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        New Message Board Archives >> Jan-Mar 2003 >> I need some help to stop a flood guys!
        
(Message started by: Elaine on Feb 25^th, 2003, 11:27am)

Title: I need some help to stop a flood guys!
Post by Elaine on Feb 25^th, 2003, 11:27am

I know its my birthday but I have a flood problem here at my house rain will be here in a short wile got to work fast.

OK there is a hill in front of my house. The water runs down this hill and right against my house I dug a ditch, on the other side of the walk way hoping to take the water to the side and down the hill. It looks like crap!

I heard you can get a certain type of pipe they its cut in half long wise and then put that pipe in the ditch and fill with gravel. I heard it is good dranage and looks good.
Whats that pipe called.

Has anyone else got any ideas. I have about 4" of water under my house now. I got to stop it! Help Please!
This all I want for my Birthday LOL!!!

Title: Re: I need some help to stop a flood guys!
Post by Bob P on Feb 25^th, 2003, 11:47am

It's called a "French Drain".

Dig the trench, lay some of the preferated pipe that they use for septic tank leach lines in the bottom of the trench and then fill with gravel (make sure the gravel is bigger than the holes in the pipe so it doesn't plug up the holes). You have to run the open end of the pipe to where you want the water to drain.

Big job for a little lady!

And, happy birthday.

Title: Re: I need some help to stop a flood guys!
Post by CathiP on Feb 25^th, 2003, 11:51am

Elaine-
I think you might be referring to a french drain......usually 12"into the ground, pvc pipe at the bottom, can be cut in half to make a "cup", pea gravel to allow the water to settle in rather than course through. It needs to run several feet PAST structures, in order to divert the water away from the structure.
I haven't looked it up, but I'm certain you'll find FRENCH DRAINS if you key it in to your search engine.
Good luck- and HEY- I thought I was in rain country!!!
Oh, and , Happy(soggy) Birthday!
Cathi

Title: Re: I need some help to stop a flood guys!
Post by CathiP on Feb 25^th, 2003, 12:00pm

>>>>>>>alright, I'm slow! Bob P has the technical info- go get the perforated pvc, and make sure it goes well past the foundation, to a spreading ground. Then, do a "no rain"dance!!
Again, good luck, and happy day!
Cathi

Title: Re: I need some help to stop a flood guys!
Post by Elaine on Feb 25^th, 2003, 12:02pm

Oh Man Thanks Bob I love ya. I knew what it was couldn't think of what it was called and no one at Homedepot knew what I was talking about!

I dug the ditch yesterday. That was the hard part boy are my arms sore OUCH! Now for the pipe and gravel.
12" ditch Cathy damn I got to dig a little deeper then :-(!
At lest the ground is soft were I am digging.

Bob I gained 10 lbs since the convention :-)! I have to do all this IT HAS TO BE DONE, by the time Buddy gets home at night its dark. Sunday he couldn't do it because of the races LOL!!!! I unpacked his dewatt radio so now he can work in the yard and listen to the races on the week ends anit I a good wife :-)!

Thanks for the Birthday wish, I am 49 years old today and happy as I can be, couldn't be a better day, even if I do have to work fixing this french drain I am smiling :-)!!!

Love ya

Title: Re: I need some help to stop a flood guys!
Post by cootie on Feb 25^th, 2003, 12:51pm

Hope you get the drain problem solved Elaine...I had to do alot of that around here live'n in a valley surrounded by hills. I jus came in from workin outside and it is only about 18 out.....my fingers hurt so bad I thought they mite bust off.....tried to brush about 5 inches of snow off my car 'agin' and got so cold I had to give it up.....there's ice under the snow. Would love to be able to work outside in decent weather......wah !!! Good luck to ya...!! PS: Happy Birthday agin.....Pam

Title: Re: I need some help to stop a flood guys!
Post by Brian_Y on Feb 25^th, 2003, 12:52pm

I would not use the French Drain solution. It is full of holes, is considered weak by most accounts, will only divert water if there is something in it for itself, and you will have to deal with the rancor of all the other drains in the world if you use it. As well as the people on this board.

/slinks away...

