How to Drain a Concrete Driveway

Identify the best location for the channel drain based on where puddles form after a rainfall. Snap two parallel chalk lines across that section of driveway. The width between the lines should equal the width of the channel in your channel drain kit, which can be purchased at a home improvement store or hardware store.

Use a concrete wet saw to cut through the concrete on the snapped chalk lines. Apply even pressure and guide the blade carefully so the lines are straight. Wear earplugs, goggles and a face mask to protect yourself from dust and noise.

Remove the pieces of concrete you cut out. Use a shovel to dig out the sand and gravel base until the trench is 10 inches deep. Dig an extra 1/8 inch deeper for every foot of distance to slope the trench to the side of the driveway.

Dig out another trench along the side of the driveway to carry water from the drain channel to a street gutter. Make the trench about 8 inches wide and 10 inches deep, and slope the bottom toward the street.

Pour a 2-inch layer of clean gravel over the bottom of the trenches. The gravel will prevent dirt from floating up from the bottom into the drain pipes.

Lay a drain channel in the trench running across the driveway. Add or remove gravel underneath as necessary until the channel sits level with the driveway.

Use a putty knife to apply PVC cement to all of the joints along the channel drain. Once the cement dries, lay the grate of the channel drain on top.

Lay 4-inch PVC perforated drain pipe in the trench along the side of the driveway. Attach the pipe to the channel drain with an elbow connector at the corner.

Cover the pipes along the side of the driveway with gravel until it is ground level. If you want to conceal the trench, place sod over the gravel.