Culvert pipes are a good consideration if you're thinking of draining water away from your property. They can help guard against erosion and flooding, and one common place they are installed is in the driveway, especially if there's a small stream crisscrossing the path of your driveway. That way, you'd protect your driveway from the eroding effects of the stream and not interfere with its flow. However, you need to be careful when installing them, since poor installation can damage your driveway. So if you're planning on installing a culvert pipe, here are some expert tips.

Determine the sizing early enough

First things first, determine the seasonal flow of the stream or draining water. That's the best way to determine the size of culvert pipe required. Ensure you get readings of the spring runoff, because that's when the water flow is generally at its peak. You can also take your measurements at the field by determining the highest water level of the stream.

Additionally, remember to have a pipe of the right length. It needs to protrude well beyond the edges of the driveway to prevent any erosion or debris from accumulating around the tube ends.

Follow the streambed slope

When doing your installation, remember to align your pipe with the stream's gradient. This ensures that the water drains via the pipe effectively. Installing the pipe in an opposite configuration may lead to debris and sediments accumulating inside it. You can cut the trench wider than the tube's diameter to give enough room for manoeuvring it during installation.

Also, remember to dig to the appropriate depths, particularly when installing pipes of larger diameters. Using a backhoe can be quite handy in digging the trenches. The culvert pipe needs to be deep enough to align properly with the bottom of the ditch; otherwise, water would flow below the tube.

Use a gravel base

Before placing the culvert pipe, add some gravel beneath the pipe. This hardens the earth and makes it harder for the pipe to settle and cause a depression on your driveway. The gravel base should be placed a few inches below the level of the ditch or stream. Once you place the pipe, add some more gravel and compacted soil around the pipe to give it more stability.  

Also, avoid completely filling the driveway, as you'll need to leave some room for repairing your driveway. You'll have to resurface it after the installation.