Water damage is one of the biggest threats to your home. If left unchecked, it can require thousands of dollars to fix, not even counting the mold it may cause. Clearly, it’s better to come up with methods of dealing with excess water before it becomes water damage. French drains can help.
For this reason, homeowners should have an understanding of the various waterproofing techniques available to them. Below we’ll discuss french drains, which are a simple solution for areas where water tends to congregate.
What Is A French Drain?
A french drain is a trench that deposits water away from your home. Usually it’s perforated, since this allows it to collect water on its journey away from your home, but some pipes are instead filled with gravel.
Sometimes people ask why they’re called French drains. It actually has nothing to do with the country. Instead, it’s named after Henry Flagg French, an agriculturist who popularized these drains in the United States.
When Should I Get A French Drain?
French drains are a simple solution for areas of your property that are continually wet. Sometimes this occurs because of uneven ground. Instead of letting the water collect on your lawn, French drains reroute it to somewhere safer.
Usually the drains will run the water to a storm drain, but if you’re looking for a simple way to maintain your greenery, it can also be rerouted to a rain barrel.
It’s especially important in basements, where water can leak into the foundation and cause structural problems. While there are a number of other waterproofing solutions that should also be tried, french drains allow you to ensure that your most problematic areas are taken care of.
Are There Any Other Waterproofing Techniques I Need?
When protecting your home from water damage, you need to take into account the various methods available to you.
For instance, French drains can’t protect your roof from water damage. This is what gutters are for. You also want to make sure that your walls are properly waterproofed, as this prevents water from getting into your home in the first place.
French drains aren’t designed to be your main method for protecting your home. Instead, they’re a brute force solution to the areas where the most water is pooling. You’ll need to take a holistic approach to water, making sure that every area is protected with the best method available.
This is an area where waterproofing experts can help. They’ll let you know where the problem areas are, as well as what can be done to fix those areas.
Waterproofing Your Home In South jersey?
Almand Bros. can help. For over four decades, we’ve been helping South Jersey residents with all their concrete, basement, and waterproofing needs. French drains are just one of the many waterproofing solutions we offer, and we’re proud to consistently deliver projects on-time and on-budget.
Whether you have any questions or you’re ready to get an estimate, you can call us at (856) 310-1390, email us at almandbros@comcast.net, or fill out our online contact form.