What to Expect During French Drain Installation in Your Fort Worth Yard
If you have standing water in your yard after a heavy rain or see cracks around your foundation, a French drain might be exactly what you need. Here in Fort Worth and nearby areas like Benbrook, Crowley, Burleson, Granbury, and Cleburne, drainage issues are common thanks to our heavy clay soil and sudden Texas downpours. If you’re thinking about installing a French drain, here’s what the process usually looks like.
1. Walkthrough and Planning
Before anything happens, a drainage pro will take a walk through your yard. They’ll check for low spots where water tends to collect, see which way your yard naturally slopes, and look at how close water is getting to your house. In parts of Fort Worth, Burleson, or even around the lake in Granbury, small grading issues can turn into major water problems.
They’ll also figure out the best place for the drain and where the water should go once it’s collected. That might be the street, a dry well, or a nearby storm drain.
2. Marking Utilities and Getting Ready
Before digging starts, the crew will call to make sure all underground utilities are marked. In some Fort Worth neighborhoods, a permit may be needed, especially if the drain is going to connect to city infrastructure.
Utility marking usually takes a day or two, so there might be a small pause before the digging begins.
3. Digging the Trench
Once everything is marked and mapped out, it’s time to dig. The trench is usually around a foot to a foot and a half deep and about six to twelve inches wide. In places like Crowley or Cleburne, where the ground can be extra dense, digging may take a little longer.
Crews may use trenching equipment or dig by hand if it’s a tight space or close to landscaping.
4. Putting the System in Place
The trench gets lined with fabric to help keep dirt from clogging the pipe. Then a perforated pipe goes in at the bottom and it’s covered with clean gravel. This setup lets water drain easily into the pipe and flow away from your home.
5. Covering Things Back Up
After the pipe is in and the gravel is packed around it, the trench gets covered with more gravel, topsoil, sod, or sometimes decorative rock or mulch. It’s up to the homeowner how they want it to look. In places like Benbrook or Granbury, homeowners often choose a clean finish that blends with their landscape.
Most clean-up is done the same day and a good crew will leave your yard looking neat.
6. Wrap Up and Maintenance Tips
Once everything’s finished, the installer should walk through the setup with you. They might give some simple tips like avoiding heavy vehicles over the drain or not planting deep-rooted trees right on top of it.
It’s a good idea to check things out once a year, especially before the rainy season hits.
Need Help With Drainage?
If you’re in Fort Worth, Benbrook, Crowley, Burleson, Granbury, Cleburne, or surrounding areas and think a French drain might be a good solution, reach out to a local pro who understands the soil and the weather. A good system can help protect your foundation and keep your yard dry.
Want to talk to someone about it? Reach out today and get your drainage issues handled before the next storm rolls through.