What is a French Drain and what are the benefits?

Have you noticed puddles in your lawn? Does your garden flood every time there's a storm? A French drain could be your answer! A French drain is an affordable and effective way of managing and redirecting surface water away from your home and troublesome muddy areas of your garden.

Despite their name, French Drains weren't actually invented in France. They were invented by the American agriculturalist and judge, Henry Flagg French in 1859. Since then, French Drains have become commonplace around the world, mainly being used in agriculture and to divert stormwater away from homes.

What is a French Drain and How Do They Work?

A French Drain is a type of trench drain filled with gravel or rocks. The drain is filled with perforated pipes then covered in gravel, rocks and soil and then topped with landscape fabric. Using the slope of your garden, surface water runs down into the trench, allowing water to drain out of the soil and down away from your house.

By diverting storm or rainwater away, you can help prevent flooding, blockages, foundation damage, clogs and sediment build-up and avoid expensive repairs in the future.

What are the Benefits of a French Drain System?

Drastically improves drainage: A French Drain works by redirecting groundwater away from your house and prevents standing or excess water. Standing water can become a breeding ground for nasty insects and bugs like mosquitos, risking the health of your loved ones and garden.

Protects the Foundations of Your Home: By directing rain and surface water away from your home, a French drain helps prevent water damage that can lead to destructive cracks and major structural issues, causing you to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs. It also helps prevent basement flooding.

Versatile: French drains can be installed in various locations including around the foundation of your house, patio, retaining walls, driveway or even around your pool.

Increased Property Value: When it comes time to sell your house, a proper drainage system like French Drains can enhance your property's value. French drains add value to your house's structural integrity and improve landscape aesthetics.

Improves Your Home's Health: Not only does a French drain help prevent mould and mildew around your home's foundations, it also helps maintain your garden. If your garden is constantly wet and muddy from poor drainage, your plants won't grow properly. Having a waterlogged garden or backyard also increases your chances of sliding down the hill due to erosion and nobody wants that!

Minimising toxic runoff: While fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides have many benefits for your lawn and garden, they are filled with harmful ingredients. If these ingredients get into our water systems, people and animals can quickly become sick. By installing a French drain, stormwater and groundwater are protected from the soil by pipes and landscape fabric, moving directly to the waterway without picking up harmful toxins.

Need help installing a French Drain?

Installing a French Drain is an effective and reliable drainage solution. Suited for all types of gardens and areas, French drains protect your property from water damage, control soil erosion and significantly improve backyard drainage. With proper planning and installation, a French drain can offer a sustainable, long-term solution for your water management needs.