How to Make a Concrete Drain Spout

Drain spouts funnel water from the down spouts of the eaves and away from the house. They serve a valuable function because they keep water away from the house’s foundation. While you can purchase a variety of ready-made drain spouts, some of them are lightweight and tend to move when there’s a heavy volume of water from heavy rains. A more permanent solution is to pour a concrete drain spout at each down spout. By using cast concrete products, the finished product looks like a ready-made drain spout, but is more durable.

Shovel
Hand tamper
Gravel
1-by-4-inch lumber
Circular saw
Stakes
Motor oil
Rag
Quick-setting fiber-reinforced cement
Trowel

Instructions

- 1
  Dig a trench for the length of the concrete drain spout using a shovel. A typical size is 6 inches deep and 12 inches wide, but you can make the spout to your specifications.
- 2
  Compact the base of the trench with a hand tamper. Work the soil so that there is a gentle slope away from the foundation of the house.
- 3
  Add 1 inch of crushed gravel to the trench and tamp it down with the hand tamper. The rough edges of the crushed gravel lock together when compacted to form a solid foundation for the drain spout.
- 4
  Cut pieces of 1-by-4-inch lumber to create the form using a circular saw. You need two long pieces of lumber for the length of the drain spout and two for the width.
- 5
  Set the 1-by-4-inch lumber inside the trench. Hold the sides upright by nailing corners together. The top of the lumber should be at ground level. Drive stakes outside the form box to give the walls additional stability.
- 6
  Dip a rag in motor oil. Wipe the rag on the inside of the wooden form. The oil acts as a release agent to allow you to remove the form easily once the concrete cures.
- 7
  Mix quick-setting fiber-reinforced cement according to package directions. Pour the concrete into the form. Once the concrete begins to hold its shape, use the trowel to create a rounded gutter down the length of the drain spout to help channel the water away from the house. Make the deepest part of the gutter 4 inches deep.
- 8
  Keep the concrete dry for at least seven days while it cures. If it looks like it’s going to rain during that period, direct water away from the drain spout to protect it.
- 9
  Remove the form once the concrete cures completely. Add dirt to the area around the new concrete drain spout and tamp it into place.

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