[Logan176]

I'd like to think that the driveway installer should have known I was going to have a water problem, but I'm still an idiot.

Background:
When my driveway was being installed a few years ago, I was trying to solve a drainage issue. I buried a pvc pipe under my driveway and below the frost line. Once it crosses my driveway, about 20 feet away from the house, I installed perforated pipe on a slope for another 30 feet with about 12-18" of stone underneath it so the water from my gutters can drain. This part works as designed.

However, I was also worried about water flooding my garage because it was built on a slab. So, I installed a catch basin on the side of the driveway thinking any run-off would hit the catch basin and be safely sent away.

Then nature happened and laughed at my poor planning.

Soon after the driveway was finished, the black catch basin pulled away from the driveway and frost heave pushed up the asphalt, so no surface run-off can reach the catch basin at all.

As you can see in the picture below, enough run-off is pouring off the driveway to push back the mulch. This water then soaks the soil and weeps through the basement wall. From the inside, there is just enough water penetration through the block that it looks like the foundation wall is slowly crying.

In hindsight, I should have had the driveway installed right up to the foundation, or at the very least the installer should have sloped the driveway away from the house. Either way, I still need to fix this before I finish my basement.

Question:
Can I remove the catch basin and install a small 3-4' French drain at the edge of my driveway that would empty into the pvc pipe under the basin? I would have the holes in the pipe facing down and the pipe would be covered with the cloth "sock," but I would not have drainage stone under the pipe... only above it.

Please let me know if this French drain idea is as stupid as my first one. I have thought about having the driveway extended the 2' to the house, but I'm worried that I would have frost heave issues at the seam between the 2-year-old asphalt and the new asphalt.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Which way does the rest of the driveway pitch too,..??

Ya got the frost heaves because of the water yer tryin' to control,....

I'd call yer blacktoppers back, 'n have 'em blacktop to the house, pitchin' to the driveway, 'n then to the road, or wherever it goes now,...

From what little ya show, None of the water shoulda been pitched to that area,...
Maybe they could over lay, insteada buttin' up to the low area,....

 

[GottaFixIt]

I'd add a drain tile along the driveway where your "}" mark is and maybe all the way to the entry door. Tie that/them into the basin. Use impermeable fabric under it and plenty of good draining gravel and it should catch the runoff and redirect it into your drainage system.

 

[Logan176]

The driveway was installed with the highest points towards the center and the run-off is directed towards the sides and the road. I think I'll try installing drain tile first. If that doesn't work, and I'll know after the first heavy rain, the driveway guy will get a call. Thanks.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... You can try the tile, but I doubt it'll fix the issue, as it'll freeze in winter, 'n do nothin',....

Lookin' at yer picture, I'd do a saw cut, from the corner of the garage, toward the road to a line intersectin' with a line from the far side of the concrete walk,...
Then blacktop from the house, to the garage, pitchin' toward the road,....
That'll kick the water out away from the house, 'n move it, atleast to the front lawn,...
The saw cut will allow the blacktoppers to leave a nice straight line,...
Seal coatin' after, will restore/ match the color,..

In winter, surface drainage will work as soon as it warms,....
Sub-surface drainage don't work til the frost comes outa the ground,....

 

[Logan176]

If I go the blacktop route, do you foresee any issues if I widen that right side the whole length of the driveway? Will I have to worry about frost heave separating the asphalt at the line where the new and old material meet?

 

[Bondo]

If I go the blacktop route, do you foresee any issues if I widen that right side the whole length of the driveway? Will I have to worry about frost heave separating the asphalt at the line where the new and old material meet?

Ayuh,.... So long as the sub-grade base is equal across the whole thing, it shouldn't matter in the least,....

 

[Logan176]

Thanks for the help. I have to ask one more thing... What does ayuh mean?

 

[Bondo]

Thanks for the help. I have to ask one more thing... What does ayuh mean?

Ayuh,.... Here ya go,....

Native Downeast lingo,... Ayuh,...

Btw,.... I'm a Blacktopper durin' the summer, 24th season approachin',....

 

[Logan176]

So I installed the French drain between the house and the driveway. It was a total pain in the rear and I had to cut into the driveway a bit, but everything is working properly. I know the drain is pulling away a decent amount of water, but the big question will be what percentage of water is still sleeping past it and if any of that water eventually hits the foundation. Unfortunately only time will tell. Thanks again.