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To Valroc,

Help! We’re the proud owners of a new home, but when it started raining we noticed water runs towards the home. Flooding has occurred at the foundation of the house and is ruining my garden. We’re unable to do any complicated installations ourselves and are looking for an inexpensive drainage system. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

– Janice from Langley

Dear Janice,

Congratulations of your new home! We understand what it feels like to buy something brand new to learn soon after that there’s a problem. Luckily, we have an effective yet cost-conscious drainage system that will allocate water to the right place in no time. The ‘French Drain’ is an inexpensive drainage system that can be installed in less than a day.

– The Valroc Team

The French Drain

This week – a simple solution to a very common drainage problem. Learn how the French Drain works and why it should be implemented to your home if you’re having issues with flooding. Looking for an inexpensive drainage system? You’ve come to the right place.

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What is a French Drain?

A french drain is an inexpensive drainage system installed around the perimeter of the home and is designed to divert water runoff without having to regrade your whole yard. It can be thought of as an underground gutter system that gathers water and drains it before it reaches your home’s foundation.

How is a French Drain Installed?

Building a French drain involves digging a 12” to 18” deep channel that is sloped specifically to direct water to its exit point.

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After the trench is dug, corrugated plastic pipe is placed into the channel before it’s filled back up with gravel. Water doesn’t like confrontation – it always travels the path of least resistance. Your sloped channels will now divert it before it reaches the foundation of your home.

What makes the French Drain such a cost effective method?

Because the French Drain primarily uses gravity to allocate the water, it doesn’t require any complicated or expensive systems to get the job done. The other popular alternative is grading, which applies to a much larger area and is more labour intensive to install. Also, it requires the use of heavy equipment. These factors combined result in a much more expensive project. The simplicity of the French Drain is one of the main reasons it’s such a great option and ultimately the best value.

How long does the French Drain take to install Yourself?

If you’re planning on using DIY methods, the French Drain can be a daunting process. Let us break it down for you.

If the trench is 15 meters long, about 22 cubic meters of soil will need to be taken out. If the soil is wet, and if you have a drainage problem we’ll assume it is, you’ll need to remove and transport 4 – 5 tons of dirt. This will involve days of labour or some expensive equipment rentals.

What’s the better way?

Take it easy on yourself. The drainage experts at Valroc Development Ltd. specialize in drainage projects just like this. Our administrative team is here to make the process as seamless as possible, and align you with the right in-house professionals to carry out the job.

Reserve your complimentary consultation with a Valroc Drainage Specialist