Title: !
Post by CathiP on Feb 25^th, 2003, 1:38pm

;D ;D Too Political, Brian!!!! Change threads, please!

Thanks for the laugh!

BTW- How's your head?
;)Cathi

Title: Re: I need some help to stop a flood guys!
Post by Brian_Y on Feb 25^th, 2003, 1:54pm

Not too good these days, but I fight as I fight. I am whining less and less. Being "home" allows me to be a bit more optimistic about it anyway. I am loaded up with oxygen so that helps....

I hope Oregon finds you well....

I should be out there again in mid March.

What have my colleagues planned for us to do you may ask on our day off (Sunday)?

Skiiing at Mt. Hood. One of the goddamn culprits of my last attack. Oh well....Should still be fun, though....

I'll keep you apprised of my arrival in your fair city....

Title: Re: I need some help to stop a flood guys!
Post by cathy on Feb 25^th, 2003, 1:58pm

...Happy Birthday Elaine ;D,

sorry about your water problem don't know anything about drainage so can't help you there.... :-/

Cathy

Title: Bob P your right!
Post by Elaine on Feb 25^th, 2003, 3:18pm

I am to damn little for this job. I love yard work but I been diging that drain ditch for two days and when I started singing. "I been working in the chain gang". I threw the shovell down and said its time for....handyman.com yes a landscaper is what I got to have. Time to get in debt again :-( oh well!

Title: Re: I need some help to stop a flood guys!
Post by firebrix on Feb 25^th, 2003, 3:44pm

Happy Birthday Elaine!!!
The thought of tiny little you out there for 2 days digging ditches is a bit much especially since its still winter where you are! I send you lots of warm vibes!! SO GLAD you got help in the form of a landscaper.
Down here we place the drain that we shouldn't mention the true title of, on coarse gravel, surrounded by gravel, then wrap the lot in a felt-like carpet- type stuff to prevent smaller sediment from entering the drain thru' the holes. This system was designed by environmental experts here and it does work. Be sure that you get the pipe that is specifically to take water away - there is another that looks similar that is for allowing liquid to soak OUT from the pipe - like a septic tank out-line. They are not interchangeable - here anyway.
Have a very happy birthday ( it must be much happier now that you're not digging! - its fun to watch someone else work!!) and a healthy, happy year filled with joy.
Lots of love
firebrix

Title: Re: I need some help to stop a flood guys!
Post by CathiP on Feb 25^th, 2003, 3:45pm

Such kind colleagues, Brian- drop by my house on th e way up there, you can borrow my sledge hammer....then you can give them firsthand experience a taste of what YOU get!!
Seriously, why don't you suggest hiking Multnomah Falls? Our snow has been minimal, and it's 60 & sunny as I write!
I'll have the phone on if yu get hit!
Cathi

Title: Re: I need some help to stop a flood guys!
Post by echo on Feb 25^th, 2003, 3:52pm

Here's what you need:

8 foot square 6 mm plastic sheet - clear
oils
fruit
whipcream

Wait --- different problem

Never mind

Title: Re: I need some help to stop a flood guys!
Post by NotH20 on Feb 25^th, 2003, 3:52pm

Elaine - give Barb a call - she may be able to help you over the phone a little bit better than the Home Depot people. She'll be at home tonight, but I'll be in a meeting. Good luck w/ your diggin, your water and your sore arms! ;)

PS - Happy Birthday Lady!!!! Call me and we'll take you to a birthday dinner when all this settles down for you.

Mia

Title: Re: I need some help to stop a flood guys!
Post by Gert on Feb 25^th, 2003, 4:06pm

Happy birthday Elaine!

Living in Belgium means putting up with a lot of rain. So I also put such a pipe round my house, and it really helps. Keeps you from getting wet feet!

For the moment the weather in Belgium is great for the time of the year. Sunny, dry and 14°C.

Hoping for a dry birthday next year!

