Improve Crawlspace Drainage with an Interior French Drain Installation

Interior French Drains

Our most popular drainage solution is the interior French drain. This is often used to handle water intrusion in crawlspaces. While exterior waterproofing is always the best option for water intrusion, it is not always financially feasible for an entirely below-grade crawlspace, as the whole perimeter must be addressed. The interior French drain is a much more reasonable approach. It involves the excavation of dirt to form a channel around the entire perimeter of the crawlspace, pitched to the lowest point. Perforated drainage pipe with a silt-guard sleeve is installed in the trench, and gravel is backfilled over. At the lowest point, a sump basin with an additional silt-guard sleeve is installed and backfilled with gravel. Inside the basin, a sump pump is installed to discharge water through the foundation wall and out away from the home. 

An interior drain is always recommended before an encapsulation. Without a drain in place, water intrusion can happen below the encapsulation, leading to erosion and settling of the foundation without your knowledge.