An efficiently installed and maintained basement drain tile system will protect your home from the damaging effects of heavy rainfall and groundwater seepage, providing vital protection for heavy rainfall events and groundwater seepage. Combined with other passive waterproofing measures and sound roof and yard drainage design principles, such a drain tile system should prevent serious water issues. If your basement has experienced serious flooding, salt-like residue build-up (efflorescence), or standing puddles on the floor then new drainage solutions might be required for its proper function.
Drain tile (also referred to as french drains or basement waterproofing systems) consists of a network of porous pipes installed around your foundation to collect excess water flowing off from your walls or structure and divert it instead into this porous network. This prevents hydrostatic pressure that could push them inward and eventually cause it to collapse.
Pressure on foundations often stems from high water tables or underground springs, or from being located on too flat of land. A drainage system is usually enough to ease this pressure and keep your foundation intact.
Basement drain tile is typically constructed of crush-resistant plastic, most frequently PVC. It features holes for ground water infiltration as well as a gravel filter to protect the system against dirt build-up, and when building new homes is often installed prior to footer placement. Drain tile systems are typically installed along a trench running along the foundation, though in existing homes a basement contractor might opt to add an interior drain tile system instead. In such an instance, they would remove the floor slab and dig a trench around the interior perimeter of their basement before installing rigid or flexible drain tile into that trench with its sump pit and sump pit; finally filling that trench with washed rock to keep any dirt out while keeping mud out as much as possible.
Once the drain tile is installed, the concrete floor slab can be reinstated and waterproofing membrane is applied to walls and the basement floor. The membrane extends up the side of walls to prevent moisture entering through cracks; keeping your basement dry while protecting you against mold and mildew growth.
An interior drain tile can provide relief to existing homes experiencing basement issues as well as new construction. A basement contractor will dig a trench one foot wide and one foot deep around the inside perimeter of the basement that centers at where it meets with concrete floor; they will then build a sump pit and rigid or flexible drain pipe – eventually installing them under their floor for replacement purposes. Exterior French drains may also be installed either during new construction or retrofitted to existing properties.