Water showing up where the floor meets the wall often ties back to how the drain tile was installed. If the drain tile sits 2 or 3 feet away from the footing, or higher or lower than it should, water can reach the joint first. Below, we explain how a basement drainage system should be laid out at the footing, what can happen when corners get cut, and how we diagnose the right fix based on the house.
How A Basement Drainage System Should Work At The Footing
Keep Drain Tile Level And Tight To The Footing
Typically, when a house is built, they install a footing drain tile is installed around the house. You can drive around and look down in basements before they pour the basement floor, and you can see the drain tile system. Done correctly, it should be level and right up against the footing so water can find that footing drain tile first.
Avoid The Placement Mistake That Exposes The Joint
Nine out of ten times, the drain tile is not where it should be. Common problems include
- Drain tile set 2 or 3 feet away from the footing.
- The drain tile is set higher than it should be.
- Drain tile is set lower than it should be.
When that happens, water has a chance to find its way where the floor meets the wall before it finds the footing drain tile.
Key Takeaway: If the drain tile is not level and right up against the footing, you can end up redoing what should have been done right to begin with.
Why Leaks Often Start After The One-Year Warranty
Cost-Cutting Leads To Corner-Cutting
Contractors are always looking for ways to cut costs. Turn your back for 30 seconds during a build, and someone can cut corners. You may not know until the one-year home warranty expires, and then that is when the phone call happens.
Small Mistakes Create A Chain Effect
It takes one person not to do their job. It is a chain effect. Like a train, if the middle car messes up, all the cars behind it follow. When the drain tile sits too far away, too high, or too low, water can reach the floor and wall joint before it reaches the drain tile.
Need expert help with a basement drainage system plan for your home? Contact Foundation 1 for a free consultation.
Pro Tip: Before the basement floor is poured, confirm the drain tile system is level and right up against the footing.
How We Diagnose And Choose Interior Options
Basement Drainage System Diagnosis Steps
We go in and diagnose what is going on. We take into consideration the age of the house. It is not always a new house. A lot of times, it is a 100-year-old house, and building standards and quality were a lot different back then. Things that are required today were not required 100 years ago.
Make New Systems Work With Old Houses
You have to go in and make new systems work with old houses. In many cases, an interior waterproofing system with a sump pump would be the way to go.
If you want a diagnosis and a plan that accounts for your home’s age and how the drain tile was installed, contact Foundation 1 for help with your basement drainage system.
