The REAL TRUTH about Geo Fabric, WARNING, May Not Be Suitable for All Viewers

[@bigbark4627]

Any1 else jus randomly watching this guy frm yet another "bizarre" KZbin recommendation? 😄 I'm hooked! 🤩

[@made4snipinator]

100%.... NO idea how I got here but I stayed for the obvious passion and enthusiasm. Thanks for teaching me something boss!

[@joshhill4903]

Hey bro hope youre doing alright. Im here too lmao

[@charlesyoung9055]

Your video is the best help I could Wish for, my wife just inherited a rent house, been doing work on the place and noticed the place has flooded in the past, as my luck runs, it rained very hard while I'm there, noticed all the water running up to the front door, of course the street is about a foot higher, got to within 2 Inches of coming in, have decided to put French drain in front of foundation and drain into Bach yard, all down hill, your video answered all my questions, thanks so much for your time and effort in showing the correct way it's done

[@robertdaniels8609]

This by far the BEST explanation of preparing for french drains. I've installed several nearly 25 years ago that still work. Now I just had my back yard trenched for nearly 100 feet and preparing to lay gravel and pipe. I appreciate your examples of cloth. THANKS

[@winterishere9828]

I've been watching a lot of these videos on french drains and this guy strikes me as the most knowledgeable.

[@ArieteArmsRAMLITE]

Yes. Yes, he is. I have utmost faith in this kind, very handsome (amazing voice too!) Floridian. Not only can you get your DIY job done right first time, save a lot of money also your wife will be distracted by this good looks & easy charm so you can be free to actually get the job done without quite so much nagging interference. I am short fat and hairy with a hideously mangled face. I wear very thick eyeglasses too. You can see my when I was younger on wwtbam uk tv edition where I won $125k tax free on tv in 2001. Hotchin is my name. I was slim then.

[@HB-yq8gy]

That landscape fabric I had removed it all because the rain water was running right over our french drain. Once we removed it the drain worked perfect!

[@lawn-n-orderlandscaping1389]

We fill our drains with gravel all the way to the surface for this exact reson. Maximum flow rate

[@diyoregonnowtexas9202]

I live in Oregon. We get alot of rain and it's pure clay. What I do is cut the fabric in strips and pin them on the sides of the trench to prevent the clay from getting into the drain rock, but not the bottom so water can either come up into the pipe or drain down. drain rock in the trench, then the pipe, cover the top with drain rock, then fabric,then 3/4 crushed open (clean) rock for a nice finish look. If the customer wants soil over the pipe I never put the clay there. I cover with a sandy loam.

[@Fredjoe5]

If water is moving up into the trench from the bottom, and the bottom of the trench has no fabric, then that water is bringing contaminants with it.

[@PTucker0864]

I just did a perimeter drain in my crawlspace in Indy using about 100 feet of the EZ Drain pipe....it seems to be working so far! I also connected the pipes using your method....great info! Thanks! 👍

[@12Bravojeepstuff]

I bet that cost you.

[@TheLawnTools]

You sir, are so helpful! I’m putting in a drain in my yard soon. I’ve watched so many of your videos and now know that I CAN do it myself! (Thanks to you). This video answered my last question. I’ll give you a shoutout for the help in my video of my drain build. Thanks again!

[@notdividedusa1838]

Love the tip about how to join the corrugated pipe!! Perfect! Thanks!

[@stuartbatcheldor5978]

Hi from Australia! Your experience and explanation of this topic is OUTSTANDING! I have learned so much from you.

[@michaeltyniec7010]

I have learned so much from watching your channel. I put in a "poor man's" system to help keep water away from my house. It's not perfect - but you gave me the encouragement and the knowledge to "get 'er done". Thank you!

[@timberwolf9363]

Chuck, your test with buckets is showing a scenario where you would cover your french drain with clay or soil. Well, in this case, fabric or no fabric will make no difference as water won't be able to penetrate anyway. If you would like to do this test, french drain should be open (allow drainage from the top) in which case means you cover it with gravel and then put fabric on top of it. Remember, point where clear stone meets clay that's where fabric sits and it's not expected for water to come in through that point anyway. In a french drain water is expected to come in through gravel around your pipe and in order to do that water has to have direct contact with gravel, not through clay (it won't work). All fabric does is prevents your gravel around the FD not to clog with your soil. Now, I'm not sure why are people opposed to fabric when for few bucks you can have a bulletproof system. You should do a test that mimics real french drain.

[@jayhiz3514]

I love tour videos and I know you have helped so many DIY home owners like myself. I listen to every once of advice in your videos (and I have watched everyone) I was able to avoid paying 25k in exterior water proofing. I spent 5 days and 5k. Its been yrs and not a drop of water in my basement. Thank you so mutch and thank u for this video. Just remember, the trolls will always be around.