Gert

Title: Re: I need some help to stop a flood guys!
Post by Jarvis on Feb 25^th, 2003, 8:08pm

Elaine hi - Its called a drain tile. It is a flexible black plastic tube and comes in variable sizes. Home depot should carry it. Its round and full of holes not cut in half. Comes in 25 to 150' rolls. Just lay it below grade and cover it with rock or dirt and dont wrap it. Make sure you get it big enuff to handle the runoff. Nuthin to it. Sounds like the hard part is allready done. .. . I would get some of those lights that you plug into an outlet for Buddy after dark too. I know home depot sells them ;)

Title: Re: I need some help to stop a flood guys!
Post by BobG on Feb 26^th, 2003, 3:02am

Ahhh........the joy of home ownership.

You get, you think, a great deal on a home for only $150,00.

After paying monthly payments for 30 years it's all yours. Of course those 360 payments add up to almost $300,00.

Plus another $100,000 for improvements, repairs, roof replacements, broken water pipes, 2 new furnaces, 3 paint jobs and 4 complete sets of furiture.

Now you have $400,000 sunk into that 30 year old house and you decide to "move up" to something newer.

All you have to do is find a sucker to buy the house for $200,000.

You've made a "profit" of $50,000 on that house :(

Ahhh...the Great American Dream.

Ever get the feeling that the Real Estate Industry has pulled the biggest scam in history?

Title: Re: I need some help to stop a flood guys!
Post by CathiP on Feb 26^th, 2003, 10:32am

Hey, Bob G-
Go back to the Corvette jokes, wouldja???
Ya wanna play "guess my occupation"?????

It's really, REALLY okay, y'know....... :-/
I can take it....... :-[
I can ALSO explain the phenomenon to you, if you'd like....suffice it to say, cars RARELY appreciate- and how much do you end up paying IF you pay the contract right to the end?$$$$$
Cathi ;)
Real Estate Broker

Title: Re: I need some help to stop a flood guys!
Post by Brian_Y on Feb 26^th, 2003, 11:44am

I agree with Cathi. I have been in mortgage banking for years and the REAL culprit in this is not the "real estate industry". The banks are.

Evil, evil, evil. There are more hidden costs in a mortgage loan than you can possibly imagine. Why do you think that only RECENTLY folks startred paying attention to predatory lenders? The banks turned their backs on that. Until now.

Excuse me, but I need to go back to my office at the bank....

B

Title: Re: I need some help to stop a flood guys!
Post by BobG on Feb 27^th, 2003, 3:38am

Cathi.......you're right about cars. The "Special Deals for Valued Customers" you can get will cost you your first born child. Never buy a car if all you want is a good re-sale value after you've driven it for 4 years (or even 1 year). My hot rod will cost about 25 grand to complete and be streetable and make me a very happy man. ;D Then I'll be able to sell it for 15 grand :(

But some cars do go up in value. The '63 Corvette Grand Sport is one. Only 2 were ever built. One recently sold for $4,200,000. Yep! that's 4.2 million. :o

Title: Re: I need some help to stop a flood guys!
Post by Charlie on Feb 27^th, 2003, 4:55am

Yer right.

Anyone who owns a house is a janitor.

Actually, I've owned this place for years. It's all mine.....unfortunately, it's in just about the cheapest real estate area in the United States. If the damn thing were in California, it's be worth about four times what I can get here.

Don't talk about water. I've never lived in a house with a dry cellar. Never understood my dad's liking of houses toward the low end of the street.

Hope you got some help Elaine.

Charlie

Title: Re: I need some help to stop a flood guys!
Post by Tim_w on Feb 28^th, 2003, 5:30pm

Happybirth day Elaine! :D
Next summer add top soil around your house and slope it away from your house,This will help!
Tim_w

Title: Re: I need some help to stop a flood guys!
Post by CathiP on Feb 28^th, 2003, 6:38pm

Hey Bob G- So, on paper, it looks like this

Car $25,000 (More or less)
Maintenance, gas & Ins. $25,000 (for 4- 5 yrs.)

Pleasure of driving, all the sights you'll see, the looks on strangers' faces, oh, and the memories.......PRICELESS!!

Tell Zachary to hurry up- summer's coming!!!!

Still expecting to race for pink slips in Crescent City!

Oh, and Linda H- WE'RE CHALLENGING YOU, TOO!!!!

See ya there!!!
(topless) Cathi 8)