Yeah, clay soil can be a real pain—I remember installing windows on a coastal property that had similar drainage issues. Even with good flashing and sealing, the sills kept getting soaked because water pooled right under the windows. Have you considered maybe elevating or grading the area around your foundation to help divert water away? Could save you from another round of trench-digging misery...
"Have you considered maybe elevating or grading the area around your foundation to help divert water away?"
Yeah, grading's definitely worth doing—I tackled something similar last spring. Also, adding a gravel-filled French drain about 2 feet out from the foundation really helped keep things dry. Just my two cents...
"adding a gravel-filled French drain about 2 feet out from the foundation really helped keep things dry."
I second the French drain idea—saved my basement a few years back after a series of nasty storms. I remember digging trenches in pouring rain, thinking I'd lost my mind, but it paid off big time. Curious though, did you line yours with landscape fabric or just rely on gravel? I've heard mixed opinions on fabric clogging up over time...
I went with fabric when I installed mine about five years ago, and honestly, I'm still on the fence about it. Haven't had any major clogging yet, but I do notice water drains a bit slower now than it did at first. Could just be normal settling or dirt buildup though...hard to say. If I had to redo it, I'd probably skip the fabric and just use gravel—simpler and fewer headaches down the road.
I skipped the fabric altogether when I did mine about three years ago—just gravel and pipe. Here's how it went: dug the trench, laid down gravel, placed the pipe, more gravel on top, then covered it up. Fast forward to now, drainage still works like day one. Maybe the water slows a bit naturally over time, but honestly, I haven't noticed anything significant. Fabric seems good in theory, but simpler might be better here...
Yeah, I went the same route—no fabric, just gravel and pipe—and it's been holding up pretty well for me too. I figured fabric might clog up eventually anyway, especially with all the fine sand and silt we get around here. Only thing I've noticed is that after really heavy storms, it takes a bit longer to drain completely, but nothing major. Honestly, simpler usually means fewer headaches down the road...
"Only thing I've noticed is that after really heavy storms, it takes a bit longer to drain completely, but nothing major."
Same here—noticed the slower drainage after big storms, but nothing that's been problematic. I'm curious though, did you go with standard perforated pipe or something wider? I stuck with the usual 4-inch stuff, but sometimes wonder if going bigger would've made any noticeable difference during those heavier downpours...
I've wondered the same thing myself... but honestly, a wider pipe isn't always the silver bullet. Sometimes it's more about slope and soil type. Did you check how well your pipe slopes away from the house?
"Sometimes it's more about slope and soil type."
Yeah, that's a solid point. I've seen plenty of cases where folks upgraded their pipes thinking it'd solve everything, only to find out the real issue was poor grading around the foundation. A friend of mine had a similar headache—coastal property, sandy soil, constant moisture—and he spent a fortune on wider pipes before realizing his yard was practically flat. Once he adjusted the slope slightly away from the house, it made a huge difference. Also, don't underestimate how much soil type matters. Sandy soils drain fast but can shift easily, while clay soils hold water like crazy. It might seem like a hassle to check these things out thoroughly, but honestly, getting that slope angle right can save you way more headaches down the line. Hang in there... water issues can be tricky, but you're definitely asking the right questions.
Good points all around, but honestly, slope isn't always the magic bullet. I spent a weekend regrading my yard thinking it'd fix everything—spoiler alert: it didn't. Turns out my clay-heavy soil was the real villain, holding water like a sponge. Ended up mixing in sand and compost to loosen things up, and that finally did the trick. Lesson learned: slope matters, but soil type can really mess with your plans...