Installing drain tile in your basement is one of the best ways to protect it against foundation damage, relieving hydrostatic pressure against foundation walls and eliminating two common sources of seepage. Regardless of whether it’s installed inside or outside your home, any drain tile installed must feature perforations so water can easily flow through without becoming stagnant or collecting debris.
Filter fabric should also be added as another safeguard against clogging and debris build-up, and placed under the gravel used to line the pipe. Finally, stakes at regular intervals along its length should be used to secure it so as to prevent collapse of your drainage system due to heavy soil loads that build up nearby.
If you’re building a new house, installing exterior drain tile during construction and shortly after it has been poured is ideal for seamless installation and cost savings. In this phase, typically contractors build sump pits where drain tile will reside in order to facilitate easy removal of clogs without incurring costly repairs later on. For DIY homeowners considering this route instead, investing in a sump pump may help remove clogs more easily while saving both time and money by eliminating retrofitting afterward.
Installing either interior or exterior drain tile requires digging a trench at least three feet deep around your basement. Ideally, this should be angled so that water flows away from foundation walls rather than toward them; this will prevent hydrostatic pressure against walls from building up, as well as leakage or cracking in foundation walls.
An interior drain tile system can provide an effective solution to basement waterproofing issues in older homes as well. Similar to exterior installation, digging an interior installation requires digging a trench. Instead of aligning it towards where your sump pit will be situated, however, you should incline it away from walls in order to reduce pressure on basement walls and provide natural drainage pathways for water. Professional basement waterproofing services such as Seepageseal typically use complex equipment for this task, making the project time-consuming and resource intensive. If you plan on DIYing it yourself, consult an expert first to understand exactly how and which materials you will require for successful basement waterproofing. A reputable basement waterproofing company will assess your foundation to suggest repairs as necessary before suggesting an affordable waterproofing solution that best meets both your home’s needs and your budget.