[@briansyzdek365]

Hello Chuck! I've been watching your videos for the longest time, and have to say you are the most knowledgeable guy out there. I especially appreciate your honest evaluations on time and money savers. I'm hoping you have a video of what to do when you have very low to no slope to work with. Thanks and keep the videos going.

[@roushsporthvacman7095]

Installing a drainage system in Florida is very different than installing a drainage system in Michigan or Massachusetts. Just because someone installs a drainage system in a different manner does not make it wrong ! Many people are unaware of the reasons why people do things differently in other regions of the country. Like using double wall corrugated pipe instead of single wall pipe or using a high quality SRW non woven drainage fabric in stead of landscaping fabric or using Agri Drain PVC tile tape on the drainage pipe joint to stop the piping separating at the frost line and to stop root migration into the piping. FYI there are many reasons for taking these preventive measures...

[@melig7543]

Basically it just depends on the soil that you are building the drain in. Different regions, different soils. We just move to a new region. I am struggling with a fluffy lawn. I think it has moles. One spot is squishy and holds water. My daughter thinks we have clay with sand over it in that spot. That is why I am watching this. The yard slopes towards the house too. That isnt good.

[@gedionsamuel2256]

Meli G Did you install a drainage? If so did you use fabric?

[@gedionsamuel2256]

I am done with the dig and at the point where I’m about to lay gravel in. I just don’t know whether to use fabric or not. This guy is obviously one of the best and seemingly his experience speaks for itself. However, reading so much back and forth and not truly getting convinced either way, I’m still unsure. I’m in Southern California and the yard is a thick dense clay that just isn’t porous at all. The yard also slopes toward the house and with no drainage when it rains it’s a messy puddle where the lawn meets the patio concrete. I’m installing triplewall pipes with the double holes facing down onto the aggregate. Fabric or no...?

[@clovertx901]

Well?​@@gedionsamuel2256

[@DaveWatts_ejectamenta]

I think most drainage would be better served by creating a stream instead, no need for plastic or fabric, just dig a V shaped trench, lay some flat stones on the bottom, some pebbles on the sides. If it gets blocked then easy to clean, but in practice most streams don't block. But could also cover with something removable, eg. slate. Maybe rounded roof tiles would make a good stream base with larger roof tiles as a cover. The other thing with this test is that the geofabric must only let the water pour at the same rate as the earth material. So for clay it could be slow but for sandy soil it could be faster. If its draining too fast then it is probably too pourous and will let the earth through.

[@lisaln3987]

Yes I'm thinking something similar. If pipe will eventually clog why bother. Water will flow through a rock filled trench. Also I have a dirt filled basement. I eventually plan to concrete but have been thinking to not concrete over the trench but rather just leave the stone perimeter. The slope is most important!

[@lilsav812]

We just put this type of drainage at the side of our studio and the end of the back yard. I believe you are 100% correct. We have a clay soil and this has made the drainage worse. It has rained no where near as heavy as it usually does for the water to start accumulating and it's up to my ankles already. It is almost like the water is not getting through, or, at least way too slow. With the rain we have just had, there is very little water accumulation but now i am worried about when we have really heavy down fall, especially if it's over a few days. And my worry about the geo fab, is what lead me to google how well it works. This video has answered a lot of my questions. Thank you

[@BenDover4Me]

Unfortunately you are going to have to rip all that geofabric out. I guarantee you the fabric you laid is completely plugged with clay.

[@webcompanion]

Chuck that DIY union connector tip you showed was priceless! So great! And so simple!

[@OldElvis1927]

Dude, you're awesome! You're the Bob Ross of drainage. Thanks for all the videos!

[@bl9531]

You explain things very well - obviously knowledgeable and interested in what you do. Good job!

[@nenemagbozo7744]

May I ask if the rubble trench foundation system without a geotextile lined in the trench will works well. I am in the middle of project.

[@coldsteelguns192]

Here is a link to US Fabrics. They are one of the geotextile fabric suppliers that are used by the US DOT...which means their products are approved for use in road construction. The link clearly shows the properties and strength ratings of their 4oz nonwoven geo fabric. Scroll down and see their PDF's on how to build French drains and foundation drains. They recommend a complete wrap of the drain. They say that their product will keep the sediment out. I dont know how fabrics are rated but I have seen 4 oz fabrics that are paper thin like the ones chuck has in this video and then I've seen 4oz fabrics that are thick like a felt blanket. I believe that not using fabric around basement weeper tiles along the foundation is why we see so many home weeper tiles fail. If the builders used a quality fabric I think the weepers would last longer. Chuck says 4oz fabric is not expensive...maybe not the thin stuff from lowes but a good quality 4oz fabric will be close to $200 from what I've found for a 150' roll. www.usfabricsinc.com/products/us-100nw/

[@jamesmasterson3769]

Cold Steel Guns good info

[@MJ-LazyBones]

G'Day from Australia! Thanks Chuck I am about to do about 150ft of French drain in clay and you have saved me money and time. Legend!

