Beautiful French Drain - Looks and Results

Check out this functional but beautiful french drain
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[@looniebinn]

The return and after footage is what makes his channel really stand out from others. Being able to see everything drain and flow so well after watching the installation is so fulfilling. Other people install systems that may look pretty, but are basically useless after a few months because they just clog up. It's really neat seeing the drainage from some of these sites working perfectly years after install. It just goes to show the quality of their work and how much thought and planning goes into installing every system.

[@Lorenejonesbaby99]

I agree!

[@GCFD]

Thank you John! I see it all the time where a company digs a trench, throws in a pipe, and calls it a drainage system. I like to make sure everything is going to work and then revisit to make sure.

[@El_Diablo_LI]

Have you ever had to go back to a job to fix a system that didn't work as planned. I'd love to see and learn from your failures the same way we learn from your success stories. I think this could be really valuable.

[@jafocharlie848]

Totally agree. Most contractors wouldn’t do a call back and admit something like that either. Stand up guy and company!

[@looniebinn]

The homeowner here did a fantastic job on the landscaping. The French drain and surrounding areas look beautiful! They really did a wonderful job!

[@GCFD]

I agree, it looks amazing!

[@adamjackson9988]

Speaks a lot of your character to spot your own error, immediately self report, correct, then put it for all to see. Great work, keep doing the right thing long enough and the ball starts rolling your way all the sudden. Keep it up, nice work.

[@GCFD]

Thank you Adam! The worst part was watching the clip and realizing we missed the gutters. This was such a great homeowner it was easy to go back, dig it up, and make the connection. I wish I hadn't forgotten the camera.

[@bnielsen44]

I am excited for this one. I knew it didn’t “have to” be ugly

[@GCFD]

👍 The homeowner did his magic and it looks incredible!

[@TheJonathanNewton]

I had no idea I was so interested in drains and stuff before I stumbled across this channel… Classic example of when someone’s so excellent at what they’re doing and explaining it so well you just have to watch and listen!

[@jimanderson4495]

You’re a good man for informing the customer of your mistake in not connecting gutter drains.

[@GCFD]

Thank you! It stung a little bit to have to drive back out there with two guys, but we got it connected before any big rains.

[@bushranger51]

@@GCFD Best to have a little bit of embarrasment, than to have an angry customer. Your integrity turned a negative into a positive, that customer will now sing your praises to everyone, word of mouth is the best free advertising ever.

[@leexgx]

@@GCFD it was good that you had the recordings to see that mistake so you could go back and rectify it as you don't want to tarnish your own name (like others do by not doing the job correctly the first and second time with using corrugated and perforated pipe and not fixing the problem or spreading the problem around) the amount of videos you have done fixing or completely replacing other jobs that been done incorrectly, where the homeowner has paid more then once to have a job done and you getting it right first time (is amazing how many companies don't understand how to install drainage systems correctly)

[@AbdicateDotNet]

Shawn, you are such an honest person! How much I wish everyone would have your work ethic!! ❤👏👏👏👍👍👍

[@HealingSavage999]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@GCFD]

Thank you! I think it's much easier to go correct any problems and then it's good to go.

[@AbdicateDotNet]

@@GCFD Well it speaks to your integrity too! That homeowner will also remember it as well! Sadly, you're in the minority of honest business man. Thank you! I mean that. It means a lot to know there are still honest people out there! God bless you!!!!!

[@leexgx]

Was just luckily you had the videos as this was totally a honest mistake that would have been missed if you hadn't had the recordings

[@oceanlover1663]

I really like how the owner did the landscaping! He made it look good. Doesn't even look like the french drain is there!!!

[@GCFD]

I agree, he did an amazing job for sure!

[@rolfnilsen6385]

A slab over the outlet to hide the plastic would be a nice touch. You going back to evaluate when it rains really is an effective way to document the results.

[@alecsimages1]

100% function and pretty, ticks all the boxes Shawn

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@wcsd9577]

Good job by both you and the homeowner, the end result looked very tasteful and most people would have no idea that there's a drain system there.

[@GCFD]

I think the H.O. gets most of the credit here! 👍

[@Tony2tall]

Excellent idea moving dirt away from job site as you were excavating. Neat & tidy decreases labor needed to achieve.

