In storm-prone regions like Oklahoma, heavy rains can cause a lot of damage to a home’s foundation. Moisture is the enemy of concrete, so it pays to remove excess water from your property before it weakens your house’s structure. That means finding the right solution for your ground drainage. You may need either French drains or surface drains—or perhaps both.
Here’s what these drains can do for your property—and how to know which kind you need to keep your foundation safe.
Surface Drains: Handling Large Amounts of Moisture Fast
As its name indicates, a surface drain is installed flush with the top of your ground. The area that surrounds the drain will slope downward so water naturally flows into it and is safely removed from your property.
What surface drains do
Surface drains handle excess rainwater, especially for downpours or heavy periods of rain that result in a lot of water accumulation. They’re ideal in flat or slightly sloped locations where water would otherwise remain standing and stagnant. By managing the flow of water at the surface of these areas, surface drains protect your landscaping and areas around your home from getting flooded out.
How they’re installed
Surface drains use metal grating and flexible PVC pipe. They can be installed in and around concrete areas— such as driveways, sidewalks, patios, and garages. They’re placed several feet from your foundation.
Signs you need a surface drain installed
If you live in an area where large amounts of water can quickly cause flooding—such as in Oklahoma during storm season—surface drains are a great solution. For properties that flood fast, surface drains pull heavy rain into them and safely away, so the moisture won’t harm your foundation.
French Drains: Clearing Away Water from Your Foundation
Unlike surface drains that handle water flow atop the ground, French drains clear away excess moisture below the surface. They’re placed underneath the ground rather than at the surface, where they tackle excess groundwater (moisture that seeps into the soil or is held underground).
What French drains do
French drains are a good fit for properties that have poor soil drainage or where soil moves a lot when exposed to too much moisture—such as our area’s clay dirt. Rain and melting snow can freeze and thaw—causing clay soil to expand and contract, pushing on your slab until it cracks. French drains work beneath the ground surface to pull away water and prevent damage.
How they’re installed
To create a French drain, your installation team will dig a trench, lay perforated PVC pipe, and surround the pipe with a layer of small gravel to encourage water flow. These drains can be placed next to your foundation, as well as in gardens and low-lying areas of your property.
Signs you need a French drain installed
If your home has clay soil that tends to get oversaturated, French drains are a good match. Why? Because this moisture can remain in your soil until it seeps underneath your slab. When that happens, your foundation begins to shift—so you may be seeing cracks on walls and ceilings, sloped floors, a leaning chimney, and other structural issues.
Which Drain Option Is Better for Your Home?
It depends on your property—after all, the right type of drainage system is the one that keeps your home protected. In a nutshell, here’s how to know what you need:
- If your yard or driveway floods fast in heavy rains, surface drains will quickly remove lots of water.
- If your property slopes down to your foundation, surface drains can help prevent pooling along the exterior.
- If your soil is made of clay and tends to stay oversaturated, you likely need French drains to treat this issue.
- If you’ve got standing puddles of water on your lawn that take forever to go away, French drains can address that.
- If you see water in your basement or crawlspace after heavy rains, it’s time to get French drains.
Ensure Your Foundation Stays Safe with Property Drainage Solutions from the Pros
The best way to address excess moisture is to bring in experts who can evaluate your situation and determine what you need—French drains, surface drains, or both. At Edens Structural Solutions, we draw on 40+ years of experience to pinpoint the right solution. See how we’ve helped homeowners across the Tulsa area to have safe, lasting foundations.