[@vitalilisau6181]

Hi Chuck, thank you for your education and experiments. In order to avoid agg and cloth clogging, to me it looked like the best way to get rid of them altogether by increasing total system's capacity. What I mean is Instead of using 4'' pipe wrapped in 8'' agg and cloth, just use 8'' slotted pipe. It will never get clogged as the volume is huge. Any clay will get inside and get washed away. Bigger particles like small stones and coarse sand will stay outside and provide filtering, so you will get self-cleaning system. If the soil subsides, just add some small gravel or coarse sand on top. P.S. I am not in this business, but get some experience and still looking for the best way.

[@xtnoys3768]

Dearest Apple Drains, you are most helpful and absolutely inspiring!

[@ES-yi8vv]

Thank you so much for all the information. Its is really well done and very helpful. My question is you always say that the french drain is for sub surface water but you test these fabrics only from the surface water point of view. If you had a stone and pipe drain wrapped with fabric would the hydrostatic pressure force the water from the clay through the fabric into the pipe and collect the subsurface water that way?

[@russmuncy]

Thank you for taking the time to do this. I am preparing to do a perimeter drain in my basement. Was wondering what you use for weeping membrane on the walls. The walls are cinder block and I intend to drill weep holes, just above the footer.

[@johnskyleir]

You are a honest guy, not much left to tell the truth ... My mother's nurse said by pointing out my mother " they are not made anymore " lol... like that honest people almost disappeared. not made anymore. Thank you.

[@timh8976]

Thanks for the tip on using a piece of the corrugated pipe to secure two sections of pipe together. 👍

[@CJ-zh2lo]

Are you still consulting? Im on a LOW water table in north GA right next to a manmade lake. Groundwater is flooding the property even with no rain and would love your input. Many people have been out here offering 40k+ solutions that seem outrageous and just plain don't make sense after watching your videos.

[@firstnamemike]

How are your downspouts routed? Catch basin?

[@yaoypl]

Your method of the joint is way better and smarter! Thanks for sharing

[@km-uc5wh]

I've got a 4' deep block foundation I'm digging out next week. I'm going to go with thick walled PVC with holes. Should I just do gravel and fabric on top then soil? No fabric on the sides? I know to stay away from the burrito technique. Thanks for all your informative videos!

[@lindadaniels5341]

thanks for the info I think I am going to try it ....Im 60 but very limited on cash I am trying to cut costs. I was just laid off finding a job at 60 tough but I have needed to do this for a long time cant wait to get started on it. Best way to get the fall correctly is my biggest concern. Im in Tulsa surely you want to make a video here ...lots of clay and not sure if i have enough fall to carry it away ...but I will read up and watch more videos

[@ja1a100]

I'm still waiting for that go-pro shot.

[@peggyslate4050]

He also used a hard stream from the hose with the fabric alone and then used a lighter shower setting when he sprayed the clay soil. Of course, it won't come through the same when you shoot water through the fabric!

[@robertm.5816]

Don't sweat the small stuff- this guy is providing a-lot of value for FREE, and your concerned with a go-pro shot!!

[@vincenash1358]

thank you for taking the time to help all us newbies !

[@robertcort8566]

It was very late at night when I watched but just so I understand, the fabric is essentially, optional in the end. Water and fine dirt will still end up in the pipe. I'm considering using 3inch pvc that will end in a dry well/trench.

[@leomalino2364]

Thanks for the abundance good info, One suggestion when using a piece of corrugated to couple 2 corrugated pipes. Put the connecting piece outside the other 2 pieces to avoid creating a restriction inside the connection.

[@judydavey7320]

Hi Chuck this is a great video. I have a question. I am doing a small retaining wall there is limited space, I am making an L corner. Should the drain start on the short end of the L and carry no around the corner? The short length of the L is about 29 inches. I am using PVC. Thanks . Your videos are appreciated.

[@FergusScotchman]

That's why you put the fabric between the clay soil and aggregate

[@gedionsamuel2256]

That makes a lot of sense! I just finished trenching a 50 ft run in my backyard and kept going back and forth about the fabric l. He’s very knowledgeable and all his videos are a+ informative but I still was hesitant to put down the drain pipes bare. Yes there would be the aggregates and YES it’s true about him explaining the clay potentially clogging up the fabric against the pipe. However that distance between the pipe and the fabric by placing it at the aggregate/soil transition makes a little more sense. Couple that with hydrostatic flow and you should have a working drain. Of course, only time will tell. Any feedback welcome.

