www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

Hi There

I have a problem with drainage in my garden. The garden is very much a clay garden and standing water is a real issue. I have looked at a couple of options to undertake.

The first is the "french Drainage" system where by a trench is dug, stone is wrapped in a special material and then covered over.

Or

Using the perforated pipework that is available.

Things is, I want to also a drain and pipework to take the water from my conservatory down pipe in to a nearby manhole. Can I also attached the perforated pipework to this? Or can I some how connect the french drainage system to it?

I dont want to spend a fortune doing it as I really haven't got the money and I don't plan to stay here forever, but at the moment grass wont even grow due to the amount of standing water.

How anyone used either or both system, which is better, easily to use with the desired results?

If you want it to drain well then put a perforated pipe in 20mm gravel for your french drain, if you use 100 mm flexible or 110 mm solid
they will both fit a standard 110 pipe branch, if you go for solid 110 pipe just buy plain soil pipe and cut the slots in it with a disc cutter ( diy cheaper )
and buy 20 mm crushed stone from the pit if you can as that's the cheapest but don't use any that's left over on your drive. if you use a membrane
only cover the top not line the trench.
You could use 10 mm stone but 20 is more free flowing.

Yes, and if you dry the clay out you'll get large cracks in the ground, unless you dig a few tonne of peat in to break it up.