Do I need to build a french drain to fix this problem or are the other ideas out there?

Question:I have a garage on a slab. As time has progressed, the surface of the slab has become even, if not a little lower than, ground level due to weather related erosion. The last few rains have managed to flood my garage pretty good. About once a year we go out there and dig a 6-12 inch ditch around the foundation, but depending on the amount of rain, sometimes this doesn't work, not to mention that we have to redo it each year. Does anyone out there think that they may have a better, more promising solution?

Answers:
I hope your problem is not with the slab settling, but rather with the accumulation of soil outside the garage. If the slab is settling into the ground, your problems are more serious than an occasional flooding.

You need to stabilize the soil if you've got erosion. You can also divert the runoff so it doesn't go by the garage. But to start, the level of the dirt needs to be below the slab, and it needs to be sloped at least 1/8" per foot for adequate drainage. It may be that the property was never graded properly. Now is the time to fix it.

A french drain is not the answer unless the garage is in the basement.