How to Grout Around a Drainage Pipe at a Headwall

A headwall collects the rainwater in a ditch and directs the water into the inlet end of a driveway's drainage pipe. After slipping the drainpipe into the headwall's port, the installer packs the gap between the drainpipe and the headwall with non-shrinking grout. Once the grout cures, the installer places gravel or aggregate around the drainpipe. Replacing damaged headwall grout prevents the storm water's current from washing the gravel or aggregate out of the headwall port's gap.

Hammer
Chisel
Whisk broom
Non-shrinking grout
Bucket
Margin trowel
Tuck pointing tool
Sponge

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the old grout from the seam between the headwall and the drainpipe with a hammer and chisel if necessary. Place the chisel's blade on the old grout and strike the chisel's handle with the hammer until the old grout breaks free of the headwall. Repeat this procedure around the perimeter of the drainpipe.
- 2
  Clean out the dirt and grout debris from the seam between the headwall and drainpipe with a whisk broom.
- 3
  Combine non-shrinking grout and water in a bucket, using the grout manufacturer's recommended ratio. Stir the grout with a margin trowel until the mixture has the consistency of toothpaste.
- 4
  Scoop a handful of grout onto the margin trowel's blade. Hold the trowel's blade against the bottom of the headwall's drainpipe port. Force the grout into the port's drainpipe seam with a tuck pointing tool to press the grout into the seam's recess. Repeat this procedure around the perimeter of the headwall's drainpipe port.
- 5
  Clean off any excess grout from the headwall and drainpipe with a damp sponge.

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