French drain installation

Common Mistakes – Why You Should Leave French Drain Installation to the Professionals

Posted by Jerome Fokas on

French Drain Installation

As a homeowner, you may be tempted to carry out a French drain installation by yourself. However, there’s much more to the installation than meets the eye. If you want the best results from the process, be sure to have your drain installed by a professional.

The following are common mistakes that the DIY homeowner makes during a French drain installation. These mistakes often lead to damage that costs even more to repair:

  • Trenches that are too narrow or too wide

The size of the trench in which the drain ought to be installed should be well planned for. If the trench is too narrow, the drain is likely to get clogged much faster. If the trench is too wide, then the drain won’t be effective in guiding water away from the foundation.

Your situation is unique and a professional basement contractor will view it as such. They will determine the right trench width for the best results.

  • Installing the pipe with the holes facing up

This is a common mistake with DIY homeowners installing a French drain. They will assume that the holes ought to face up in order for the water to trickle into the holes.

Professionals will ensure that the holes are facing down to allow water to flow quickly into the pipe. They will also choose the right pipe for the different parts of the basement. For example, a professional will know that a pipe with slots will work better in a deep trench while one with holes will work better in a shallow trench.

  • Not placing enough gravel in under the pipe

The gravel under the pipe is vital for ensuring that the drain works well. An adequate amount of gravel is required to ensure that the water is guided into the holes of the pipe. The water will enter the pipe more quickly with a good base of gravel. A professional contractor will know the right amount of gravel to include in the trench.

  • Poor sloping for the pipe

The slope of the pipe determines just how well it drains the water. The right slope for the drain should be about 1%. This allows for the normal flow of water by gravity. A professional will determine the right slope for the drain.

Don’t attempt to install your drain yourself. Ensure that you have a professional contractor to help. This ensures you get it right the first time round.

drain tiles

3 Reasons Why a Plumber Shouldn’t Install Drain Tiles

Posted by Jerome Fokas on

Drain Tiles

Basement waterproofing refers to the process of using certain methods, materials and techniques to prevent water from penetrating the basement of a building or house. Since a basement is always located underneath the house or building waterproofing would require the use of strong sealants and materials as well as the installation of drain pipes and sumps to collect and remove water from accumulating in the basement.

Finding someone to repair leaks in your basement or home and perform any other repairs related to water seepage, leaking or flooding can be difficult. If you have a ‘water’ problem the first person that pops in your mind is a plumber but you would actually have to seek the basement waterproofing contractor.

Seepage through a cove joint is one common water problem in any basement. The cove joint is a small opening that lies between your basement floor and the wall. Heavy rainfall and melting snow cause hydrostatic pressure forcing water through the foundation.

Sealants won’t work as the pressure is so strong that it will force the sealants that is placed in the cove joint out. Instead, interior drain tiles will have to be installed to relieve water pressure to drain the water from the house.

Here are three reasons why a plumber won’t be able to install drain tiles –

  1. Training – Mostly plumbers are not trained or qualified to repair basement waterproofing problems. Their skills are directed towards how to control the entry and exit of water in the house in the proper fashion. Only the basement waterproofing contractor would be skilled and trained to fix basement water seepage problems.
  1. Experience – Even though the plumbers are efficient and could probably make out how to install drain tiles, they won’t have the necessary experience to finish the job efficiently. Only a basement waterproofing contractor would have the years of experience dealing with all kinds of basements to have the installation and design experience to properly install basement drain tiles.
  1. Materials and technology – Again only a basement waterproofing contractor would have all the requisite materials, products, and high-end technology needed to safely and effectively install drain tiles in the basement of a house or building and keep your basement clean and dry.

A plumber, even though his work has evolved through the years, will carry only the materials and equipment he would need to carry out his plumbing work effectively. The technology and material required for basement waterproofing would be much more expensive than what a plumber can afford.

foundation repair in Trenton NJ

4 Reasons for Foundation Repair in Trenton NJ

Posted by Jerome Fokas on

Foundation Repair in Trenton NJ

After the roofs, the foundations are probably the most heavy component of a house. They have to hold up the entire structure in a way that it lasts a lifetime.

Unlike other consumer goods, foundations are not engineered with, what in architectural terms is called a planned obsolescence built in. They are intended to last forever.

They can, however be damaged to the point of needing foundation repair. In severe cases, they might just fail. While such circumstances are rare, they are also, to a certain extent, avoidable and with proper maintenance, preventable. Here are a few reasons why a foundation may fail.

Soil type: There are many types of soil and depending on which region or locality you are from, it can either be stable or prone to wild movement. Clayey soil is the worst offender in that they expand and contract depending on how much water they soak up.

A particularly dry summer can cause the soil to shrink noticeably, while a flood can make it swell. If it happens enough times and you don’t notice, your foundation can fail.

Insufficient fill material: Most often, foundations are made and filled in with a number of different materials. If they are not mixed properly, or are the type that tend to settle in later, they can shift over the course of time. The issue can be reversed with simple foundation repair techniques.

Mass wasting: Mass wasting is a geographical term for the ground moving away. It is a serious issue in hilly regions and in places where the topography is not level. It is similar to a landslide, but takes months and sometimes years to slowly slip away.

A landslide is fast and happens within a matter of minutes, while mass wasting takes time and can be invisible till its too late.

Bad construction: Sometimes, your contractor may just do a shoddy job. Badly constructed buildings have to go through foundation repair procedures more than the well planned ones. If your home is not built well, repair it now and avert further damage easily.

Note that most of the above foundation repair causers can be reversed if caught early. A lot is happening in the ground under your home, most of it invisible. But if you have a keen enough eye, you catch it early and before there is any permanent damage.