The earliest forms of French drains were simple ditches that were pitched from a high area to a lower one and filled … See more

Ditches are dug manually or by a trencher. An inclination of 1 in 100 to 1 in 200 is typical. Lining the bottom of the ditch with clay or plastic pipe increases the volume of water that can flow through the drain. Modern Fre… See more

Variations of French drains include:
Curtain drain This form comprises a perforated pipe surrounded by gravel. It is similar to the traditional French drain, the gravel or aggregate material of which extends to t… See more

French drains are often installed around a home foundation in two ways:
• Buried around the external side of the foundation wall
• Installed underneath the basement floor on the inside perimeter of the basement … See more

French drains can be used in farmers' fields for the tile drainage of waterlogged fields. Such fields are called "tiled". Weeping tiles can be used anywhere that soil needs to be drained.
Weeping til… See more