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kyvette
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 194 Central Kentucky
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2006-04-13          127659


I am in the process of building a new house and the soil is classified as Faywood-nicholson soils, which has 8 - 12" of topsoil, then 7 - 21" of dark yellowish brown silt loam, then 21 - 27" of yellowish brown silty clay loam, then 27 - 39" of dark yellowish brown silty clay loam listed as firm, compact, and brittle. There is also a fragipan about 28".

As can be expected the soil dosen't drain very well except on slopes and will hold moisture long after the surface has dried.

I have been advised to install drain tile, using 4" preforated plastic pipe, in parallel runs spaced about 40ft on center. I have natural drainage towards the rear of my property to which I could extend the drain tile and let it empty.

What advice do those of you have that have experience with a similar situation. I would assume the tile would need to be installed below the fragipan.

Thanks for any assistance you can provide. Dave




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Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2006-04-13          127661


Dave, the tile is supposed to 'replace' the drainage of the heavy clay soil.

You put the drainage tile as close to the top of the clay as possible. The water will percolate down ot it and then the tile will carry away what cannot get past the clay to drain naturally away into the aquifer below.

If you put the drainage tile below the clay, the water will be blocked from getting to it by the clay itself.

Best of luck. ....


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kyvette
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 194 Central Kentucky
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2006-04-13          127666


Thanks Murf, it makes sense to install the tile above the fragipan. What about the spacing, does that sound reasonable? Dave ....


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Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2006-04-13          127667


Dave, the spacing is pendant on the amount of water involved, the more water there is, the closer the spacing must be.

Without some idea as to rainfall levels, any additional water loading (downspouts, driveways, etc.) and the slopes of the land involved, I couldn't even guess.

Based on experience though, for fairly flat to gently sloping land, with average rainfalls I would say 40' spacing would be fine. It will certainly go a long way to drying up the ground at least, even if it's not perfect.

Best of luck. ....


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kyvette
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 194 Central Kentucky
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2006-04-13          127670


Murf,
My land is gently rolling, if you look at my pictures 5 & 6 you will get a good idea.

Thanks for your help. Dave ....


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SG8NUC
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 579 g
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2006-04-13          127672


Okay you two

fragipan--- I looked it up to many big words, still dont have a clue. What is your definition? ....


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Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2006-04-13          127673


Dave, you shgould be fine with 40' interval spacing.

SG, you likely won't find it, it is a geological term that means "A natural subsurface horizon having a higher bulk density than the solum above, seemingly cemented when dry, but showing moderate to weak brittleness when moist. The layer is low in organic matter, mottled, and slowly or very slowly permeable to water; it usually has some polygon-shaped bleached cracks. It is found in profiles of either cultivated or virgin soils but not in calcareous material." according to my textbook.

It is sort of half way between hard-baked clay and soft shale rock.

Best of luck. ....


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SG8NUC
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2006-04-13          127675


It is sort of half way between hard-baked clay and soft shale rock.
-----------------------------------------------------

This is what I wanted I found the def. but it did not ring a bell. Here we have sandy loam, swamp, and clay. ....


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SG8NUC
Join Date: Jan 2006
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2006-04-13          127682


colluvium
Colluvium or hillwash is the name for loose bodies of sediment that has been deposited or built up at the bottom of a low grade slope or against a barrier on that slope, as a result of rainwater or downhill creep by gravity. The deposits that collect at the foot of a steep slope or cliff are also known by the same name. Coarse deposits due to rockfall at a cliff base are called talus and if lithified are talus breccias. Avalanches, mudslides and landslides are other examples of colluvium.

Colluvium normally forms humps at the base of mountains or fan-shaped deposits similar in shape to alluvial fans that cover former ground surfaces. This process is an important phenomenon in the fields of archaeology and soil science. Many colluvial soils tend to have a fragipan associated with them that are a brittle subsoil layer typically high in clay. One theory of fragipan formation is the smearing of soil during the colluvial process causing the clays to seal the surface between the moving portion of soil and the stationary soil on which it slides. Ancient sites can be preserved beneath colluvium if later changes in the landscape such as deforestation encourage a downward movement of material. This build-up process is called colluviation.

I now know my goesindas
....


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