How to Make a Sidewalk Drain

Adding a drain along your sidewalk enables you to manage the flow of water and direct it to dry areas of the yard. Proper drainage prevents puddles and underground moisture from washing away the gravel foundation underneath, preserving the appearance and structure of the sidewalk for decades. Installing a sidewalk drain channel is a straightforward process you can do yourself with basic tools and a few days of work.

Bubble level
Long rope
Plastic
Shovel
Concrete
Wheelbarrow
Trowel
Channel drain
PVC primer
PVC cement
Paint brush
Screws
Screwdriver
90-degree fitting

Instructions

- 1
  Lay a bubble level across the width of the sidewalk. Look at the viewer on the level where the space between two lines marks the center. The bubble inside should rest slightly outside of one of these two lines, indicating that the sidewalk is sloped properly for drainage. Lay a long rope on the ground by the sidewalk so it's parallel to the lower side.
- 2
  Measure the width of the channel drain with a tape measure. Space the rope away from the lower side of the sidewalk so the width is equal to the width of your channel drain plus 6 inches.
- 3
  Roll out a sheet of plastic near the site and use a shovel to dig out the grass from between the rope and sidewalk. Measure the depth of the channel drain with a tape measure and dig until the depth of the trench is as deep as the channel drain plus 3 inches. Dump the grass and dirt on the plastic tarp to use in other areas of the yard.
- 4
  Mix concrete in a wheelbarrow with small amounts of water until it is thick and has the consistency of peanut butter. Use a trowel to scoop small piles of concrete in the trench and spread a 3-inch layer over the bottom. Spread about an inch of concrete over each side of the inner wall with the flat side of the trowel.
- 5
  Place prefabricated channel drain units on the ground by the side of the trench with the deepest unit as the end outlet that will connect to underground drain pipes. Brush PVC primer and cement over the joints with a paint brush and use couplings to connect adjacent units. Wait a few hours for the joints to set.
- 6
  Screw the drain grate on top of the drain channel unit with screws and a screwdriver.
  Attach a 90 degree fitting to an underground pipe leading to a dry area of the yard or a storm water drain.
- 7
  Place the channel drain unit in the trench, attaching the deep end to the 90 degree fitting.
- 8
  Fill the remaining gaps between the trench walls and drain channel with concrete. Tamp it down with the side of the trowel so the concrete is 1/8 inch below the drain grate. Smooth the surface of the concrete with a narrow jointer tool.

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