[@MyTractorGuy]

I have it on good authority from a soil scientist here in NC that fabric is not needed in a clay trench. However in a sandy or silty trench it definitely helps. This guy spoke at our septic certification and I asked him a lot about fabric for french drains. I figured the soil scientist has forgotten more about dirt than I’ll ever learn. 😂

[@crujones1640]

great video... so for upnorth living... aka mud and clay michigan.. only put the cloth on the top?

[@hulkh3489]

I don't live in the US so I don't know if I can get my hands on those kinds of pipes but I was wondering if I could use perforated PVC pipes or maybe a simple PVC pipe and drill holes in them and then use stones and fabric just like you said. Will it do the trick?

[@lbfree714]

Should do. A lot of people do it with pvc and holes drilled in.

[@daltoniks]

we looking to build a driveway road up hill, what geofabric to use? i want to use the slotted pipe to the water gets drained into it, and collected at the bottom dam that we have, - could you advice quickly what to use? Also reg stone? big stones first on top of the fabric then fine agregate?

[@jeffreyry]

I don’t usually write in comments but Chuck you are awesome. Thank you so much for your videos of instruction and encouragement. Not a lot of people a genuine as you are. Thanks again can’t wait to see more.

[@tommyvvirs1731]

Thanks for this, I just bought 5 acres on Vancouver Island BC Canada. gradual slopes on the property that are very sogging and the more we walk in one area its clear it is clay. We get tons of rain. there is a ditch that runs along side the property down to a very low spot where it creates a little lake. as it is gradual slope, should I dig trenches down to the lake and ditch?

[@elsagrace3893]

Hi Florida man! Your explanations made the whole thing interesting. I don’t even know the first thing about drains. Just clicked on it because of my interest in gardening. Learned stuff 👍🏼

[@billytheearthworm573]

Agreed proper preparation and installation strategies must be considered per the various local soil conditions and hydraulic factors.

[@fixitwise7194]

This is about the 100th video I've watched about clay and fabric and I'm still confused. I'm thinking about just doing it with rock alone. A filter is a filter... wether it is a fabric filter or a rock filter, wether it is non-woven or not. If it's filtering the clay, where does that filtered clay go??? and they all eventually clog. Seems like a fabric filter would clog much faster than rock... I'm leaning on using 6" smooth perforated PVC pipe with a 90 degree sweep elbow clean out on the high side end, (round grates on top) and just run a pressure washer drain snake attachment through it every couple of years. Surround the pipe with about 1" diameter rock. The smooth pipe bottom should help it clean easier?? Seems like the rock might tend to clog from the top anyway, and not the sides or bottom, due to gravity... I'd rather deal with that down the road than pulling the whole thing due to clogged fabric.

[@fixitwise7194]

I think, one more thing to consider. In hilly areas with clay soil, water travels under the few inches of top soil (turf) traveling on top of the clay layer. If the clay is dried out, it has cracks, if the clay is already saturated, it creates a solid layer for the sub-surface water to travel on. Once it hits the French drain, it dumps in from the top... mostly.

[@appledrains]

Hey ! Chuck here with Apple Drains. Yes! I always lay a piece of Fabric across the top of the gravel. Not worried about sides or bottom. Thank gravel is the fabric and works great

[@fixitwise7194]

@@appledrains Thanks Chuck...even with clay soil? What if we decide to just leave it a rock path on top and zero soil? Great videos BTW : )

[@annsatori3429]

You have helped me so much!!!! I feel confident that I can complete my project and that your information is accurate and useful. Thanks Chuck!!

[@rogerbrowning4637]

If you can move water around in Florida after a deluge or for instance, a hurricane or due to having a high water table then you can move it around anywhere. Your comments show that your experience is invaluable in addressing different soils/sand when deciding which variation of application of drain system to choose to ensure success. This guy knows his h20! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@Jimo225]

to do these tests property you must get a bucket and put dirt on and plant grass and let the water percolate thru the grass and into the fabric. clay is used to stop water when they build a pond but the roots in it changes the dynamic.

[@vinceleto]

Chuck, love your videos. Question. How would you handle draining a baseball diamond infield? I’m talking about the clay infield. We have puddling in sections and installed a French drain at third base draining to a pit in foul territory to pump the water. We are experiencing little to no water perching through the clay surface and into the pipe. They sell some a sand like material that is used on professional fields. Now, we used 3 inch white pipe with the holes on the bottom. We wrapped the pipe with fabric (I’m sure this will stir up some comments). We laid and surrounded the pipe in 3/4 crushed stone. The top of the pipe is about 4 inches below the surface roughly. To my question. Thinking of removing the top layer of clay over the pipe and refilling with sand in hopes the water perch’s to the pipe and into the pit. We really don’t care about the speed in which it removes the surface water as long as it removes it throughout the day. Do you have a better idea?

