Driveway SOS: French Drain Upgrade to help with gravel washout

We have had some issues with our steep gravel driveway draining properly, so here's our first step in trying to handle all of this rainwater! We have some more things we are doing, so stay tuned to see how everything turns out.

[@barrypickles6546]

I have seen many mountain tracks, the problem is usually tackled by placing a small inch or so barrier every so often, try some rount timber.

[@DreamitBuildit]

Thanks! Always a work in progress.

[@TORAH-613]

either it has not rained since the making of this video or you forgot to do an update video after a big rain.

[@DreamitBuildit]

I know we're way behind. We should do something soon because we've done a few more tweaks to the drainage of the long distance of it.

[@g3managementinvestments561]

We're 5 months later... how did it hold up?

[@DreamitBuildit]

Decently. We definitely think it should have been wider (and may do that the next time we have an excavator around) to handle heavy rains better but it’s definitely helping

[@tedm4932]

Is the drive still holding up ? I would probably put in two large like 8 in. PVC pipe with drain tops buried across the drive .

[@DreamitBuildit]

Doing pretty good. Yes, we would like to make the French drain a bit of a bigger trench as well

[@Braydenz5782]

Hi guys cool adventure and good job with all the work

[@DreamitBuildit]

thanks

[@shahsmerdis]

Good idea ! Did the pipe get crushed by anything ?

[@DreamitBuildit]

No it’s doing good

[@erickrisler3555]

Thanks for the video

[@DreamitBuildit]

You bet

[@larryshulman8845]

I’m sure you saw the results of your hard work by now, rain water flowing with velocity and volume cannot be captured by a system like this, I learned a lot doing drainage on our vermont home with driveways, ledge rock, hills and springs. My advice dig into proven swale approaches to keep water moving down the sides of driveway to a place it can be diverted. If you are faced with ledge and hard pack soil yu will have to get equipment, you can’t beat nature and gravity.

[@kevinmoore8780]

Good observation. I'm looking at DIY videos for this problem on my driveway and thought I'd do something similar. But you comment made me think of the volume of water that flows down my driveway in a big storm and a french drain across it, as I was thinking of making, would not have much impact. I'd need something more like the depression you have with a cattle guard gate.

[@DreamitBuildit]

Great point. We did end up getting grass going in our ditch to avoid so much erosion/ mud washing down and that has helped. We think with more diverting and crowning of the drive it will help it out.

[@jed9615]

Hey brother good video. I'm NW of Cookeville, TN. You in TN? I have the same problem, going to use your idea. Thanks and keep walking with our KING!

[@DreamitBuildit]

Yeah we’re in the ETN valley. We will have to do an update on how it’s going. Drainage is always an issue around here.

[@christophershreiner5114]

Pipe should be on bottom and gravel on top. Washed gravel is better to not clog up the holes as fast.

[@DreamitBuildit]

Yes great tip! We did both and the filter paper before dirt

[@MarkFutch]

They say sweating is GOOD for your health- ya'll must be healthy indeed!