In the series,
host Paul Ryan and his able assistant Beth, demonstrate to viewers
how to carry out common household repairs and improvements that
can be carried out by homeowners in a weekend project. The scene
of this project was a charming back yard that had plenty of slope,
but rain water was getting trapped in flat areas. Of special concern
was a corner where water accumulated due to run-off from the roof
and driveway with nowhere to escape.
A laser level
was used to determine slope and a Ditch Witch trencher was used
for the excavation. The crew began digging at the low point of the
yard and backed toward the high point. After the trench was complete,
it was measured again to ensure continual fall.
Next, the strings
on a 150 foot roll of Multi-Flow were cut and the white protective
wrapping was removed. The roll was then uncoiled along the length
of the trench. Setting the pipe in the trench was the easy part
of the project. No additional connector was needed, even in the
hairpin turn. The trench ranged in depth from 10 to 12 inches. This
placed the top of the Multi-Flow 4 to 6 inches below the surface.
Centering devices
held Multi-Flow in the middle of the trench so that filter sand
could be inserted on both sides. Black poly plastic was laid out
over the sloped area between the house and the trench. This will
direct water away from the house.
A thin layer
of fresh clean soil was sprinkled over the drain line. The sand
backfill extends up near to the surface. This homeowner placed sod
over this area. The drain line is no longer visible but will carry
water for years to come.