[@GCFD]

👍Thank you Tony!

[@gvannaman]

Excellent job as usual. The homeowner really topped it off with the extras too. Proving the work is the best part. 👍

[@GCFD]

Thank you! The homeowner did an amazing job after us!

[@Insulators]

Video quality is improving a lot, can definitely tell your putting a lot of time towards KZbin now. Great job!

[@GCFD]

Yes! When I realized people were watching my stuff that I needed to do my part.

[@TheOtherBill]

You say "functional but beautiful", I say "functional and beautiful". Nice job.

[@GCFD]

hahaha good point!

[@obviousness8113]

The homeowner really knows how to design landscape. He turned a potential eyesore into a beautiful feature.

[@GCFD]

Yes he's got talent for sure! What a beautiful and functional drain he helped create!

[@jomariecabisay4984]

This is what I love about this channel, the before and after. 👏 Fan from the Philippines🇵🇭 😉

[@GCFD]

Thank you! It's my favorite part too!

[@Lotsielots]

Looks really nice, those added feature rocks just finish it off perfectly. The owner has good taste, very restrained elegant landscaping. Maybe you should start going into some landscaping finishing of french drains like that if customers want it?

[@GCFD]

I would like that

[@davidpeterson7056]

Nice work!

[@GCFD]

Thank you David! The Homeowner gets most of the credit here. What beautiful work!

[@ryanpek]

This client wins the yard of the month of all your clients so far... His Lawn looks great lol

[@GCFD]

For sure! His entire property looks that nice!

[@SteveE293]

And property of the month by the looks of it

[@biglsd1]

That job turned out really well, I love the fact you return to the site to see how it's working out. A really lovely house and garden. Great job 👍 From Lee in the UK 🇬🇧 🙌

[@GCFD]

Thank you Lee! The H.O. really takes pride in his house.

[@briangorton5790]

Hi from the UK, I can watch this channel anytime! He’s very good. Keep em coming 🇬🇧🤩

[@GCFD]

Hey thank you Brian!

[@benjaminstrickland995]

Such a beautiful yard and 4runner.

[@nickb.237]

What a beautiful house and property

[@GCFD]

👍

[@moistie]

I love your French drain videos, especially the follow up where we can see how well they work.

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@MrBobby781]

Love the big stones on top

[@GCFD]

Same! The homeowner did a fantastic job on this one.

[@KeyserSoseRulz]

I like how you show the results with rain.

[@GCFD]

Thank you! I'm locked in a constant struggle with Entropy. It's quite draining.

[@tracyrain4941]

That ended up looking really good. Good job by the GCFD chaps and the owner. More important than looks is whether it works and it does...well done 😊

[@GCFD]

Thank you Tracy! The H.O. did a fantastic job making it look amazing!

[@Dukemeistro]

Excellent work ethic, critical thinking, thorough review of your own videos, and integrity!

[@GCFD]

Ah, that was a big mistake on my part; luckily I caught it.

[@Dukemeistro]

Wish you were here in MI! Keep up the good work.👍

[@Egleu1]

I was hoping for an after look at that irrigation box to see if it was still flooded. But great job either way you teach a lot about the job when you narrate.

[@GCFD]

I know! It had been so long since I had been out there, plus it was my first time seeing the FD that I totally forgot about the box.

[@QuarterZipBro]

Thanks for filming these drainage solutions during real rains. That is the best part and I appreciate it. I will watch every new episode just for that reason alone.

[@GCFD]

Thank you Bill! Even though it's tough to get that footage it's my favorite part! Thanks for watching! - Shawn

[@RobertL78]

That concrete buggy may be the most versatile tool in the arsenal. All it needs is a blade to back fill trenches.

[@GCFD]

👍 They do make self-loading concrete buggies but I went with a traditional one. I often rent it to my concrete guy so it gets used.

[@hap328]

Beautiful home with homeowners who keep it that way by hiring the best.

[@GCFD]

Thank you! He found me on youtube!

[@MrHotPlate]

Nice one Shawn! Job well done

[@GCFD]

👍 Thank you!

[@ericnewton5720]

Very nice looking piece of property

[@GCFD]

👍 It was a very nice place!

[@wm1176]

The larger river rock really makes a difference. I’m glad I found this video. If sod on top is not ideal, this may be the answer to dressing a future FD across the middle of the backyard.

