French Drainage Systems

French drainage systems have been commonly used on all types of homes, businesses and other structures since the mid 1800s. It was Henry French, a Massachusetts lawyer that popularized the technique.  A French drain, in traditional form, was simply a trench that was dug out on a proper angle (pitch), and then filled in with gravel. Modern French drain systems can be installed either on the inside or the outside of your home. Today, professional waterproofers use landscape fabric, silt filters, perforated drain piping and more to insure maximum performance and efficiency.

And interior French drain system involves jackhammering up a swath of concrete from your basement floor, exposing the soil beneath and forming the path of the trench. The soil is dug out to an appropriate depth. Landscape fabric, gravel, drain piping and more gravel are added to fill the trench. The floor is repaired above the interior French drain system. This type of French drain is most often requested from homeowners who are wanting to remodel their basements, and finally be able to use that space!

Exterior French drain systems are used prevalently in the building industry. New homes and businesses are commonly equipped with exterior French drain systems. An exterior French drainage system is most often installed as the home is being build, before the lot even gets backfilled and topsoiled. A trench is dug around the perimeter of the basement walls. Landscape fabric, gravel, drainage pipe, silt filter and more gravel are used to fill in the trench. The exterior French drain is then buried by backfill and covered with topsoil.

Expert French drain installers make sure to include easy-access, flushing ports for simple periodic maintenance. French drains can last for a decade or more and never develop any problems at all. A bit of simple maintenance is all that’s required. And of course, exterior French drains can be installed wherever a homeowner may have need, like an area of property that pools water.

Call Rika Construction, today at 973 732 0023, or email us, and speak with our friendly, helpful customer support representatives about your interior and exterior French drainage system options.