Drain tile systems are designed to relieve hydrostatic pressure that could otherwise damage foundations, and can be installed outside or inside your basement footer.
An interior basement drain tile installation usually entails cutting away a strip of the basement floor and excavating a trench along its footings, then placing gravel and perforated drain pipe onto that bed of gravel.
Preparation
Drain tile is an extremely effective way of keeping soil dry around the foundation of a home and preventing infiltration into its basement or cove joint (where floor meets wall).
An effective and cost-efficient waterproofing solution for your home, drain tiles can often be the most cost-effective and long-term option. Before beginning installation of basement drain tile systems however, several key points must be kept in mind to ensure success.
First and foremost, it is crucial to identify the source of water infiltration. This can be accomplished by inspecting damp walls or floors, noting mold growth or efflorescence and pinpointing its location as the root of moisture issues.
Next, determine the ideal drain tile system for your home. There are two primary choices – interior and exterior drain tiles. Interior drain tiles typically consist of an internal drainage pipe surrounded by washed gravel and, sometimes, geotextile fabric is placed over it to help prevent fine soil particles entering into it.
Once installed, drain tile systems must be connected to a sump pump for testing in order to ensure they are functioning efficiently and channeling away water from basement foundation. Regular maintenance should also be performed to keep it functional over time.
Trench
Drain tile systems offer one of the only surefire, long-term solutions to basement waterproofing and foundation repair. By providing an alternate route for water to travel, they relieve hydrostatic pressure – an issue which if left unaddressed can push walls of your foundation back, causing irreparable damage and creating significant problems in your home if left unaddressed quickly.
A basement drain tile system typically comprises perforated pipe embedded in a trench containing washed gravel, which connects both ends to a sump basin where a sump pump pumps away excess water from the foundation. A geotextile fabric may also be placed over the gravel to act as insulation and prevent fine soil particles from infiltrating into the system.
Interior drain systems are most frequently found in new construction while an exterior French drain can be installed on existing homes. Both options are effective; interior drain systems tend to be less costly as they avoid excavation. Still, even an interior drainage system requires considerable work from its crew – they must excavate a trench that spans the width of foundation footings plus several feet past where pipe will be installed – before using jackhammers to break up concrete areas before hauling away bucket loads of dirt from this work area.
Pipe
Drain tile systems (also referred to as weeping tile, French drain, footing drain or perforated drains) are an efficient means of collecting groundwater and diverting it away from home foundations. Contractors usually install this waterproofing solution during new construction basement and crawl space foundation projects; it may also be suitable for existing homes with ground water infiltration issues.
Drain tile systems are sometimes known by their namesake name – “tile” being misleading because there are no actual tiles involved; rather they consist of rigid or flexible perforated PVC pipes that may either be rigid or flexible in design. They may be installed both inside or outside the foundation, with exterior systems typically found around a building’s perimeter at footing level while interior drain tile installations take place beneath its basement floor.
Exterior drainage systems typically involve contractors excavating a strip of soil along foundation footings, cutting through the concrete slab and installing drain tile piping before covering it with washed gravel before replacing the floor.
An interior basement drainage system is often more cost-effective for homeowners because it avoids the expense and time commitment associated with tearing out and replacing concrete floors, saving time and eliminating excavation of the foundation perimeter. Installing an interior drain tile system in a basement interior drain tile system is the perfect solution to manage water that threatens to erode foundations, destroy carpet and furniture, create damp environments where mold, mildew and rot thrive, as well as threaten its own existence in an otherwise safe space.
Sump Pump
If your basement floods frequently or you have finished basement space, installing a sump pump is essential to maintaining dryness in it and protecting its value as well as avoiding mold, wood rot, and pest issues that could significantly lower it and pose health concerns for you and your family.
Drain tile is a system of perforated pipes installed along a foundation’s edges either inside or outside the basement (French drains typically lay outside), designed to collect groundwater and channel it away from your house via perforated PVC pipe or, historically speaking, clay drain tiles. Today’s builders typically utilize perforated PVC pipe, while older homes may use clay drain tiles.
Installing an interior drain tile system typically involves contractors digging a trench around the basement floor/slab to make room for a sump pit and installing perforated pipe into it. They will jackhammer out existing floor before replacing it with new trench. Finally, gravel will be spread on top to complete this step.
They will then install the sump basin in a hole and connect a discharge pipe to it. Sump pumps run on electricity, usually rated for 110-120V or 220-240V power; often attached to dedicated circuits to reduce risks related to electrical noise or stormy weather and hardwired for added safety and prevent unplugging by children.