Gravel’s a pain, but I’d be careful skipping it—especially with clay. Here’s what I’ve seen:
- Pipe alone can clog up fast in heavy clay, since fine particles get in and block the holes.
- Gravel helps with filtration and keeps things draining longer term.
- In loamy or sandy soil, you might get away with less gravel, but in clay? Risky move.
Totally get wanting to save time and cash, but sometimes that extra step saves headaches down the line. Seen too many folks dig it all back up after a couple years... not fun.
Gravel Vs. Corrugated Pipe: Which Works Better For Drain Fixes?
I get the point about gravel, but I’ve actually tried a “socked” corrugated pipe (the kind with a fabric sleeve) right in clay, no gravel, just to see if it’d hold up. It’s been about three years and so far, no clogs. Maybe I got lucky, or maybe the fabric helps keep the fine stuff out? Not saying it’s perfect, but if you’re pinching pennies and don’t want to haul a ton of gravel, it might be worth a shot. Worst case, you end up digging it up later... but sometimes you gotta weigh the hassle vs. the upfront cost.
