If you have contractors digging out for a basement, they are likely to remove more earth than needed. This could lead to the soil becoming somewhat unstable. In those situations, you want to use a weeping tile to keep your basement dry.
When your contractors are done, oftentimes they fill the space with the previously dugout soil. Many contractors are going to pour in loose soil when the job is finished, even though they should tamp it down as the wall builds up to ground level.
Eventually water is going to move through the ground and will reach the outside of your basement wall. This is true even if you try to repel the water as much as possible. The water may seep between the strata towards the backfill or just percolate down through the backfill altogether. When that happens, you have two options to defend your home against the water:
- You can opt for a completely waterproofed intact structure (crack free and completely solid) with floor, walls, and sometimes even a concrete ceiling.
- You can install a set of weeping tiles around the foundation. This is going to divert the ground water before it has a chance to do any damage.
Any well-designed basement is going to utilize weeping tiles to help protect it from water. This is because the earth can contract, shift, and expand, eventually challenging the structure’s own defenses regardless of the installation of a completely waterproofed intact structure.
How do these weeping tiles work?
You probably want to know how weeping tiles work. These are made of 4” diameter plastic pipes that have a number of holes in them. The idea behind using weeping tiles is that the ground water is going to find its way through the hole, and follow the gentle incline before discharging naturally or perhaps enter into a sump in order to be pumped out.
Before your contractor buries the plastic pipes that make up your weeping tile system, these are covered with a long, open ‘sock’ that is made from permeable material that does not rot. The reason that this is done is so the earth is unable to clog up the holes. This allows the flow of water to continue unhindered.
It is important to note that weeping tile can still clog without the proper installation. If you have a professional install them for you, an exterior weeping tile system could work for many years before you need any type of maintenance.
