If your basement or crawl space is damp, chances are someone has mentioned basement drain tile systems as a waterproofing solution. Perhaps your contractor or neighbor had one installed; or it might even be something you saw online in an DIY article. Now, the question becomes “how exactly does a drain tile system work?” The simple answer: these perforated pipes channel water away from your home’s foundation to keep pools of standing water at bay.
French drains or weeping tiles, sometimes known as French drains or weeping tiles, are commonly installed alongside sump pumps to ensure ground water does not pool against your home’s foundation and cause moisture damage. New construction homes frequently include French drains installed underneath footings to help guard against this damage as well.
Basement drain tile systems, typically constructed of rigid PVC pipe or corrugated flexible PVC, feature perforations to allow water to pass in and out freely. These perforations should be small enough to avoid becoming clogged with dirt particles found in the soil, to avoid becoming blocked up easily. Once laid in place around your basement foundation trench, they are typically covered by washed gravel; often with filter cloth to stop dirt entering perforations on drainage tile perforations.
There are two types of basement drain tile systems: interior and exterior. Which option best suits you depends on whether or not you’re currently waterproofing your home, and your preferred method for channeling water flow. Interior basement drain tile systems often involve retrofitting them into existing foundation slabs by cutting channels into them to channel groundwater towards a sump pit where a sump pump can then pump it away from your home into the surrounding ground.
Exterior basement drain tile systems are often retrofitted into older homes that were not originally equipped with one, as a way of preventing damp basements. Such systems prevent ground water seeping in through cracks in the foundation or walls and damaging these. Installation usually involves more extensive excavation, with any sidewalks or patios in their path removed as part of this process.
Doing either of the basement drain tile solutions yourself can be an extremely complex undertaking, so professional assistance should always be sought for this type of task. If you opt to attempt it on your own, ensure you have all of the tools necessary for success at hand, such as jackhammers and leather gloves – having all these materials available will save you both time and effort later on!