[@coldsteelguns192]

If you have 4" of clay over the drain you will never get the water to the pipe. Put sand over the top where the water problem is. Or maybe you can listen to chuck and put a inlet basin to collect the surface water....shouldn't be a problem having a inlet basin in your infield...just tell the kids to step over it when they are running bases🤣🤣. If you have a permeable soil over the drain the surface water will enter the drain and then the surrounding soil will solidify from not being so saturated

[@appledrains]

vinceleto Hi Vince . we have done several athletic fields. You must take an aggressive strategy in order to maintain your surface. Better soil and aeration are key factors. Strip Drain seem to work the best. Drain tile also should be installed. I guess my question would be where are you discharging this water? You know, in today’s universities, there is actually a degree called Turf Management designed for sports fields golf courses and of course every day homeowners grass. I will be doing a video about athletic fields in the next few weeks. If you need more help, you can try me on LIVE HELP. Thanks, Chuck

[@vinceleto]

Cold Steel Guns a inlet would work but not sure it is Little League approved 😀

[@vinceleto]

Apple Drains looking forward to your athletic field videos. I posted three videos on our project if you care to watch and critique. I think we are going to try removing the clay over the pipe until we reach the crushed stone and go with course sand over the stone with a fabric layer over the stone first

[@appledrains]

vinceleto 😊 Please try Strip Drain and amend your soils. 😀

[@Nelchalo]

Thanks man great videos!!!. God bless you always!!! I may need your help soon with my drain problem!

[@wxscan4614]

"We can even come to Michigan." That made me chuckle. Thanks Chuck! Keep up the videos.

[@rosadod]

Yep, I'm from MI and would prefer Chuck over FDM.

[@webersouza9898]

This is the reason you put debris around the drainage tube. In Clay soils only when water saturated the soil the trench Will drain .

[@edolivoeo]

Ok, From Houston. Will try to install a 100 ft drain system frm one side of bk yard to the front street where it will drain. I want to do it myself and save $. My neighbors yard guys are using heavy oneman carry lawn mowers and often they create ruts on my side of yard where the drain will be ran. Wondering what I could use for reinforcing that section of new drain and prevent collapsing/repairs . Dealing with my neighbor & yard guys for repair money would not end well.

[@Mstom178]

What is the best fabric to wrap a drain pipe in clay? using a mix of french drain and down spout outlet

[@jadm110]

so south western Oregon, we have a clay area in our back yard that is a dense clay that just clings to water, ( can't dig through it) we have a french drain a short distance away and the clay just won't let the water drain. how does a home owner go about resolving this problem?

[@Chainyanker007]

If using 4” Schd 40 pvc how important is it to glue the sections and any joints together if the French drain is for S. Calif where there is no freezing and heaving of the soil? Seems to me that leaving it unglued will make it easier for long term maintenance if you ever have to take it apart and any leakage would be minimal

[@leeh6894]

I put a french drain in and I used a somewhat tarp material and water is running on top of it. Can I just cut the top of it off and leave it rock? I live in wv.

[@bkind2182]

Great videos! I live in Oregon and have a bunch of trees. Do you have any videos about how best to protect the drain pipe from roots getting in but still allowing for water to have good access during our rainy winters? Thanks!

[@michaelcantwell6928]

Hey, Chuck, I have a question. I’m redoing a French drain which doesn’t work. The trench was wrapped in heave fabric and the pipe was wrapped separately in the same material. I’ve removed all the gravel and the fabric. I know your not a fan of the geofabric but this video shows a sleeve on the pipe. Do you recommend a sleeve

[@lavernewilliams9399]

Hello Chuck! Thank you so much for all your informative, motivating, and inspiring video!! I've enjoyed them. I'm working on a project in my backyard where the water settled in the middle of the yard...Yikes! The rest of the foundation surrounding the house is concert. Trying to figure out the best approach would love your feedback.

[@samueloconner3511]

Gravity sends most water to the bottom of the trench and the pipe takes it away as the water rises. The purpose of the fabric is to preserve the permeability of the pipe by stopping large particles from collecting around pipe and blocking the perforations . Your experiment shows the fabric doing exactly what it is supposed to do.

[@craigzdyb390]

Canals in the UK were lined with clay when constructed to help keep the water in the canal.