[@Gbralta]

props to that homeowner. The work he did afterwards looks great.

[@GCFD]

For sure! He did an amazing job for sure!

[@FumblingwithFlowers]

Looks AND function? Great all around. :)

[@GCFD]

Thank you! Thanks for watching - Shawn

[@anthonyfindlay466]

Ronald on the buggy again, Jeremy on the dump truck and the main man on the excavator I'm loving it Shawn beautiful work I guess you could add landscaper to your resume. Love the finished look and your system actually works another one for the books, the homeowner topped it off though.

[@GCFD]

Yes the H.O. gets the credit here! What a beautiful finish he did to the FD.

[@MrDbone75]

Good Monday morning to you all from Wellington Somerset in the UK

[@GCFD]

👍

[@Randy_84]

Good on ya for calling out the missed work and making it right.

[@GCFD]

Thank you! The worst part was seeing it in the video. Calling the customer back and heading back out there was easy. We get it right...sometimes the second time!

[@bryantull7596]

I really like that you go back to your job sites a month later to check on the actual performance of your drains. The fact that you get it on camera just adds to our viewing experience. Great work as usual! I have noticed some use a sod cutter where they lay the outfill pipe.. keeps you from having to add straw and looked amazing from the minute they were done. Just a thought.

[@GCFD]

Thank you Bryan! So you know I go back and check on the systems after some time and I don't use a sod cutter. To lay sod you have to compact the ground around the pipe so much that you might disturb the fall, and then it still settles. I prefer to leave the dirt piled on the trench and let it settle naturally so as to leave the pipe alone. When you finish the pipe trench on the same day the trench re-forms as the dirt settles. That would look awesome in the video except for the fact that I go back to check on things. I couldn't show that on my after footage!

[@amandar4980]

Good for you. 👏👏👏 good customer service

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@emmett3067]

Beautiful property. Personally I would have preferred to have two outfalls so I can monitor the effectiveness of both systems separately but it looks like a good outcome. Love to see a cleanout was used at the top of the system too.

[@johnclements6614]

Also because the gutter is off the Y it will be difficult to rod or jet from downstream.

[@GCFD]

Thank you Emmett! 👍

[@Aaron-bu3mo]

very nicely done...

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@Sinvare]

The river rocks you guys laid out along with the owner adding the larger rocks looks great. Definitely makes me wonder if you could use a rain garden to either cover up or act as a french drain/catch basin.

[@GCFD]

Yes I think you could do that. The problem is we have periods of very dry weather here so you'd need to keep those plants watered.

[@dabmane]

I’ve read that rain gardens don’t work well as a substitute in areas that don’t drain well, because they don’t drain well. You end up with a pond if you build it into larger structure. Rain gardens are more preferably placed in an area that water naturally tends to drain towards and out of, such as a sloped channel. So it would be preferable to build this into a rain garden versus not adding a catch basin/French drain. Anecdotal experience here: I turned a part of my lawn that gets a big puddle when it rains into a rain garden. the water level once ran onto my front walkway. Now it’s a rain garden that forms a pond when it rains, and the water still puddles onto the driveway at the same level as before.

[@richardportelli1983]

Turned out looking amazing! Just hope that maple doesn't find its way into the pipe!

[@oldnstillworkin5709]

Wow. What a beautiful job guys

[@viperbite18]

That looks really nice with the landscaping and rocks

[@GCFD]

I agree! The homeowner did a fantastic job!

[@thanos9846]

Man that drainage from the heavy sloped side onto the driveway must be a real 'treat' in the winter (if you have any that far south). Great video again!

[@GCFD]

👍

[@hollandduck79]

from the Netherlands thanks for the video Shawn

[@GCFD]

👍 thank you Hollandduck!

[@edpoints1127]

Great job GCF! Keep the videos coming Shawn! Good to see the results in action as always.

[@GCFD]

Thank you Ed! Concrete videos are coming up next.

[@brentking-gmailking2570]

Great job Shawn as always.. Thanks for going back out and showing us how good it works. Have a great week.

[@GCFD]

Thank you Brent!

[@blizzxrd3817]

Banging job , fair play for coming back out and reconnecting the other drain .. brilliant job

[@GCFD]

Thank you Blizzxrd!

