drain something, typically greywater from a sink or clotheswasher, so I'm flummoxed as to why one was run in the first place.

As for the two steps backwards -- It sounds like the integrity of the moisture barrier was breached in the process of constructing this cootie trap.

Sorry, but you're going to need someone more competent than a handyman to repair the damage already done.

Well, typically a "French Drain" is installed to drain something, typically greywater from a sink or clotheswasher, so I'm flummoxed as to why one was run in the first place.

As for the two steps backwards -- It sounds like the integrity of the moisture barrier was breached in the process of constructing this cootie trap.

Sorry, but you're going to need someone more competent than a handyman to repair the damage already done.

Shoot. :mad:

I suppose digging out the rock and putting fill dirt in won't help the problem?

Perhaps I can shed some light on this subject.
HOW TO: Install a French drain

By Eric Liskey, editor

Jun 1, 2002 12:00 PM


The French drain is a time-honored system for eliminating excess water from low points and other areas prone to saturated soil. French drains are quite simple: in essence they are just trenches filled with gravel, with sand on top of that. Often, you'll see French drains defined to include a drain pipe as well, though the traditional design is simply the gravel-filled trench. The advantages of French drains are low cost and easy installation. In addition, they can be covered over with turf after installation, making them less conspicuous.

Dig the trench


A French drain starts with digging a trench. The depth and width of the trench can vary, but 5 to 6 inches wide and 8 to 12 inches deep are common sizes and usually satisfy most needs.

Ensure proper slope

Adding a drain pipe


Grading is a critical consideration — you must ensure that enough slope exists for the water to actually flow, and flow in the right direction. It might be adequate to check very short stretches of drain with a level to ensure that a slope exists to carry water in the desired direction. However, you should take whatever measures are necessary, including a survey and grading, if needed, to ensure that you have at least a 0.5 percent slope. A 1 or 2 percent grade is better.

Fill with gravel

Add gravel to the trench to within a few inches of the surface. Gravel for this use is typically 0.5 to 1 inch in size.

Top off with sand

Don't get in over your head


On top of the gravel, lay at least 3 or 4 inches of coarse sand. This provides a medium in which turf can grow so that the trench will not be visible. But remember that the sand must be coarse or it won't allow water to properly drain through.

Turf the trench

Turf may be seeded into the sand or simply allowed to grow in from the adjacent stand, if the turf is a spreading type. Or, you can lay sod over the sand. However, if you do this, be sure to wash the soil from the sod roots before laying it so that you don't contaminate the sand with finer soil.


If you wish to use drain pipe, the process is similar to that just described, except you will first lay an inch or two of gravel in the bottom of the trench, on which a perforated drain pipe will rest. The drain pipe should be wrapped in a filter fabric. Then, finish filling in with gravel around the pipe, ensuring at least 1 inch of gravel surrounds the pipe on all sides. Four- or 6-inch drain pipes are commonly used, and are easily accommodated by 6- to 8-inch trenches.

Be sure to run the upper end of the drain pipe to the surface and cap it so that you can, if necessary, access the pipe to unclog it.

Consider hiring a site engineer or similar professional for complex systems that cover large areas and require multiple lines. Proper grading, pipe-sizing and other design factors can make or break a complex drain system.

A 1-percent slope equals a drop of 1 foot over a distance of 100 feet. For shorter distances, the drop can be quite small. For example, a 20-foot run needs a drop of just 0.2 foot (a little more than 2 inches) for a 1-percent grade. Shorter drains may be easy to grade with the help of a good level. However, when in doubt, hire a surveyor.
Good luck, Tom

Perhaps I can shed some light on this subject.


Thanks. I believe I've already read that article. ;)

Does anyone have any solution for what I can do NOW? I can't spend a fortune fixing this, so what about covering the rock with dirt or sand? Is there anything I can do from here?

About the only thing you can do is dig it out and do it right. Good luck, Tom

About the only thing you can do is dig it out and do it right. good luck, Tom

What about putting down a layer of sand and then covering with topsoil? Would that work?

Is this just a hole in the ground or did he dig a trench?

Is this just a hole in the ground or did he dig a trench?

Did you see the picture I posted? It's really more of hole than a trench, IMO.

I saw the picture but since you used the term "french drain" I expected to find a trench leading away from the pit. What you have now is a hole in the ground next to your foundation that will fill up with water the next time it rains. Since the protective styrofoam was removed from the basement wall you now have a potential leak into your basement. If it were me I would bite the bullet and see if I could add some protection to the wall before I filled the hole in. French drains aren't that difficult to build. I would trench past the window and direct the flow towards lower ground. Good luck, Tom

I saw the picture but since you used the term "french drain" I expected to find a trench leading away from the pit. What you have now is a hole in the ground next to your foundation that will fill up with water the next time it rains. Since the protective styrofoam was removed from the basement wall you now have a potential leak into your basement. If it were me I would bite the bullet and see if I could add some protection to the wall before I filled the hole in. French drains aren't that difficult to build. I would trench past the window and direct the flow towards lower ground. Good luck, Tom

My basement leaks all over the place as it is. All I really wanted was the window well replaced and now I have this mess. There's really no place to re-direct the flow of water.

I think I am just going to have to call in the professionals. :mad:

In other news, my handyman is no more. I picked up my key today.