[@appledrains]

Hey Chuck here with Apple Drains. I would like to invite everyone to our first Premier video coming this Friday, May 10th. Hope to see everyone soon!

[@bendaves77]

Apple Drains I'm from Illinois in the north western region about 35 miles east of the Mississippi River and up here we have a layer of quality black dirt followed by limestone clay which is horrible for getting rid of water. Do you have a video or can you tell me about a product I should use. I live in a house that's about 100 years old and the basement is clay fired brick and its double walled and I'm wanting to get the water away from my house so that I can add a family room and a gun room in my basement. Any and all help would be appreciated sir. God bless you and thank you for your informative videos

[@856Dropout]

They do make sch40 perforated pipe Pete

[@jsyoni]

can't you use a sloped landscape like a valley to drain or carry water away? what's the comparison to your preferred method?

[@judywiley3298]

This is exactly what I am thinking.

[@VladTheImpalerTepesIII]

if you are talking about a "swale" then yes this could be used instead of a drain and much cheaper, but it cannot be used in every situation. For instance, some people don't want swales in their back yard lol.

[@stevenbergeron7084]

I have a big hill behind my house and my it seems like the water drains through my back yard and then into the neighbor's property. A lot of the water stays in my back yard and takes days to dissipate. How deep should I dig my trench and what size pipe do you reccomend?

[@watermelonlalala]

Howdy, "neighbor". You sound like the guy next door to me. I wish you had got an answer to your question. Did you figure it out?

[@hjc0706]

what do you suggest for clay ?

[@urbanrootslandscaping3874]

I love what you say at the end about believing in yourself. It’s a nice uplifting message.

[@markkahle3273]

Your using the wrong fabric number 1, it should be NON WOVEN. 2. The dirt not making it thru the fabric is the reason it works!!! The water goes thru the clay does not... smdh

[@arayahomes4308]

I love your channel. I design high performance homes and you are really knowledgeable about a lot of what you speak about. Refreshing to see your channel and I love how you test what you use!!!

[@arayahomes4308]

I would love to know your opinion on using landscape fabric, here's some specific questions: I live in Canada and in the BC Builder Guide to Site And Foundation Drainage (which I hope you look at briefly) it's a really well done book on best practices. Something that is new to me is that in the book they talk about not using the fabric on the underside quite often, they will cover the tops of drain rock and sides but leave the bottom open, never using a sock on the pipes and I'm new to the whole leave the bottom open. Do you have any thoughts of that? I can't leave a link because youtube won't let me but if you copy paste that name of the guide into google you'll be able to download the pdf. What do you think about this? Wouldn't that be a problem in some areas with perhaps clay or different soil types? Would love your thoughts on it all. Btw, that black pipe you use, I'm sure you know, but as far as I know, that black rippled pipe is basically garbage of a product and if used in say foundation drainage systems it's of high risk of breaking because of how weak it is. I'm on teh same page with you, holes down and never use a sock in my understanding with high performing homes.

[@tkjazzer]

I heard that Clay aprons used to be intentionally placed around homes prior to the invention of gutters and downspouts. These would angle away underground. Clay swells when it gets exposed to water. This forms a semi impermeable barrier and the water runs away from the house underground without a French pipe

[@WillCarrot]

What material should I use in the middle Tennessee area? Yard has a good slope but hood water in some places.

[@lawn-n-orderlandscaping1389]

Woven fabric, perforated pipe and 3/4 gravel.

[@eachday9538]

The clay example seems to overlook hydrostatic pressure

[@nope24601]

And the deluge conditions it was provided.

[@bomark2002]

I live in the northern rocky part of West Virginia, we believe after Noah’s flood God put all the rocks in our yard, 😂, I WAS going to wrap the pipe with fabric until I watched this video now Ima just cover my pipe with smooth rock, cover with a piece of fabric, then soil. Thanks for the awesome info

[@edwardfitzgerald4801]

How do you construct a drain in clay if fabric blocks up?

[@blackacreage4868]

Chuck I just want to thank you for all these videos. You’re so incredibly thorough and contagiously positive. I can’t help but smile seeing you do your thing. Thank you for all the insight 🙏

[@spruce_goose5169]

11:26 This gets at the crux of fabrics. They serve best at SEPARATION. This is why using fabric to keep fine soils out of large drainage zones (bed of crush rock for example) makes perfect sense, but using it to wrap directly around the drain pipe makes less sense. I like your intuitive sense, but I will say that your bucket experiments don't really show much, besides that clay heavy soils don't pass water well. Why would we expect water to run through that pile of clay freely, just based on the fabric holding up the pile? I would challenge someone to find a material that can hold the pile of clay AND allow water to pass. You will inevitably get one of two things: 1) Something that effectively holds the clay, and therefore the clay will hold water OR 2) Something that lets water pass through freely, but with it, the sediments of the clay. You simply cannot expect ANY material to effectively hold back (separate) the clay AND allow water to pass freely, because the CLAY ITSELF IS WHAT BLOCKS THE FLOW. Moral of the story: separate your fines from your drainage areas with as much surface area as possible, or design in an allowance for fines to migrate without blocking the system immediately (often its a matter of time, however, and the addition of clean-outs may be wise).

