Exterior waterproofing of the foundation walls and/or
surfacing the exterior of the foundation walls with a drain down system that
promoted water flow along the outside of the foundation wall and into the
footing drain.
An independent downspout drain system that diverts all roof drainage away from
the foundation.
Grading the maximizes surface water flow away from the foundation.
The cost of good planning and a good foundation drainage system is relatively
small especially when compared to the cost of corrective steps. My enthusiasm
for the Form-A-Drain system is due in part to its ability to produce interior
and exterior footing drains as an integral part of the footing construction.
How do Footing Drains Work?
Footing drains collect any water accumulations at the base of the foundation and
divert that water away from the structure and into a natural or man-made
drainage system. The footing drain system is usually composed of a set of pipes,
gravel and filter fabric that collects the water from the perimeter of the
foundation. The collected water is then directed toward an on-site or off-site
storm water system.
When properly installed, footing drains eliminate hydrostatic pressure at the
foundation and thus prevent any water at the exterior of the foundation from
finding its way into the basement or crawl space. Such drains can also be used
to vent Radon gas.
The quality of any footing drain system will depend upon the design of the
system, the quality of the material used and the installation practices. Since
this is one of those system that is very difficult to repair or correct after
installation, some extra effort during the installation is very important.
Helpful Hints:
1. The very best time to solve basement and crawl space
moisture problems is during the original construction of the home and good
footing drains must be one part of this moisture control system.
2. In existing structures, the best places to deal with
basement and moisture problems is at the exterior of the home.
3. Don't believe in magic! Unless you plan for basement and
crawl space moisture control you are likely to end up with some wet spaces.
4. And what about Radon control? First find out if Radon gas
is a problem in your area. If Radon is an issues in your area, be sure to work
with an expert in designing the mitigation system.
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