Foundation drainage?
Question:I recently purchase a house and during the winter season my garage was full with water. The water was coming from the joints between the garage floor and the walls. I would say almost everywhere. So I decided to check it out and possible to install foundation drainage around the house. I dig 41 inches to get to the foundation level and what a surprise: the house already had foundation drainage. On the foundation footing there was a black perforated pipe covered with gravel. The pipe was exactly lying on the footing touching the wall and the top of the footing. Because only gravel was covering the pipe there was some soil inside (but not much).
One question immediately I have to ask is that the right location for the perforated pipe to be: on the top of the footing.
Another question is what from here now: how to repair the system.
Also do I have to put some membrane on the wall and the top of the footing?
I would appreciate any suggestions and advises.
Answers:
What you describe sounds correct. The question is why is the water coming into the house and not draining off thru the perforated pipe. Some thoughts are as follows:
1. The pipe should go around the entire foundation and should be level. If the ends of the pipe is higher than the rest of the pipe, the pipe will not empty out.
2. If possible, run ends of pipe out of ground so that water can readily run off. If not possible dig a pit at each pipe end and fill with stones, creating a dry well which will collect water which would otherwise go into your garage.
3. Is your house at a low point so that water from the surrounding area naturally runs toward it? If so you will need to create berms to direct water away from house.
4. You should pipe your downspouts away from the house so that the downspout water does not end up in your garage. I would suggest at least ten feet of solid pipe on each downspout.
5. If a block wall the outside should have been parged with concrete and coated with a black foundation coat
membrane...heavy duty plastic sheeting.
The first problem is the drain tile (perforated pipe) should be below the footing level.
As you noticed the drain was filling with silt. You don't want to use gravel as a filter for the pipe clay fines will work their way through the gravel and clog the pipe. Use concrete sand to back fill around the drain tile.
You should consult with an engineer about your soil type and specific needs before doing a ton of work.
Read over this forum for some ideas.
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?q...
I just redid my tile last year. First, all tile should be placed along side the footing, not on top. 3/4 crushed rock should be placed below and above tile. I use tile that has a filter sock already on it. I covered my gravel with landscape fabric and backfilled with sand. Covering your tile with a foot of crushed stone will be fine. Although the more the better. Its much more porous of a material. My concern with your problem is why isn't your tile working if it is there. This water should be going to a sump pit or gravity fed to a low area. This is the problem u need to address.
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