How Effective Are Exterior French Drains?
If water seeps into your basement during or after a storm, it can cause significant structural damage and ruin valuable belongings. What a nightmare! Installing a French drain is one way to keep your basement from flooding.
A French drain can be installed either inside or outside a house. An interior drain can handle water that has already entered a basement, but an exterior French drain can keep water from getting inside a home in the first place.
How Does an Exterior French Drain Work?
When a French drain is installed outside a house, a trench is dug along the foundation. A pipe is then laid in the trench. The pipe has perforations that allow water to pass through.
The perforated pipe is covered with gravel or another material that directs water toward the pipe and assists with drainage. A filter fabric and a layer of soil are then placed on top. Water that enters an exterior French drain is directed to a drainage pipe, dry well, or sump pump before it has a chance to enter the basement.
What Is the Installation Process Like?
Installing an exterior French drain can be a complex undertaking. Depending on the layout of the property, it might be necessary to remove all or part of a driveway, patio, or other surface or dig up bushes and flowers to excavate the drainage site. After the French drain has been installed, features that were removed are put back.
Is an Exterior French Drain Right for Your Property?
If your basement floods, you should address the issue as soon as possible, before your home suffers major damage to the foundation. Installing an exterior French drain is one potential solution.
Poor drainage can have several sources. Before making any changes to your property, it’s essential to figure out what’s causing your drainage problem.
Leary’s Landscaping has handled drainage issues at homes across New Jersey. We’ll conduct a thorough inspection, pinpoint exactly what’s causing the problem, and recommend an appropriate solution. We’ll give you a detailed written estimate that explains the costs for materials and labor and answer any questions you might have. Contact us today at (609) 978-1392 to schedule an inspection!
