French Drains

Interior French drains are typically used to address basement water problems where high levels of ground water from underground springs, rivers or a fluctuating water table, due to excessive precipitation, can cause moisture to penetrate and seep through your home’s foundation. Water that accumulates around your basement walls and floor can damage the structural integrity of your home.  It can also contribute to the development of mold and mildew. All of which can dramatically reduce the value of your home as well as cause various health problems.

French drains alleviate the hydrostatic pressure on your basement walls and floor around your foundation’s perimeter, and redirects ground water to a sump pump, where it is safely pumped out and away from your house or to a dry well.

Installing a French drain requires cutting a trench into your basement floor around the parameter of your basement, typically 12” to 14” out from the foundation wall. The trench is then excavated down to the bottom of your basement wall’s footing. A perforated pipe is laid all the way around the perimeter of your basement in the trench where it empties into one or more collection tanks laid beneath your basement floor. 

Thereafter, a sump pump carries the water out and way from your house as previously mentioned.  Once the perforated pipe has been installed, gravel is used to fill the trench. This prevents the perforated pipe from getting clogged with dirt and allows for the easy drainage of water. The trench is then closed by a coating of concrete to match the rest of your basement floor.