French drains and trench drains are two of the most common drainage systems used not only in modern homes, but also in commercial and industrial establishments. However, one of the most common issues that homeowners ask themselves is which of these two they will need to install on their respective properties. To help you determine the right drain systems for yards and other areas in your home we are going to explore the merits of both systems.

Trench Drain

California trench Drain systems by Extreme Coatings CaliforniaTrench drains are generally considered as surface drains. These are perfect for channeling pooled water on the ground surface so that water will not seep through the very foundation of your home. This type of drain is preferred in areas of the home where the possibility of water pooling is high. That is why Extreme Epoxy Coatings have a vast array of products such as channel drains for patios and driveway drains and grates since you don’t want water to be pooling in these parts of your home.

It is also the system of choice among houses with a yard that is negatively sloped. What this means is that the area adjacent and surrounding the foundation walls of your home are lower than the area on the yard. This negative slope naturally moves rainwater away from the yard and towards the foundation of your house. Sooner or later you will have an issue with water damage. In such instances, trench drains work best since the water on the negatively sloped surface will be channeled away from your foundation.

Now if you use Extreme Epoxy Coatings’ pre-sloped trench drain systems you will have a much more efficient way of managing any type of water pooling or ponding on the surface of your home. That being said, it should work exceptionally well in the shower, too.

French Drain

If trench drains channel water that has pooled on the surface of your yard away from your house, French drains manage ground water or water that doesn’t necessarily pool on the surface, but rather seeps through the ground immediately. In other words, these drain systems for yards are ideal for properties that have to deal with moisture seeping through the ground. It is perfect for homeowners who don’t have issues with flooding in their yards and the only time that their yards will be wet is during occasional rain showers.

California French_drain

The main issue with a French drain is that it is quite cumbersome to install since you will have to place a non-porous liner underground to serve as the system’s moisture barrier. A perforated pipe is then placed inside the French trench before covering with crushed pebbles or rocks.

The Bottom Line

Whenever the issue is water pooling on the ground surface, a trench drain should be installed. If there is no issue of flooding or water pooling, then a French drain system might be a good solution. That being said, it is actually not uncommon to see a property that uses trench drains on one part of the house and a French drain in another.

CONTACT US today for a free quote on your next commercial or residential projects on any of our 20+ construction services in California at 559-213-4731