French Drain Systems
Our proven solutions stop water in its tracks.
What is a French Drain?
Basement waterproofing starts with the French drain. The French drain was invented by Henry Flagg French of Concord, Massachusetts in the mid-1800’s to help drain farmland. Later French drains were used in other applications such as road drainage and in the early to mid 1900’s started to be used in basements to capture and redirect water.
The basic concept of a French drain is to dig a trench, add a layer of crushed stone, lay down a perforated pipe and finally add another layer of crushed stone over the top of the pipe. The French drain collects any ground water or water that comes from the basement walls, then routes it to the sump and pump. Once the sump fills to a specific level, the pump is automatically turned on by a float switch. The water is then pumped out, the pump automatically turns off and the process repeats until the water in the ground recedes and no more water flows into the sump
You will have a dry basement because the groundwater will never reach the surface of the basement floor.
How the B-Dry® System works:
The B-Dry System is installed in a trench beneath the perimeter of your basement floor, capturing water 8–12 inches below the current surface. The trench is rough-cut to ensure the new cement bonds securely to the existing floor. Before re-cementing, we attach a barrier to the base of the foundation wall to channel wall leaks into the floor drainage system.
For fieldstone foundations, we install a flexible barrier that contours to the stones, guiding water into the system.
For finished walls (paneling or wallboard), we leave an open stone moat behind the wall when we cannot access the foundation to install a rigid sealer.
Once the B-Dry System is in place, new cement is poured, drying to a light gray finish.
As water rises beneath the floor, it flows into the drainage pipes and moves by gravity to the sump well, where we install high-capacity pumps covered with a plastic snap-on lid. Any seepage from the walls runs down behind the barrier and into the system.
When enough water collects in the sump well, an automatic electric pump removes it in about 15 seconds, then shuts off until needed again—keeping electricity use to a minimum. We typically install two electric pumps: one primary and one backup. Both will run together only if necessary. For added protection, we offer an optional battery backup system (power inverter and deep-cycle marine battery) that keeps your pump operating during a power outage.
To maximize performance, the sump well and discharge line are placed in the most effective location possible. Water is discharged outside, above ground. While no system can make water “disappear,” we ensure it’s redirected away from your home. In high water table conditions, some puddling outside may occur.
This is one of the most effective ways to ensure a dry basement. Our experienced team has installed high-quality interior French drain systems in thousands of New England homes and businesses.
