Interior Draining for Spring Rains
Ahhh, spring is in the air. And So is the rain that comes along with it. If your basement is not ready for the rainy spring weather it is time to fix the problem for good.
One option to fixing a wet basement problem is digging up the earth around the foundation to install a new footing drain. This is because often times an external drain tile clog is the primary cause of water issues. Years of silt and sediment build up in the original tile system and cause it to fail. This can rarely be reversed or repaired. So, what now? Just replace the external tile right? This almost never the right choice, let me tell you why.
First, this system has already failed once and it will most certainly happen again, it is just a matter of time. Second, it is more expensive and evasive to do the excavation. You have to dig down roughly 8 feet around your foundation while all that 8 feet of earthy dirt sits piled up in your yard.
So what exactly is the right choice when it comes to solving your wet basement problem? Let's take a look at our preferred method.
We remove a strip of floor slab along the interior foundation walls, this requires no outside excavation and is cheaper as well as more effective than digging on the outside. Installing a new tile around the INSIDE along the basement wall/floor joint captures water at its most common entry point. This also stops water from getting into the center of the floor as it stops it on the perimeter.
Here are some advantages of an interior drainage system:
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It is more effective and lasts longer than exterior systems. (lifetime warranty)
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The job is much more easily accessible.
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It is more affordable than installing an exterior system.
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It takes less time – about a day or two.
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It is serviceable year round.
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It drains right to sump pump system.
Solving the problem on the inside with an interior drainage system should be considered first before excavating or installing exterior drainage systems. But, what makes up a "good" interior drainage system?
Here are some requirements that any good drainage system has:
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It is designed not to clog – sits on top of the footing, not in the dirt.
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It has a built in 3/8 inch gap between floor and wall – drain wall leaks.
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They don't rely on filter fabric or sealants.
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It has drainage outlet to the sump system.
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There is no structural damage to the foundation.
If you've got a wet basement remember that attacking the problem from the inside is almost ALWAYS the better option. With this knowledge you can fend off April showers and solve your wet basement problem for good.