How Much Does a French Drain Cost?What's the best way to get rid of mold in a basement and prevent it from returning?My basement has wooden walls. Lately I started seeing football like white shapes starting appearing. Where is the home located, what is the exterior wall construction and type, how is the space heated? It could be a whole host of different scenarios that would generate that result.  It is nearly impossible to tell but I would say that most basement moisture problems are a result of bulk moisture intrusion or condensation issues. Given the deep and hard winter this year, it could be a condensation issue that hadn't previously been shown.If water is a chronic problem in your basement and other solutions, such as diverting downspouts, building up foundation soil, and installing a curtain drain don’t correct the problem, you’ve got two main options:Install an interior French drain system around the perimeter of your basement slab.Install an exterior French drain system along the outside of your basement walls.

Both systems install next to your foundation footing. Neither solution is a DIY project, and each has advantages. Here’s what you need to know.Installing an Interior French Footing DrainAn interior French drain doesn’t prevent water from entering your basement. Rather, it catches water that seeps inside and channels it by gravity to a sump pump that sends the water back outside or into a drain line.To install an interior French drain, a waterproofing contractor cuts a channel into your basement slab around its perimeter. The contractor excavates the ground below the channel, installs perforated drain pipe and a sump pump well, and fills the trench with drainage gravel. The slab is patched with fresh concrete.Advantages:Doesn’t disturb exterior landscapingBasement is readily accessible in all weather, so work proceeds on scheduleCosts less than an exterior footing drainDisadvantages:Can’t stop wall seepage (so applying wall finishes remains problematic)Sump pump won’t function during electrical outages without battery or generator backupCutting concrete is messy and noisyCost: $3,000 to $4,000.Related: Fix Wet Basement ProblemsInstalling an Exterior French Footing DrainAn exterior footing drain is one of the surest wet basement solutions.

It’s also one of the most expensive. Because this system requires a thorough excavation to expose your foundation walls and footings, it gives you the opportunity to apply a waterproof coating or membrane to the exterior surfaces of your walls for added protection.To install an exterior footing drain, a waterproofing contractor digs around the outside of your foundation with a backhoe. Homes For Sale On Aurora Ave Lexington KyThe contractor applies waterproofing to your basement walls, then installs a French drain system next to the foundation footing. Seat Covers With Armrest HolesThe excavation is filled with gravel to promote drainage.Boston Terrier Pups For Sale In IllinoisIf your lot is sloped, the drainage will flow by gravity to an exit point or a storm drain system.

Otherwise, you’ll need an exterior sump pump to move the water away from your house.Advantages:Waterproofs basement walls from the outsideLarge excavation ensures good drainage next to the foundationRemoves water before it can enter basementDisadvantages:Working a backhoe around your property may destroy landscaping featuresAll plantings at the dig site will be removedExpensiveCost: $9,000 to $15,000 (including waterproofing walls).Capture, convey and expel. The WaterGuard® System is an innovative interior French drain that captures water before it reaches your basement floor, then transports the water to a sump pit. When the water level in the sump pit (or sump liner) elevates a float valve, the pump turns on and discharges the water outside your house. Installing a French drain is the key component to a successful basement waterproofing system. Some French drain pipes, however, are better than others. WaterGuard® pipes or channels, available exclusively from Basement Systems, easily outperform other types of French drain pipe for a number of reasons.

In a typical basement, WaterGuard® is installed around the perimeter of the basement, where the slab floor meets the foundation wall. The continuous drain is connected to a sump pump that automatically discharges water to the outside when the water level in the sump pit reaches a preset level. The WaterGuard® system is a proven solution with more than 400,000 basements across North America and the United Kingdom being protected from water with Basement Systems’ patented drainage channel. Shaped for superior performance. Standard drainage tile is round, but WaterGuard® drainage tile is shaped specifically for its against-the-wall location. Unlike a traditional French drain, WaterGuard® won’t clog because its design allows it to sit on the footer and out of the mud.Standard drainage pipes and tiles are round, but WaterGuard® drainage tile is shaped specifically for its against-the-wall location. More effective than paint or film-based waterproofing systems. Instead of erecting a barrier against the extreme hydrostatic pressure outside your foundation, the WaterGuard® System allows infiltrating water inside – whereupon it safely moves that water to a sump for discharge.

Other French drain systems can clog with sediment, which will cause a waterproofing system to fail. The design and location of the WaterGuard® System eliminates any chance of clogging.Patented WaterGuard® drainage channels are made from commercial-grade plastic; it’s stronger and more durable than standard perforated drainage pipe. Captures wall and floor leakage. Some French drain systems only capture water from beneath the basement floor. The WaterGuard® System captures water that leaks through your foundation wall as well as water that comes from below the floor, keeping your basement dry.Once installed, the only visible trace of the WaterGuard® system is a narrow drainage flange along the base of your foundation wall.The WaterGuard® System (including a premium-quality sump pump) can usually be installed in a single or couple days, with minimal disruption to your home. Schedule an estimate to find out why WaterGuard® is the best French drain system for keeping water out of your basement.

The WaterGuard® French drain costs far less than installing a French drain around the exterior of your foundation. Learn more about how you can keep your basement dry with French drain pipe installation from Basement Systems. Create a drainage channel on top of the footing. Since this is a perimeter waterproofing system, workers will jackhammer a narrow trench in your basement floor, where the floor meets the foundation wall. The excavation will expose the top of the foundation wall’s footing –the best location for a drainage system to handle floor and wall leaks. Next, fill the bottom of the channel with gravel. To promote effective drainage, the bottom of the drainage channel is filled with gravel. Install WaterGuard® drainage tile. Special corner and junction fittings are used to join lengths of WaterGuard® tile together, creating a continuous drainage channel along the base of the foundation wall. As shown in the photo, the vertical flange on WaterGuard® tile has built-in spacers that allow water from wall leaks to enter the drainage system.