drain tiles

Drain tile systems are effective in creating a path of least resistance for water to follow, meaning water is unlikely to seep into your basement via cracks in your foundation or slab.

What is the purpose of drain tiles?

The aim of drain tile in the construction industry is to prevent ground water damage to a building. Drain tile gathers water from around a building and removes it. There are two different types of drain tile systems – internal and external.

Are drain tiles necessary?

While some homes may never have need for a drain tile system, it is a good feature to have since you never know when a period of heavy rain or rapid snow melt might cause catastrophic water problems in your basement or crawl space.

How deep should drain tile be buried?

If the drain tiles are implemented primarily to protect the foundation from subsurface water, dig the trench up to 6 feet deep. If the primary concern is surface water, a trench only 2 feet deep will suffice. Make sure that the trench extends to a suitable outlet like a ditch, drain field or dry well.

How long do drain tiles last?

The entire drain tile installation cost can be written off in as little as one year or as much as 15 years, while the actual life of the system should be 30 years or more.

What is the difference between drain tile and French drain?

The main difference between the two is that French drains capture and remove groundwater while trench drains quickly remove surface water before it can saturate the ground. Here’s a closer look at each type of drain.

Can drain tile get clogged?

Sometimes the signs of a clogged drain tile can be noticeable. You may see that water is pooling against your home, suggesting that your tiles are failing. On the interior, water may not be properly channeled, leaving you with a wet basement. If you have a sump pump, check the pit after heavy rainfall.

Are interior drain tiles worth it?

Pros of interior drain tile

Complete solution: Interior drain tile captures rising groundwater, relieves hydrostatic pressure, and prevents concrete wall seepage. Therefore, no other waterproofing methods are needed in many cases. No exterior excavation required: The system is relatively quick and easy to install.

How does water get in drain tile?

If you have water intruding into your basement, you need basement drain tile installed in your home. In most cases, water intrusion is a sign of hydrostatic pressure, which forms when there is more water in the ground than the soil can absorb.

Do you need a sump pump if you have drain tile?

If you have a drain tile system installed in your home, don’t take chances. If you don’t have a pump, get one installed. Its the only way that system can operate as designed to keep your basement dry. The cost of a pump and discharge pipe is cheap insurance and will cost a lot less than dealing with a wet basement.

Can you finish a basement with interior drain tile?

However, with interior drain tile the cost and disruption is far less. if the basement is unfinished or even finished, our years of experience have allowed us to create an elegant solution that leaves you basement in like-new condition but dry because of the drain tile installed underneath.

Does drain tile need to be sloped?

YES, you need to slope your Drain Tile. Slope should be 1/8” per Linear Foot. For every 80 Linear Feet, you need a Sump Basin.

What size gravel is best for drainage?

In general, you want to aim for ½ inch to 1-inch gravel for drainage. Areas that will see especially heavy flow may need larger gravel. Or, projects without drainage pipes may also need larger gravel. For example, a French drain without perforated pipe needs 1 ½ inch gravel.

Why is it called drain tile?

A weeping tile (also called a drain tile or perimeter tile) is a porous pipe used for underground water collection or discharge. When the pipe is draining, it “weeps”, or exudes liquids. It was named during a time period when drainpipes were made from terracotta tiles.

How do I know if my weeping tile is clogged?

There’s an easy test any homeowner can do to make sure that water is flowing to the sump pump: run a hose near a spot on the exterior foundation wall – if the sump pump pit fills with water, your tile is working. If not, there’s likely a blockage somewhere in the tiles.