[@northpolltv6598]

I agree that it's the clay itself that blocks the flow, but in answer to your challenge, graphene might have the physical properties for the job. Amazingly graphene blocks even the smallest atoms, helium and hydrogen, yet it allows water to pass through it. I don't know how quickly though.

[@cheefussmith9380]

exactly. if clay moved water well, we wouldn't need the drain in the first place.

[@bobloblaw7465]

I'm sure he's referring to exactly what you said. The fabric only adds resistance. It doesn't help move water. Instead of the water flowing thru the clay, into the heavy aggregate, then into the pipe. The clay will build up on top, and the rocks below will act like a strainer. If fabric is used, The clay would then just clog the fabric. Why add another resistant barrier? Obviously both systems work, but one costs more.

[@cheefussmith9380]

@@bobloblaw7465 if water directly on the fabric flows freely, it's not really adding resistance. the fabric is there to keep the clay from clogging the tubes which it absolutely will do eventually

[@Fredjoe5]

@@bobloblaw7465 There's no indication that the fabric is "getting clogged".

[@angeltrudo]

Do you travel to Parrish? I think we need to have this done around our whole house, after the storm Nicole this fall we had water intrusion. I believe we need to seal the foundation and where is meets the block

[@lorenzo42p]

14:00 I'm no expert, but I don't care for that coupling trick. putting a piece of pipe inside like that could make it more likely to form a clog. what about like a snake tongue, split the down-hill end of the pipe down the middle and put it around the outside of the other pipe. maybe some heavy zip ties around it. solid connection, less likely to leak or clog.

[@justinmichael007]

You could cut a small extruded triangle type cut on the uphill pipe too so it can pinch together just slightly to fit inside the makeshift coupling too, then zip tie it like you said.

[@louisrios5546]

1:47 A bit confused -- you kept referring to the GoPro showing a video of the bottom of the bucket, but we never see the GoPro footage.

[@ed0985587]

Awesome tips, especially joining the perforated pipe! Thanks!

[@thelegand1]

I’m renovating my garden because there was an 8-10 layer of clay under ~10 inches of top soil, after 2 years the soil has become saturated and is now ruined. I’ve taken all the ruined soil and clay out and I’m now left with a 20 inch excavation plus a soakaway which I have centred in the middle. I’m putting down a layer of drainage gravel on the base and having that channel towards to soakaway, and on top of that premium quality top soil. I’m thinking 8 inch layer of gravel and 12 inch layer of soil with a pourous membrane separating them. Would this be ok to grow grass on? Many thanks

[@daleferber2096]

Hey Chuck If you want something that is quick and easy to install , flows well , maximizes the prevention of soil intrusion into the 4 inch corrugated pipe and provides for water to collect around that 4 inch pipe the way gravel does What do you think of this idea Home Depot sells both the 6 inch as well as the 4 inch cloth covered corroborated pipe in 100 foot rolls . You rent a 6 inch wide trencher, dig trench 12 inches deep and put in the 6 inch pipe and then run the 4 inch pipe inside that. You have an air gap inside the 6 inch pipe for water to collect in and flow into the 4 inch pipe like the gravel does Because the 6 inch pipe is covered in cloth it prevents soil intrusion for many years and even if that gap inside the pipe gets filled in with intruded soil the 4 inch pipe is covered in cloth as well so that pipe keeps flowing for many many many years . No messing with cloth, no buying and installing gravel with a wheel barrow and shovel , just dig a trench with your rented trencher drop in the pipe in a pipe and cover it it up Quicker and probably cheaper than messing with that 10 foot foam peanut thing Easy Peasy

[@viracocha03]

That coupling trick with the pipe itself was brilliant.

[@k.scottphillips8933]

so should you use PVC thin wall with holes, or the corrugated black stuff? I'm in Maryland.

[@deanmccabe8783]

What percentage of slope do I need in my French drain?

[@ushomework3718]

Basic! Down hill to your discharge. Start shallow and continue to discharge,, duh

[@naguilar65]

Thank you. You really helped understand how things work together

[@RushAustin]

Chuck, can you describe what is involved in doing maintenance on a french drain system and how often the maintenance should be done?

