Step 1
Get in touch using the contact page’s form. You can even send an image so we have a better understanding when we talk.
Step 2
An initial conversation with you to help us understand your surface water flooding problem further.
Step 3
We will send an information pack out and require a simple questionnaire to be completed.
Step 4
Confirmation of agreed consultation and drainage plan location agreement and value.
Step 5
Project execution and installation including instruction manuals, installation drawings and method statements.
From completing the simple step process for the evaluation of installation, including the consultation and confirmation of the drainage plan, these are the steps and methods we follow to ensure a proven and successful drainage system is installed in your property.
Our installation team have over 30 years experience of groundworks and this is backed up with a dedicated architect which enables each project to be uniquely designed to solve any flooding issues.
Installing a POMPA™ Flood Pump System and French drain involves digging both a flood pump installation area along with a trench for discrete and effective drainage of surface water and flood plains.
We then attach the French drain inlet piping runs into the Pompa flood pump system together, which allows the collected and controlled management of the surface water or stormwater.
This water is then pumped away using the outlet pipe.
French drains can be very small or very large, dependent on the amount of water that needs draining and the size of the area where the flooding or surface water will be calculated prior to the installation.
The 1st task our team undertakes is to CAT Scan for the area to be excavated. The area to be excavated must be scanned using a CAT (Cable Avoidance Tool).
The area will be scanned at regular intervals throughout the installation area. The purpose of the CAT Scan is to detect any existing services that might be buried. All of our operatives are fully trained and hold all of the correct licences for the groundworks to be carried out.
There are four main products that we use to install the French drain: The POMPA™ flood pump systems, a water-permeable non-woven landscape fabric, perforated plastic drain pipes and aggregate.
The perforated drain pipe we will install will depend on the size of area for which we are installing the system.
Ensure the design and the agreed consultation/drainage plan location agreement are signed by both the owner and installation team. This ensures full acceptance and agreement of both parties.
Photos are taken by the installation team of the area of installation to ensure the reinstatement of area’s once completed is to just as we found it.
Install POMPA™ flood pump system in dedicated area (generally at the lowest point of the property) as per the drainage plan.
Once the POMPA™ flood pump system is in place, we dig a trench wider than the perforated pipe at a gradient sloping towards the POMPA™ flood pump unit.
The location of the trench is designed to be naturally downhill or a slope is created by digging the trench at a 1% gradient towards the POMPA™ flood pump unit. This trench is designed to direct the surface water or stormwater towards the flood pump unit and will allow gravity to do its part in draining the water away to the pump.
A water-permeable landscape fabric is put in the full length of the trench and the fabric is installed right to the bottom of the trench and up the sides. Enough fabric is kept on either side of the trench to lay over the pipe to ensure that the drainage system works to the maximum and has a long life design to protect the perforated piping and aggregate from unwanted roots and impressions.
Fill the bottom of the trench with aggregate.
We use a standard landscaping aggregate to fill the bottom of the trench to around a third. Large aggregate will keep the water flowing quickly and with potentially less blockages, as any pieces of debris that manage to get into the system will flow through gaps in the aggregate.
We use aggregate that’s 1 to 2cm across to ensure maximum flow.
Lay the perforated pipe.
We lay the chosen drain pipe with the perforated holes face down. We always lay it downwards as if installed in any other way, the water will be unable to leave the pipe until it is fuller.
We use strong and stable pipe connectors and couplers to extend the French drain beyond the capacity of one pipe.
Place more aggregate into the trench
We install more aggregate, of the same size as before, on top of the pipe in the trench. This is installed until the gravel is about 10cm from the top of the trench.
Cover the entire French drain with the remaining fabric
The landscape fabric that sticks out of the edges of the trench is now wrapped over the aggregate and pipe.
We ensure there’s minimal or no gap between the edges of the fabric as this prevents any debris from entering the drain and clogging up the system.
Hide the French drain
We can choose to place a layer of soil or similar over the French drain without concealing the fact that there is French drain installed. For domestic and commercial projects, including gardens, parkland and other similar areas, we cover over this area with grass or furniture to disguise the work and reinstate the area to the agreed quality.
** Please note. We take ultimate care to reinstate the area to its original quality but due to growth and grass patterns this may take a certain period of time for regrowth.