The Lowest House Always Gets the Neighbor's Water (Open French Drain Fix)

Video Description

The Lowest House Always Gets the Neighbor’s Water — and this yard was proof. Every storm, water rushed between the two homes, picked up speed coming down the hill, and dumped straight onto this property. The previous homeowner tried three different fixes — two French drains and some regrading — and I’m sure they paid good money for each attempt. But none of them worked. Both French drains had little to no stone around the pipe. One had bellies from improper pitch that were actually holding water, and the other was completely packed full of mud with no way to clean it. There were also no access points or cleanouts, so maintenance was impossible. And adding a few inches of topsoil only made the problem worse — it created a deeper layer of mud that stayed wet even longer. When we began digging, the trench immediately filled with groundwater, and the clay walls started collapsing. This was not a normal French drain situation. In this video, we show how we diagnosed the real issue and built an open French drain — a design most people have never seen. It uses a wide stone bed, no fabric on top, and a “choke layer” that filters soil while allowing groundwater to drain freely. This system works where normal French drains can’t. What you’ll see in this video: • Groundwater flooding the trench in minutes • Why shallow French drains always fail between houses • Switching to a V-shaped trench when the walls collapsed • How an open French drain works (and why we chose it) • The choke layer and filter stone design • Final system and rain test footage Watch the full camera evaluation & soil survey here: https://youtu.be/CXGDy1JObmM If you’re dealing with standing water, mud, or runoff from a neighbor’s property, this video will show how to fix it the right way. — Dawn & Tom | Tye Landscaping "When you hire us, you get us" — and a custom solution built with patience and meticulous detail. Link to soil survey website - https://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/ 🧰 Tools & Materials We Use: ⚡ Utility & Excavation We use AirSpade to safely excavate around underground utilities — it’s saved us from costly damages more than once. 👉 Save 15% with code TYE15: https://www.airspade.com/discount/TYE15 Leica DD130 Underground Utility and Cable Locator Package - https://amzn.to/4o5qtdE 📏 Laser & Layout Our Laser - Topcon RL-H4C, no longer available. Newer version; Topcon RL-H5A Self Leveling Horizontal Rotary Laser - https://amzn.to/4o3QeuR Topcon LS-B10 Machine Mounted Laser Receiver - https://amzn.to/4pjhtT7 Tripod for Laser Level with Adjustable Legs - https://amzn.to/448ENL7 💧 Drainage Components Polylok 12" Round Catch Basin - https://amzn.to/43D9wjf Polylok 20" Round Catch Basin - https://amzn.to/43WupGv Polylok 24" Rhino Heavy Duty Catch Basin - https://amzn.to/49ZnCiT StormDrain Pop-Up Emitter Lid Top only - elbow not included - https://amzn.to/483gVtu Vodaland 16x16 Catch Basin with Sediment Basket & Ductile Iron Grate - https://amzn.to/4pjABAz 🔧 Cutting & Finishing Cordless Electric Scissors - Heavy Duty Professional Rotary Shears - https://amzn.to/4r13C5L Oatey Clear PVC All Weather Cement - https://amzn.to/3WXsr4J Oatey Blue PVC Rain-R-Shine Cement - https://amzn.to/3JCUp2I Diablo Demo Demon Carbide Tipped Reciprocating Saw Blades - https://amzn.to/4o3enBQ Lenox 5-Pack 9-in 14-Tpi Bi-Metal Reciprocating Saw Blades - https://amzn.to/4r6AcTs Lenox Bi-Metal Speed Slot Hole Saw with T3 Technology, 4-1/2" - https://amzn.to/43B2Kux Folding Framing/Utility A-Square/Folding Triangle - https://amzn.to/4p8Fpsm Workpro 12 Inch Torpedo Level, Plumbing Level with Pitch - https://amzn.to/4oMgbjR Trekassy 2 Pack 6' x 2" Lifting Sling Straps with 9,400 lbs Capacity - https://amzn.to/44iay4u *Some of the links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.* We only recommend tools and materials we actually use in our own projects. Chapters 0:00 Previews and Intro 3:23 Setting up and failed French drains 8:57 Ground water and changing the plan 14:18 Pumping and excavating mud 30:02 Fabric and stone base 35:09 French drain pipe 41:23 Downspouts and pipe 48:48 Finishing the stone 51:15 Explaining our French drain system 53:18 Walk though 54:12 System in light rain #Drainage #FrenchDrain #OpenFrenchDrain #Groundwater #YardDrainage #StandingWater #HomeImprovement #WaterProblems #DIYDrainage #Landscaping #TyeLandscaping #InterceptorDrain #FloodingFix #MudProblems #BasementWater #RainWaterManagement #ContractorLife #DrainageContractor #BeforeAndAfter #HouseDrainage