[@aron6998]

Hahaha good one, maintenance is bs money grab, the only thing they can do (without serious lawn interruption) is put a nozzle with differing angled jets on the end of a long water hose and try to move some of the sediment out of the piping that’s all!!

[@troybrault2215]

If your system includes access ports in key locations [as a good system should], then part of the maintenance includes flushing the system to move any fine sediment to the sump collection system, or another access area where it can be wet vac'd out. These ports also allow an Iron Out flush to kill any growth in iron rich soil. You can also treat the system through these ports to protect against root growth [especially if there is a Weeping Willow Tree nearby]. Typically the maintenance would also check sediment build up above the check valve at the sump pump [ unless your draining to "daylight']; as well as check underground discharge for flow and integrity. BBU [ battery back up systems] are also checked for battery life, alarms, BBU check valve inspection, etc.. They should also clean any Threshold Drains [ installed in front of basement bulkhead stairs or other egress area which drain into the system.] If you're dealing with a reputable company, it is worth the money - a few hundred $$ spent could save thousands in damage. Most warranties are void if the pump fails from lack of maintenance to the above.

[@detailin_dave926]

Done a few of these projects this summer. You knowledge and pointers really helped me out a lot. Appreciate it!!

[@keith7976]

My take on this is that the fabric is there to prevent clays present in the soil from infiltrating and blocking the pipe. The voids between the aggregate similarly. If the aggregate is rounded, the void space is increased, but it is more mobile, so fabric helps stop migration. If the aggregate is sharp edged, it is less likely to migrate, but as it locks in, it presents less void space, and clays can wash in and cement the aggregate. It hinges on soil type, clays are present as a range by overall volume. The soil is essentially a mixture of sand and clays. The proportion affect the properties. If you have to move a lot of surface water, then a channel of sharp aggregate extending to the surface, containing a drainage pipe with no fabric would likely work. If the need is to allow less saturated ground a route away from a building, a curtain drain with rounded aggregate and non woven fabric should work. No silver bullet.

[@nestorroman2694]

Very interesting information Sir!

[@kurtrain7560]

Your channel is the most informative, most honest, thank you.

[@mainelyelectric]

The long solid white pipe with Black inside and holes in it that you showed in the video is not PVC it’s Triple wall HDPE. Way better than PVC I use it all the time!

[@mariacobb5935]

Ben Boudreau, how is this better than regular PVC? Does it come with the holes already in it?

[@mainelyelectric]

Maria Cobb it’s stronger than standard thin wall PVC drain pipe, It’s made by ADS DRAINS. Since it’s triple wall it does not shatter when cold and it’s cheaper cost wise. Same size as thin wall pvc and fits all pvc fittings. And yes It is available with holes or no holes.

[@jeffsullivan3362]

I am in Michigan with heavy clay just below my lawn surface. My back yard is sloped to the middle and appears to have been a watershed in a previous life. All the homes in the area have the same slope. I currently have a sump pump set 2 feet below the lowest point in my yard. I am going to bring in topsoil to level the yard but can't go higher due to the driveway level. Is there something special I should do or should I plan on incorporating the sump into my finished French drain?

[@michiganmagneto]

I live in Michigan too. Lots of clay, backyards always flooding. I was hoping this year to tackle the backyard with some sort of drain system and sump pump and pump it out all the way out to the street. When he said in this video "we'll even come to Michigan" I started laughing and wished I had the money.

[@jeffsullivan3362]

@@michiganmagneto Maybe we can get bulk pricing.

[@michiganmagneto]

Yeah even as a DIY project, I think I'm still going to need Bill Gates money to make this happen. That's just how my luck rolls. I still have to check with the city of Eastpointe to see if I could pump it out to the street and core the curb.

[@michiganmagneto]

My "Honey Do" list is is just a bit too excessive at the moment.

[@michiganmagneto]

@@jeffsullivan3362 I don't know where you live, but I was searching around a bit more and found French Drain Man in Oakland county. He's also got videos up on KZbin. If DIY gain all the knowledge from whoever is offering it.

[@buddhistsympathizer1136]

Great video with some useful tips - I'm confused why 'It may not be suitable for all viewers' though . . . Don't understand that.

[@1ronhall]

Chuck, I so appreciate your videos, and I must say you are a trusted source and advisor as I need to repair erosion and add some sort of water collection or diverter system from my over whelmed house gutters. Thanks for your videos, my friend!

[@HB-yq8gy]

I love Chuck's no nonsense straight forward practical easy to do diy projects.. I binged watched all Apple drains videos.

[@WhenTheManComesAround]

Excellent video my friend, thanks for giving us the real scoop on this stuff.

[@Raya-5544]

wow thank you so much for making this video!!! answered so many of my questions in just one video. THANK YOU FOR THE EDUCATION !!