Is New Jersey Basement Waterproofing Permanent?
Posted by
Doug Lynch on Fri, Jun 01, 2012 @ 07:11 AM
French Drains are Permanent
Basement Waterproofing will create a healthier environment in your home by eliminating dampness. When we say basement waterproofing we are talking about French Drains inside the basement. So then the question becomes: are French Drains permanent? Yes. But let’s go a little deeper into it.
The French Drain System was designed by Henry Flagg French in 1856 and has been in use ever since. Today’s French Drains are improved greatly from those of a hundred and fifty years ago. The French Drain System has been around and installed for basement waterproofing for 150 years for the main reason that it is the best way to control sub-surface water penetrating basements that we know of. In other words: IT WORKS!
Basement Waterproofing or French Drains
True basement waterproofing is excavating the outside of the foundation and sealing the foundation so no water will enter it. French drains are designed to control water entering the foundation rather than seal it off. An interior French drain is not technically basement waterproofing because the water is being controlled once it enters the foundation instead of being prevented from entering it. The interior French Drain is a widely accepted technique in mitigating basement water and is generally referred to as a basement waterproofing solution. Interior French drain systems are recognized by B.O.C.A (Building Officials and Code Administrators) as being effective in controlling basement water.
Three main components of a French Drain
- Delivery pipe system.
- Weep holes and drainboard.
- Sump pump and container.
The delivery pipe is made of Polyethylene (PE) plastic and is not bio-degradable. This pipe should last about 2,487 years or so. The pipe is corrugated and can bend in the corners so it can be used in 1 continuous piece without joints or couplings.
If your house has hollow block masonry walls, an interior French Drain basement waterproofing system can capture the water entering the block system and drain the water with a delivery pipe into a sump where a sump pump will discharge it from the building. Weep holes are drilled into the lowest course of block, allowing the drainage to occur.
The weep holes in the block are protected by the drainboard which is made of high-density plastic. The drainboard prevents the weep holes from becoming obstructed or clogged.
The container of the sump pump is again made of PE and will last forever. This brings us to the sump pump. The sump pump will have to be replaced occasionally. The manufacturer guarantees the sump pump for 2 years and we find that most pumps will go over 10 years under normal operating conditions. But the pump will have to be replaced at some time.
An interior French drain is much less likely to clog than an exterior, partially due to the fact that it is not sitting underneath several feet of soil. Drainboard is used to directly bring the water from the weep holes to the delivery pipe in the trench. The drainboard is installed right over the weep holes and prevents anything from clogging the holes. The drainboard then goes over the footing to bring the water directly to the pipe which then delivers the water to the sump pit.
Should I get my Basement Inspected?
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