Interior drainage systems are an efficient and cost effective choice for preventing wet basements. An interior system consist of a perforated pipe that is installed inside of a trench at the footing level along the inside perimeter of your basement floor. The trench is lined with filter cloth and filled with gravel then covered with concrete to seal. The idea is for infiltrating water to collect in the pipe and flow out of the building via a sump pump or gravity fed to exterior if topography allows. Once water has been expelled out of the building through the discharge line, proper grading will guide the runoff water away from your foundation, preventing over saturation that could lead to cracks and other structural threats.
Standing water is not the only sign of a basement leak. Other signs to look for are:
- Efflorescence on walls
- Cracks in your walls
- Condensation on your foundation
- Other changes in basement environment
If you have reason to believe that water is infiltrating into your basement or want to take measures to prevent a future basement leak, please give us a call at (703) 445-8060 or fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you. Looking for other ways to enhance or improve your basement? MER Waterproofing also provides Egress Window and Stairwell Installation as well as Basement and Crawlspace Lowering.