. For older homes that experience basement water problems, one solution could be installing a foundation drain tile system. Also referred to as French drains, weeping tiles or drainage tiles, these systems utilize perforated pipes that collect groundwater before redirecting it away from the home’s basement walls and foundation.
These systems are typically installed during new home construction, but existing homes can benefit from them as well. Furthermore, they can serve as part of a basement waterproofing membrane to prevent additional moisture intrusion into the area.
Most people imagine drain tiles to be black plastic square pipes with perforations underneath their basement floor, though today there are other varieties made from plastic, fiberglass or pvc that come in various shapes and sizes with narrow openings designed to filter out dirt, rock and other debris that would otherwise clog their pipes.
Drain Tile Systems Work
People install drain tile systems primarily to keep their homes from leaking, which is usually caused by hydrostatic pressure building up in the soil around and under their house’s foundation, pushing against it, leading to cracks or fissures appearing on basement walls. A drain tile system’s primary objective is to alleviate this pressure build-up and keep basements dry.
An exterior drain tile system typically involves excavating down to the footings and at least three feet beyond the basement walls, placing a pipe at the bottom of a trench with fabric linings or crushed gravel covering it to keep debris out of it, then installing a sump pump to pump collected water away from your home.
Under new construction, installing this system is typically straightforward; however, for existing homes it can be more complex. Breaking up concrete slab flooring and digging a trench approximately one foot wide for the drain are both required to install one. Furthermore, an extra sump pit may need to be constructed if an additional floor drain is being added later.
Installing an interior drain tile system into an existing home can be just as difficult, if not more so, than during construction. While new homes typically feature floors designed to slope toward their drain, existing homes’ floors often remain level and cannot easily be modified for drainage purposes. A basement drain may be installed either below existing floors in basements with concrete slabs or above existing floors if crawl spaces exist.
No matter the kind of drain system you’re considering for your home, consulting with a professional is always the best way to determine its type and size. This will ensure the drain will work optimally to keep your property dry. Whether it be installing new basement drains or troubleshooting current ones, Reliable Basement is here to assist with our extensive services and schedule an appointment to diagnose your problem as soon as possible.