Ugh. A week of backbreaking work produced a deep trench at the correct pitch for a french drain to carry water around the cottage and down the slope. But then, before I realized what had happened, my contractor put in the gravel, the pipe (holes correctly down, again pitched perfectly), and more gravel. What happened to the fabric that was supposed to line the trench, I asked? He insisted that the fabric goes on TOP of the gravel. To me, this is totally illogical as the silt-infused water will be entering the pipe from the sides and below. I think it will also clog the gravel eventually and reduce its effectiveness. Am I right to ask that the gravel be taken out and the cloth laid on the trench bottom? Or will it work almost as well the way it's been done. I've already shelled out several grand for time and materials, but I am trying to solve a serious problem with a wet crawl space. I want to be fair, but I don't want to throw good money after bad either..