DRY
IT
UP
footing level, installing a gravel or
tile drain and draining the water
away, this can be quite expensive
and a great hassle, and can even
create possible problems with
structural soundness.
One alternative is to use an
interior drainage system, along
the joint between the walls and
floor. One method commonly
used is to break up the floor
around the basement floor/wall
perimeter in about a 12-inch
wide band. Then, remove the soil
down to the bottom edge of the
footing. Install perforated drain
tile in a bed of 1-1/2-inch rock.
The tile carries the water to a
discharge area such as a sump
pump or drain pipe, taking the
water away from the house. If
the walls are hollow block, holes
must be drilled in the blocks to
allow water to drain out of them 21⁄ 2” to 3” rock
In some instances a “French” drain made of large rock in a ditch may be needed to direct water to a collection point away from the building.
