Did you have any trouble with installation, or was it pretty straightforward? Sometimes the trenching part can be a pain, especially if you hit unexpected roots or rocks.
Trenching was the worst part for me—hit a bunch of small roots and one big rock that made me rethink the whole layout. Rigid pipe went in fine once the trench was clear, though. Not cheap, but worth it long-term.
Trenching was the worst part for me—hit a bunch of small roots and one big rock that made me rethink the whole layout.
That sounds familiar... I had to reroute mine around a stubborn tree root. Did you end up using gravel around your rigid pipe, or just backfill with soil? I keep hearing mixed things about whether gravel really makes a difference with rigid setups.
- Totally get the frustration with roots and rocks—felt like I was digging through a jungle in my backyard.
- I went with gravel around my rigid pipe, but honestly, I’m still not sure if it was worth the extra effort. Some folks swear by it for drainage, others say it’s overkill if your soil drains well.
- Kind of wish I’d just backfilled with dirt and saved my back... but at least I won’t be second-guessing it every time it rains.
- Either way, getting through the trenching is a win. It’s way more work than it looks on YouTube.
but at least I won’t be second-guessing it every time it rains. - Either way, getting through the trenching is a win.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’d actually push back a bit on the idea that gravel is “overkill if your soil drains well.” In my case, the clay in my yard seemed okay until we had a week of nonstop rain—then the water just sat there. The extra work with gravel felt pointless at first, but now I don’t worry about standing water or shifting pipes. It’s a pain, but sometimes that extra step saves headaches down the line. Trenching, though... yeah, nothing prepares you for how much work that is.
- Been there with the clay soil—looks fine until it turns into a swamp after a good rain.
- I always add at least a few inches of gravel, even if it feels like extra work. Learned the hard way after a pipe shifted and cracked one winter.
- Trenching’s brutal, no way around it. I’ve tried every shortcut and still end up sore for days. Worth it, though, when you don’t have to dig it up again later.
- Corrugated pipe’s okay, but without gravel for support and drainage, you’re rolling the dice, especially if your ground gets soggy.
