At Petty’s, we don’t just install a drain line as a focal point. We protect your yard from flooding as we take in all factors of your yard, from soil samples to elevation and possible conflicting systems, such as septic irrigation. These are just a few of the factors that come into play when deciding the best type and placement of drainage system to protect your yard and home.

Besides collecting water, French drains can be utilized to distribute water for percolation into the soil. This particular application may be selected for a number of different reasons (reduce run-off/erosion, no viable outlet, etc.) and it works in the same manner as something else you are probably familiar with…septic system field lines. However, it is for this reason that Petty’s will not connect with any other drainage collection system upstream from a French drain designed to collect water. For example, connecting a downspout drainage system to a French drain surrounding the foundation is an easy way to guarantee water will enter your house.

French drains are ideally suited to intercept, collect and redirect the sub-surface flow. Intercepting sub-surface flow is probably the most misunderstood and under-utilized application of French drains. The two most common applications of this principle occur where the soil profile changes to a low-permeability soil like clay or where there is an abundance of mole or gopher activity. In some cases, the sub-surface flow is so great in volume or velocity that a non-permeable barrier is required on the downhill side of the French drain to ensure redirection of the sub-surface flow.