What a French drain does
A French drain is a trench filled with gravel and a perforated pipe. Water in the soil takes the easiest path, so it flows into the gravel, into the pipe and away from your house to a safe spot. It's one of the most reliable ways to deal with groundwater and runoff that keeps finding its way into a basement or sitting in a yard.
Exterior French drains
An exterior drain runs outside, along the foundation or across a wet part of the yard. It catches water before it reaches your basement walls. If water is getting in because the soil around your foundation stays saturated after every storm, this is usually the strongest fix.
Interior French drains
An interior drain runs along the inside edge of the basement floor, where the floor meets the wall. It collects water that gets through and carries it out. It's often the practical choice when digging outside isn't possible because of a driveway, patio, deck or a neighbor's property line.
Not sure which one you need? That's normal. Carmine looks at where the water is coming from, how your yard slopes and what's around the foundation, then tells you straight which option makes sense.
Signs you could use a French drain
- Water comes in where the basement floor meets the wall
- Damp walls, puddles or a musty smell after heavy rain
- Parts of the yard stay soggy for days
- Water pools against the foundation or along the driveway
- Your sump pump runs constantly in wet weather
How the job goes
- Free estimate. Carmine comes out, looks at the problem and explains what he'd do.
- Plan the route. Where the drain runs and where the water will safely exit.
- Install. Trench, fabric, gravel and perforated pipe, done by Carmine and his crew.
- Clean up. The area is backfilled and restored.
French drains often work best together with grading and downspout connections, so roof water and surface runoff are handled too. For cracks where water is getting through the wall, see foundation crack repair.