Have you ever thought of building as a type of artwork? If you were to interact with a few construction workers or contractors, and then talk to them about their work, you might come to see it this way. Designing and building a whole structure requires some sort of artistic intellect. It might be a different sort of artistry than one would use to create a painting or a drawing, but it is art nonetheless.
On this blog, we are going to write about construction and contractors. We aim to do that from a range of perspectives, which should keep things interesting.
If you have high levels of moisture in your basement or standing water on the floor after heavy rain, it's important to take steps to keep it dry. Basement waterproofing allows you to use it as a living space, and it also helps prevent your home's concrete foundation from being damaged by water.
One method that's used to waterproof basements is to install a French drain. French drains are perforated pipes that are buried and surrounded by gravel, and they can be installed either inside or outside your home in order to keep your basement dry. Water in the soil will flow into the pipe, allowing you to divert it away from your home. To learn about whether you'll want an interior French drain or an exterior one to solve your wet basement issues, read on.
Interior French Drains
An interior French drain is installed along the entire perimeter of your basement by removing some of the concrete slabs. Water that enters your basement will flow into the drain, where it will be directed to a sump in your basement floor. When the water level in the sump almost reaches the top, a sump pump will turn on and pump it out of your home or into your sewer system.
The main advantage of installing an interior French drain is the cost. An exterior drain will need to be installed around your home's entire foundation, which involves digging a deep trench using heavy construction equipment. Installing a French drain around your basement floor is simpler, which helps to reduce the cost of having one installed. If you're looking for the quickest way to dry out your basement, an interior French drain is a good choice.
Unfortunately, an interior French drain can only move water away from your home once it has entered your basement through the ceiling or floor. Concrete is porous, so water in the soil can make its way through your basement walls and concrete slab. Water can damage concrete as it moves through it, so you're at a higher risk of developing foundation problems if you're relying solely on an interior French drain to keep your basement dry.
Exterior French Drains
An exterior French drain is installed around your home's foundation. The perforated pipe leads away from your home, which allows them to keep water in the soil away from your basement walls. As a result, they're typically better at keeping a basement completely dry than an interior drain—water can't enter the basement if it's diverted away by the exterior French drain.
Installing an exterior French drain can be an expensive task due to the fact that it requires the use of heavy machinery. Your landscaping may also be affected since a basement waterproofing contractor will need to dig up the entire area next to your home's foundation.
Despite the added cost, exterior French drains are normally better for solving humidity issues than interior French drains. They're able to keep water out of your basement entirely, whereas water will collect in the sump of an interior French drain—this can result in your basement becoming quite humid. It may also lead to problems with mold growth in your basement.
Overall, exterior French drains are better at keeping your basement dry than an interior drain due to the fact that they'll divert water away from your basement walls. However, the extra expense of having one installed compared to an interior French drain can make them a pricey option. To find out which one is right to keep your basement dry, it's best to call a basement waterproofing contractor and have your basement inspected. Depending on the level of moisture and how much water's entering through the walls, a contractor like J.A. Kilby Enterprises Inc can to tell you which choice will work the best at waterproofing your basement.