Posted by tracey on May 02, 1999 at 13:03:09:

In Reply to: Re: interior french drains posted by Cheryl on March 25, 1999 at 04:21:03:

Yes the best method is to install drain tile and a sump pump. Run the tile(E.I. 4 inch PVC pipe with perferations) around the entire basement and you might want to consider running another in the middle. First break up to concrete floor around 2 feet from the walls around a foot wide. Also determine where you are going to put your sump pit. Once you broken your back getting the concrete out then dig your trench so it will slope towards the sump pump pit so it will flow to it. So the farther away you are from the pit the higher the trench will be and lower towards the pit. Use around 1 inch rock which has been washed so it doesn't have any small particles that might wash into the pipe. Put about 2 inches in the battom of the trench, the install your perferated PVC pipe, also use a T fitting pipe on the corners so you can access the pipe later if it needs roto rooted. Also wrap the pipe in a filter fabric this will help keep out the roots and fine soils. Then put a few inches of the wasked rock above and around the pipe then put more filter fabric on top the rock then back fill the trench up to the bottom of the floor then pour your new concrete to finish the floor. Pipe your sump pump so it pumps the water away from your basement, don't pipe it to your sewer as that is illegal in mosy areas. Any more questions just email me, and good luck!

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