We paid Parker Wastewater to dig out a 10" wide, 2 foot deep, 60 foot long trench behind and on one side of our house with the understanding that a correctly installed French Drain system would ensure a dry basement. The house is a split level, the lower level being more than 2/3rds underground in some areas. The previous owner had a big issue with water penetration. We're planning on making the bottom floor our master bedroom so we're taking a number of steps to create a lower level that breathes well and resists water penetration and condensation (and thus mold and its related health and allergin issues). I laid the pipe, connected it to the lowest grade downspout and leveled the pipe so that it sloped about 1/4 inch every 4 feet from the pipe's high end.
Then Jess and I hauled 7.5 tons of 2B stone fill up the hill and dumped it over the length of the pipe. This took two days of ultra intense labor.
A layer of drainage fiber was placed over the stone followed by a layer of topsoil.
The house is looking good. Good luck with it. Maybe, we can be invited for the house warming partay!
ReplyDelete