MY ADVENTURE WITH DIY CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS
Had a similar experience with drainage under my shop slab—thought a basic gravel trench would cut it, but after the first heavy rain, I ended up with puddles and a headache. Ended up digging in a French drain anyway. If I had to do it over, I'd just bite the bullet and put in proper drainage from the start. Cutting corners on water management isn’t worth it... learned that the hard way.
MY ADVENTURE WITH DIY CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS
I get where you’re coming from—water’s a pain to deal with once it’s under the slab. But honestly, I’m not convinced that a French drain is always the best answer. Have you looked into rain gardens or bioswales? Sometimes, redirecting water away from the foundation altogether (instead of just channeling it underground) can be more effective and actually better for the environment. I’ve seen setups where folks use permeable pavers around the shop perimeter, letting water soak in naturally instead of pooling up or running off.
I know it’s tempting to go all-in on heavy drainage systems, but sometimes those just move the problem further down the line. Plus, they can clog up if you’re not careful about maintenance. I’ve had to snake out more than one French drain that turned into a mud tunnel after a couple seasons.
Not saying your approach was wrong—sometimes you gotta do what works in the moment, especially if you’re dealing with clay soil or a high water table. But I’d question whether “proper drainage” always means more pipes and gravel. Sometimes it’s about changing the grade, planting deep-rooted stuff nearby, or even just rethinking where your downspouts dump out.
Curious if anyone else has tried going the low-impact route instead of digging trenches everywhere. It’s not always as quick, but in my experience, it can save a lot of headaches (and backaches) down the road...
I’ve had to snake out more than one French drain that turned into a mud tunnel after a couple seasons.
- Yep, been there. My wallet still remembers the "cheap" French drain that clogged up in year two.
- Rain gardens are cool, but I worry about maintenance—I'm not exactly a plant whisperer.
- Redirecting downspouts was free and made a bigger difference than I expected.
- Permeable pavers look awesome but price tag scared me off. Maybe someday...
- Honestly, anything that doesn’t involve renting a trencher is a win in my book.
Redirecting my downspouts made a bigger difference than I expected too—honestly, I wish I’d tried that before messing with drains. I get the rain garden hesitation. I can barely keep succulents alive, so the idea of more plants is... intimidating. Permeable pavers look great, but yeah, that price tag is wild.
Redirecting downspouts is one of those simple fixes that gets overlooked. I’ve seen folks spend thousands on French drains when a $30 extension would’ve done the trick. As for rain gardens, I get the intimidation factor, but honestly, they’re less maintenance than people think—native plants are surprisingly forgiving. Permeable pavers look sharp, but yeah, the cost can be hard to justify unless you’re dealing with serious runoff issues. Sometimes the low-tech solutions really do win out.