[@uNiandstrize]

That property looks amazing.

[@GCFD]

👍

[@paulthesoundguy1]

SIR. YOU DO NOT HAVE FOOTAGE UNLESS YOUR WALKING…….you have a video or a video file….😊 excellent that you found an issue with the work and fixed it quick

[@99ryanlee]

I know it must take a huge effort Shawn, but that footage at the end is the money shot - always so satisfying to see! I love how this one turned out, the owner must be very happy.

[@GCFD]

Yes and yes! I had forgotten about this job because I was waiting for the H.O. to finish his thing. I was out in the rain it hit me to stop by this job. So worth it!

[@shanewhite499]

Great job Shawn! Looks beautiful. I know the homeowner is happy with that install and also being able to use his yard again.

[@GCFD]

Thank you Shane!

[@tazmankb26]

Nice work and great solution to the problem. Homeowner has a good design eye for visual appealing touches in his landscape.

[@GCFD]

For sure! He has a beautiful property.

[@Jesse-gv9tf]

Wow, another awesome job. You make this look easy!!

[@GCFD]

I've got great help that's for sure! Thank you!

[@SteveE293]

Hi Shawn, I’m reading through all the comments and it must be really rewarding for you and your team getting all the positive feedback. Keep the uploads coming 👍

[@GCFD]

Yes it really is! A commenter mentioned the thumbnail, and I replied that I needed all the help I can get with the thumbnails and he sent me this one, with permission to use it! The youtube community has been 99.9% fantastic in my experience. Thanks Steve, - Shawn

[@clownguy]

Hey guys! Loving the videos you are my current go to channel! I am a landscape gardener here in the UK. I have a suggestion for you. If you cut a line in the turf with a saw, blade, lawn knife, spade, or edging tool, before you dig out the trench, you will get a very much more neat straight line, taking your French drain installations to the next level. Also, as the digger will not be ripping out clumps of sod it will also save you time, because you wont have as much overspill. So it wont cost you anything to do it this way.

[@clownguy]

You could even draw the line with the pipe trench machine!

[@GCFD]

Great Idea!

[@brianhbinesh]

Beautiful job.

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@LAZYDAYZAHEAD]

Shawn, your listed in the dictionary under the word “integrity”. You and your company rocks! (Pun intended)

[@GCFD]

Hahah thank you! 👍

[@fspipe10]

Beautiful house

[@GCFD]

👍

[@MrBobby781]

Really a nice clean job

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@AW-yv9sq]

The homeowner made it look nice but he cut off the ability to get the surface water in that corner of the yard with that mulch mound. That’s why he had puddles still. Nice project :) you did your part

[@ardothe1]

I Love, Love, Love the Timelaps, and the music for it was excellent. Quite enjoyable, I think it's the best one you have done yet. Two thumbs up.

[@GCFD]

Thank you David! I like this one too! I have a couple of concrete jobs that I think will be nice videos coming soon!

[@xxxxcookiesxxxx5590]

Great work.Your work shows how good you are and staff.

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@CenterStarsChannel]

#teamronald always nice to see you working with Sean.

[@GCFD]

We'll take Ronald on every job if we could get him! 👍

[@robertsalido1232]

The river rock was a nice touch. Really tied the woods in with the front yard and concrete driveway. Will make a nice spillway for the running water transition from one side of the driveway, which is running downhill from the left to the right. Excellent work as usual!

[@GCFD]

thank you Robert! The homeowner gets most of the credit here, as we just topped with river rock but he did his thing to make it beautiful!

[@timgarner6768]

Excellent job and video, Shawn. As always.

[@GCFD]

Thank you Tim!

[@AJZulu]

Now that's beautiful

[@jackhume4532]

Good morning Shawn, excellent work as always and I really do like to see your work in action when it’s raining 🌧 then we get to how excellent your work is !!!!!!!!.

[@GCFD]

thank you Jack! This was an awesome project and the homeowner's work is amazing!

[@ednaemode5762]

Beautiful job!

[@GCFD]

Thank you Edna!

[@Lorenejonesbaby99]

It's nice to see you have such a good work ethic.

