I have two drains on the side of my house that have been filled in and no longer properly drain. I know they dont go anywhere because I just finished trying to unclog them with a rented drainage snake that I rented from home depot (and my neighbour actually told me the same thing!).

So, i'm wondering the best way to drain my gutters now. Should I:
a) break up the concrete that's on the sidewalk (side of the house) and re-do a french drain system
b) Plug in the drain holes with concrete and angle them away from the house, to the other side of the sidewalk. Then, dig a trench from the back of the house to the front and install a french drain system.
c) something else.

 

I can see some basic building 101 mistakes that are going to be causing you some major issues in the future.
The walkway or whatever it is going to cause splash back and cause possible wood rot and staining on that siding.
No siding should ever be any closer then 6" of the finished grade.
If it happens to settle and lean toward the foundation it can cause it to wash out under it.

 

Ha. Funny you said that. When we bought the house that's exactly what had happened. Let me give you a little more insight ... This was originally a carport that was closed in to make an extra bedroom. They built it with 2x4's running on the flat, it had no insulation, and the siding went right down to the ground. When we had possession of the house we knew the siding had to be done, but not the entire room inside! What we found was rotten 2x4's, and a moldy carpet. We ripped it all up, re-built that wall and the siding (as you can see form the picture - it's new!).

For the bottom of the wall, since we weren't ready to dig up the foundation and re-pour a 6" border, we put down 4x4's, peal-on-stick and we flashed it. Then, added roofing tar in between the layers and on the outside. Anyway, I wont get into more specifics, just that's it was done and now we want to address the drainage.

So back to my original question .. what would be the best way to drain my gutters? Should I plug those two holes on the corer of the house, or gas axe them open and install a drain that leads to a french drain system?

Thanks.