He's spot-on when it comes to clay. I dig a 4' to 5' hole and it's dry until 12 hours later, then there's 12" of water in it. More if I wait long enough.
I wish you were here in Texas where I live - great video as usual - my question is if the water table is at 10" below grade, what depth would the drain be laid at?
Wow! This is something I need to check! My leak problem is from rains seeping through the mud, near my concrete stairs leading under the door to the basement. Its a weird setup so I figured out last week. With groundwater like that, without a place to go, can the water seep deeper in the dirt, and lay against the concrete stairs to create a leak? I found out I have 2 holes on the inside of the stairs releasing water to the bottom of the stairs. It rises enough to get under the door in time to minorly flood the first 5 feet of the basement.
My big takeaway from this has been an eye opener for me. If one interferes with the natural lie of the land by excavating say for constructing a foundation for building, especially where there is clay in the soil or where there is a clay layer below the soil, (I have both: clay component *and* a one inch thick white kaolin layer 12 inches down) you risk bringing that ground water up to the surface, even to the extent of turning your building into a wick for the water to escape to the surface. This action will naturally cause your building to slowly begin to subside over years. This is what has happened to me with a recent addition. The original owner a drainage expert built hundred of yards of drainage around the house on a sloping site but a later owner made additions without the drainage. Slowly cracks began to appear).. The only solution is to construct French drains around the structure and maybe if necessary even built in under the structure to drain that water away before it affects the structure. I never knew that ground water behaved like this, coming up where there is a space, previously only thought about surface water. Thank you.
Great vid. Thanks. Would be interested to know if depth should be different if you live on a large hill. Water pressure appears to be pushing up our walls. We are in UK so lots of water :-)
I have a similar issue, and am relying on gravity for drainage. I plan to have my collection pipe starting at the water level on the low side, and going at a decline the entire way. Rain gutters are recommended to slope 1/2 inch for every 10 feet of run. This will mean having to dig more through the higher level to keep the decline consistent with the lower level. Hopefully your high grade side is not extreme.
Thanks for video. You said that if you wait, the water would probably rise to near top so wouldn't the water table be there, near top. I don't under stand why the deep hole if the water is only an inch or so from surface.
![How to Build a French Drain Full Tutorial in Less than 10 Minutes [ Veteran Contractor Explains ]](/img/n.gif)
I finally understand how it works. Great video. Thanks!!
Yes of course
Does that high water do damage to crawl space foundation? thank you
Yes of course
Very well explained - Thank you so much.
Thank you for helping us DIY folks! 👍
Excellent video. Simple to the point, easy to understand and explains a question many have. Thanks
When the experts talk we listen😎, thank you for sharing a very informative experiments
He's spot-on when it comes to clay. I dig a 4' to 5' hole and it's dry until 12 hours later, then there's 12" of water in it. More if I wait long enough.
Absolutely the best information and demonstrations by far. Thank you Chuck
Very cool video showing the time lapse of the water table rising from that hole. I'm going to try this here in CT
Sink holes develop in Florida when the water table below the limestone drops and the unsupported limestone collapses. Scary stuff.
Great analogy, makes perfect sense! Thank you💪🏆❤️
Have mercy! Gives credence to the "I'll sell you Florida swampland" expression! I see why there are so many sink holes in Florida!
You never answered at what level you put the drain... Just the height of the water table....
Yes, I was waiting for the answer the whole time.
Love his video's
So how what is the rule for how deep do we laid down the drainage pipe?
Will do this test tomorrow. Thanks Chuck.
I wish you were here in Texas where I live - great video as usual - my question is if the water table is at 10" below grade, what depth would the drain be laid at?
10” deeper with a 1” slope away every 10 feet
Wow! This is something I need to check! My leak problem is from rains seeping through the mud, near my concrete stairs leading under the door to the basement. Its a weird setup so I figured out last week. With groundwater like that, without a place to go, can the water seep deeper in the dirt, and lay against the concrete stairs to create a leak? I found out I have 2 holes on the inside of the stairs releasing water to the bottom of the stairs. It rises enough to get under the door in time to minorly flood the first 5 feet of the basement.
This is a great informative video thank you
This guy is a good egg.
merci
Where the wet soil is sloghing off the side wall is where the water table is, and that soil is sloughing off because its saturated with water.
Ehm… so how deep should it be? Should it be below the water level? Above it?
My big takeaway from this has been an eye opener for me. If one interferes with the natural lie of the land by excavating say for constructing a foundation for building, especially where there is clay in the soil or where there is a clay layer below the soil, (I have both: clay component *and* a one inch thick white kaolin layer 12 inches down) you risk bringing that ground water up to the surface, even to the extent of turning your building into a wick for the water to escape to the surface. This action will naturally cause your building to slowly begin to subside over years. This is what has happened to me with a recent addition. The original owner a drainage expert built hundred of yards of drainage around the house on a sloping site but a later owner made additions without the drainage. Slowly cracks began to appear).. The only solution is to construct French drains around the structure and maybe if necessary even built in under the structure to drain that water away before it affects the structure. I never knew that ground water behaved like this, coming up where there is a space, previously only thought about surface water. Thank you.
Great vid. Thanks. Would be interested to know if depth should be different if you live on a large hill. Water pressure appears to be pushing up our walls. We are in UK so lots of water :-)
Kindly explain to me how can I drain water from low grade to high grade level.
I have a similar issue, and am relying on gravity for drainage. I plan to have my collection pipe starting at the water level on the low side, and going at a decline the entire way. Rain gutters are recommended to slope 1/2 inch for every 10 feet of run. This will mean having to dig more through the higher level to keep the decline consistent with the lower level. Hopefully your high grade side is not extreme.
I live in the Tampa area, what part of Florida are you in?
Thanks too bad you aren't in Arkansas!
I am in AR and trying to mitigate water puddle problem here. He is so right about clay soil.
Chuck I think you are having a dig at the opposition 😎
LOL.. there is NO Opposition!!
😊
Thanks for video. You said that if you wait, the water would probably rise to near top so wouldn't the water table be there, near top. I don't under stand why the deep hole if the water is only an inch or so from surface.