Ideal Distance Between a French Drain and a Foundation

How to Install a French Drain

If you are interested in preventing pooling, mold, or other forms of water damage around your home, then a french drain may be installed to help.  It is often recommended that you hire a professional to determine water flow, and assess the best place for a french drain to be installed.  If you are a DIY expert though, you may consider doing it yourself.  Here is what is usually involved:

Finding a suitable location - determine not only where water is currently collecting, but where the redirected water should go.  This is important, because if you redirect water to another portion of your property that doesn’t drain well then you may end up with the same problem in a different place.  Good outlets include curbs or other bodies of water. 

1. Call before you dig - to ensure that you aren’t digging a trench that intersects other power lines, cables, gas pipes, or phone lines. 
2. Use flags or markers to indicate where a trench to be dug, then dig the trench.  The standard size of your french drain should be approximately 18 to 24 inches deep, and 10 to 12 inches wide.  Your drain should also incorporate a minimum of a 1% slide (downward slope) so that water flows with gravity. 
3. Next, insert filter fabric, gravel bedding, and corrugated pipe that is hooked up to connections and set into the trench.  Once the pipe is inserted, you should cover it with gravel, stone, and a final layer of topsoil. 

Distance from Foundation



Too much water next to the foundation of your home can cause other issues, so knowing where to put a french drain is important. In addition, the location of your french drain plays a key role in whether or not it helps or hurts the drainage on your property.  In general, your french drain should be installed at least 3 feet away from the foundation of your home, but this may vary depending on where the water is pooling, and where gutters are already placed on your property.  Installing your french drain too close can cause foundational issues, and too far away may render it useless. 

Contact Milton Landscaping Turfpros

Whether you’re in need of lawn care or lawn maintenance, we’re here to help you make sure that your property functions as it should. Milton Landscaping Turfpros can help with any of your drainage needs.  We are also able to help save our customers money by helping them maintain their yards throughout the year, and prevent costly damage that may occur down the road. 

When you're ready to receive valuable expertise and assistance, don't hesitate to reach out to Milton Landscaping Turfpros. As experienced professionals in the Milton, ON area, we can help you achieve your ideal landscape and provide ongoing maintenance. Schedule a complimentary consultation today!