Trench and French are two drainage systems that move the water offsite. But people often complicate the difference between the two.
Trench Drain Vs. French Drain
The main difference between the trench and French drainage systems is that French drains are built under the ground, while trench drains are structures visible on the surface. Let’s learn how both systems work to carry away the wastewater.
How trench drainage functions
Trench drains are sometimes also called channel drains and are above-surface drainage systems. To make this type of drain, a long, narrow trench is dug and then finished with grated covering. You can simply think of a trench drain as a long gutter in the ground.
Trench drains work similar to gutters carrying away water from the surface where pooling can be harmful. Pooled water can erode the soil, give breeding ground to insects, and present other dangers. Once the trench drain is constructed, it is connected to a sewer or natural channel for water, so the water goes offsite without any damage to the environment.
There’s a wide range of materials that can be used for a trench drain, from concrete to plastics like polypropylene. For grating, steel or plastic can be used. Trench drains can be made temporary or permanent. For the latter one, property owners can choose the grating color to better fit their home or business theme.
How French drains work
A French drainage system is a gravel-filled trench with perforated pipe. The bottom and sides of the trench are wrapped with a porous fabric to protect the trench from soil and root intrusion. The top part is also covered before placing the topsoil. Similar to a trench drain, a French drain carries water downhill from the area but includes both groundwater and surface water.
Gravel of different sizes is used to filter the debris from passing water. When comparing trench drain vs. French drain, the latter is built deep into the soil, which means it can carry away any water from the nearby earth that may cause harm such as structural damage or erosion.
French drains effectively redirect water from buildings/houses that can damage the foundation. As compared to trench drains, French ones are wider, and the depth can range from inches to feet (depending on the site).
Let WM Trucking & Excavating manage your drainage problems.
French and trench drainage systems have one thing in common: construction diligence. The initial step to trench digging is deep research on the land in terms of soil quality, installation of the utility lines, and necessary permits on local or state levels. Any digging project that lacks these important components puts the excavation team, client, and nearby area in unwanted danger.
But you don’t have to worry about this when working with our professional staff. We offer complete trench system services, including design and construction, with due diligence. Our experts will discuss the complete process and provide a transparent quote.
WM Trucking & Excavating provides residential and commercial excavation, debris removal, trucking, demolition, and soil materials services in Hockly, Texas, and nearby areas. For more information, give us a call today at 936 372 1399.