How French Drains Work to Keep Your Basement and Foundation Dry

Last updated 9 months ago

Though building materials have become incredibly sophisticated, Mother Nature is just as tenacious as ever. If your property doesn’t have adequate drainage, surface water could potentially leak into your basement and foundation, causing extensive water damage. Luckily, you can avoid disaster and expensive repairs with the help of a waterproofing company and new French drains. Here’s a brief look at French drains and how they can help keep your basement and foundation dry:

Dangers of Groundwater

During and after a rainstorm, the ground around your home can become saturated with water. Even if you have an effective gutter system, complete with downspouts and splash plates, the surface water around your home will begin to swell. Over time, this surface water can exploit the weaknesses in your basement and foundation, eventually making its way inside your home. As a result, your basement could incur mold growth and your foundation’s structural integrity could become severely compromised.

How French Drains Work

French drains are great for draining excess surface water away from your property. A French drain is basically a shallow ditch filled with gravel and a perforated pipe. As water falls on your property, it travels downhill into the ditch and the perforated pipe. Since the French drain is angled away from your home, it carries water a fair distance away from your property before depositing it into the ground.

Installation Process

Unfortunately, the French drain installation process is fairly invasive—experts will need to dig into your yard to install the perforated pipe and gravel. However, most homeowners are able to incorporate their French drains into their landscapes in an attractive manner. Also, installing a French drain can save you the grief of repairing your foundation and/or having a professional remove mold from your basement.

If you’re concerned about the drainage around your property, contact United Structural Systems. After analyzing the area around your Nashville home, our experts will gladly install a French drain and make recommendations for further waterproofing. Don’t let water take over your home—call us today at (615) 227-2275.