[@GCFD]

👍

[@RobertL78]

I hit the thumbs up as soon as I hear, “Hi this is Sean from Gate City Foundation”

[@GCFD]

Thank you Robert!

[@geraldarthurhall2247]

Ah, you didn't open the green box! Curious to know it that thing was still full! Great vid as always, thanks for sharing!

[@GCFD]

I was so impressed with the FD that I completely forgot about the box...

[@joshmorris8895]

Beautiful job! Love the after shots!

[@GCFD]

Thank you! 👍

[@CosmicStargoat]

I love watching this stuff. Subscribed.

[@GCFD]

Thank you for the sub! - Shawn

[@danielchambers1958]

Wow . . . great job!

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@1loadermanjack]

Nice Job, Loaderman Approved lol 😎👍

[@GCFD]

👍👍 thank you!

[@xavierhenriques1116]

Another great job and video, Shawn 👍 Thank you

[@GCFD]

Thank you Xavier!

[@alsaku33]

Nice work! That is a nice home, def. keep that customer happy!

[@GCFD]

👍

[@billvetter5328]

I recently purchased an old single home with flooding issues in my basement when heavy rains occur. This gives me some positive thoughts about what to do about my problems. Great work by you and your crew, and very responsible in correcting an issue that the homeowner may never have known about...

[@GCFD]

Make sure to address the gutter water first to ensure it stays in a pipe until far away from your house.

[@pengwang7209]

Do you need to get permit from city?

[@jimbeck6093]

Thank you for showing your work!! (Sound like your teacher in math class? - lol!). Another great video!!

[@athomas897]

Nice job. Great attention to detail. Love these videos.

[@GCFD]

Thank you! 👍

[@watermouse9296]

OMG beautiful property! I want a secluded house like that

[@GCFD]

It's an awesome house for sure!

[@bruce-le-smith]

Another great video

[@GCFD]

Thank you Bruce!

[@rfl35]

Another great video and outstanding drainage job! Full Bubble Boss!

[@GCFD]

Thank you!

[@ricardoernestoguzman9455]

The video was worth waiting for, it is an excellent job of neatness and planning; I saw a video a while ago where you showed some old works how well they continued to work, it would be very good if you do it again with other drains as good as this one, my respect and admiration, greetings from Buenos Aires

[@GCFD]

Thank you Ricardo!

[@stevenbenavente1229]

Good job

[@GCFD]

👍

[@73henny]

Good job. Great you went back after al that time - thats your USP as I've mentioned before. Look forward to the next one.

[@GCFD]

thank you! Next one is set to premier at 8:30 EST tonight!

[@Stratos53100]

Real nice, Any type of Rocks/Stonework etc etc always looks good ( especially when stonework is built in to most homes) i would think the trench would be deep going across the 'grain like that with the distance

[@GCFD]

👍

[@timanderson5457]

Did you happen to check if the irrigation box was still full after your improvements?

[@GCFD]

I completely forgot about it!

[@erwinbrubacker7488]

Another swell job ! You have my confidence. We live W NC, nc sc ga area, red clay, that topsoil looks like fertile loam.

[@GCFD]

👍 Thank you Erwin!

[@kenactofkindness4017]

bounjour mesuor france drain, lol kool and fun films each time, big fan

[@GCFD]

Thank you Ken!

[@idontcare1762]

Personally, I would have dug at least twice as deep and lined the bottom and sides with geo-fabric to keep the rock and soil from mixing and used the 6" corrugated "high octane" virgin material pipe.

[@GCFD]

Hi Elvis - we would have killed our fall if we dug it that deep. We use angular gravel and lots of it instead of fabric to preserve the flow into the pipe. 👍

[@HiVizCamo]

Looks great, and that new tree will serve to suck up moisture there too. Around the time we put in a 65-foot French drain, our local conservation authority started to pitch rain gardens as a solution to crappy grading jobs around here, of which there are many. I thought "nah, I want a drain!", but now kind of wish I'd done a hybrid FD-rain garden at least at the top of my system, at least a big thirsty cedar or something. Hard to know how it'll go at the time though!

[@GCFD]

👍

[@DieDae]

That buggy was an excellent investment.

[@GCFD]

For sure! The wheelbarrows disagree, though, as they sit unused.

[@DieDae]

I saw one getting used for that river rock so there can't be too jealous lol