Drain tile systems are an extremely effective method of waterproofing your basement or crawl space from flooding during periods of heavy rain and snow, diverting ground water away from your home and eliminating costly foundation damage. While “drain tile” refers to any water drainage system that collects and channels groundwater away from foundations, in common usage the term refers to underground perforated pipes that collect, collect, move and redirect this groundwater away. Other terms used to refer to drain tiles may include weeping tile, French drain or footing drain.
Though installing a sump pump may be the go-to method of choice to combat basement flooding, installing an interior drain tile system may also prove effective and cost-efficient. These systems are buried below your basement floor/slab using perforated pipe to gather and move away water from your home – perfect for older properties that lack exterior drain tile systems.
Cost of installing an internal drain tile system depends on several factors, including excavation depth, materials needed and size of system. When considering this option it’s essential to speak with a local professional basement waterproofing contractor about which method would best suit your home.
To successfully install a drain tile system, it’s essential to excavate down to the home’s footer. This involves demolishing any floor coverings in the basement and is best left to professional contractors with experience performing this process. In some instances, using a jackhammer may also be required in order to break up concrete flooring and break through its layers.
Not only can interior drain tile systems prevent basement flooding, but they can also protect against structural issues. Older homes typically contain subsurface soil that retains an excessive amount of moisture that creates hydrostatic pressure against foundation walls – leading to water infiltration as well as structural issues. An interior drain tile system creates an effective slope along the floor/slab that funnels water toward its sump pit for easy draining.
Installing a basement drain tile system in both new and existing homes is possible, although existing homes typically require moving out everything from the way, digging a trench from footer to footer, then using a jackhammer to break up and remove concrete floor slab. After installation is complete it should be regularly maintained to ensure optimal functioning and avoid costly damage to drain tiles system and costly repair needs in future projects. It’s advisable that as part of any remodelling or repair project a radon mitigation system be included to help ensure any excess water doesn’t seep into basement and create dangerous levels of radon gas gas emissions in future repairs or renovation projects.