Regardless of the fact this is a high dollar house, that French drain job with all that exterior wall detail insures that basement has a near zero chance of leaking! That is high end work on a high end house! Very good job, first rate! Do it once and do it right!
My favorite comment now that i saw somewhere else : Waterproofing takes up only 1% of the construction cost but if not done correctly can be responsible for up to 95% of damages.
I'm not a fan of french drains because of sediment clogging, but i must say , this is one of the best french drain jobs i have ever seen. Very high quality work.
Perfect! I love that there were more than products featured. The step by step process is a great addition to the normal product review. The length of the video was longer, which is perfect because you had great content. I hate a rushed video that leaves me with more questions than answers
Very thorough. I find myself here because I'm first year home inspector. Matt makes great content for me to remain educated about architecture and engineering.
In marketing it dkesnt matter how long it takes ro get to your call of action. As long as your copy is good it will keep us reading or watching the video, i love how detailed this is, great video, very i formed more now about product than i once was lol
Liking the FD system, I did something similar in 12/17 after being fed up with 2"-3" of water in the basement every time we got a heavy rain. FD was set 7' away from foundation, 6.5' deep (about a foot lower than the floor of the basement). 62' was cleared and 3 tunnels were done (driveway, walkway, water/sewage/gas lines). A $600 budget kept me from using adhesive, had to use fabric anchors every 18" to wrap up the burrito. True test was on 8/17/18 when we got over 5" of rain in a day, which would've resulted in at least 4" in the basement last year. Not a single drop this year.
How did you do it for $600? Man I spent like $1500. I had to do like 300ft of it. Did you not use gravel? My gravel cost was like $450 alone - 10 tons.
Nope, I used 1" gravel. I went up with a truck and got it for about $100 after tax. The delivery for the gravel cost more then the gravel itself, so I saved a bunch there. Perf pipe and caps were $90, fabric and anchors were $55. Mini excavator for 1 day was $200 Dingo to backfill was $150. Lowes online coupons saved me $30 and tool rental coupons saved me another $40. Did it all in a weekend with no labor, so I didn't need to buy beer for anyone except for me. :)
Can you elaborate how you dug the tunnels. Did you dig them by hand? How long was the tunnel for the driveway? Were they big enough to walk in and set the pipe?
There’s a saying that the more you know, the more you know you don’t know. Matt is a treasure trove of information. Somehow as soon as I have a question he’s already made a video on it.
Great video would love to see more on a remodel version of this...buying in CO. Looking at how to improve house, add Radon mitigation, waterproof and condition attic and crawl space...
@@buildshow the only problems with this, otherwise great, video is that he Brian didn't address why he is installing two pipes (you asked but he didn't answer), and the video rushes through the final stages of installation after he lays down the first layer of rock and folds over the outer edge of the geotex material - but only a foot or two from the outer edge. I'd like to see a more detailed view of how he finishes out the wrapping of the geotex and additional layers of rock. Can you supplement this video or just post info on the exact details of finishing off the drain.
@@northavealum I initially planned 2 pipes just to be 'overkill' but 2nd guessed myself out of it. I theorized that if you use pipes or upgrade to a 6" pipe then you slow the water flow, which may allow silt to settle in the pipe sooner.
Here is how to make the best French drain system ever. Tools needed for this job. Block saw, brush, drill, hammer, shovels, and a rake. First step is to find where water is coming into the house. On this house where the block meets the slab had a gap. I filled it with water proof epoxy. Let dry then put black tar base water proofing over it and also put it along the block where it meets the footer. Put pipe down and cover up. Always make sure the pipe is going down hill so water will fall.
Dimple membranes called as drainage sheet are one of the most versatile and effective materials for waterproofing of the buildings. It is (HDPE) High Density Polyethilen based and provides speed in your construction projects, sustainability and environment friendly solution.
This was first invented and used in Holland called playton the dimples go against the basement walls running just above grade now here is what most contractors get wrong there is a top open channel piece that goes on top all around the perimeter to allow air in to keep the walls dry. I constantly see just plastic strips used to adhere it to the walls negating the whole concept of the system. Probably done as a cost measure but will never work as intended
If nothing else, air moves water. So there should be a breather pipe going to the surface to allow air to push the water through the system. Otherwise you get a thermos bottle effect. In addition, if the downspouts from the gutters are connected to the drain, you need even more air.
I love how he non-Ironically said, " If you have 5 million dollars to build a hill country house..." I'll just go drown myself in a french drain system now.
In Finland we install the dimples on the inside, because of possible condensation against the cold ground. I guess in a warm and humid climate it's reversed.
I am really impressed by Brian's methods. Bombproof. Very attentive to detail. Great job buddy. BTW, were you ever a pro-wrestler? You should have been.
I've built on some unique projects. But - it seems that there aren't a lot of Generals and subs that care to do things right. This is a great example of a great contractor. Thanks for the video and detail. The steps, the products, and why you wouldn't use other products were all great. Thank you!
I love your videos I live in Idaho now but grew up in Macomb County I sent your information to my family for any french drain work You should open up your videos To comments. You have a great Channel and no-nonsense approach the French drains and how to do it right
I truly miss the luxury of having a walk-out basement - here in Dallas, basements are few and far between, which is unfortunate, as a basement offers a nice controlled environment that comes in handy during the sweltering 100+ degree summers, as well as offering storm-cellar safety during the frequent spring storms
I really like the cleanout idea and this system! Thank you! The only question I have is about the french drain holes. You mentioned that the caliche soil is very fine so you protected the top of the drain with layers of rock and filter fabric, but what about the bottom, where the actual holes are? You only have a single layer of filter fabric between the ground and the holes. If the holes are facing up, you have all that protection above it. I understand most water will come from the top down, but any water working up from the ground and any standing water around the filter fabric at the very bottom could eventually compromise that single layer, inviting that caliche soil in, right? Also, all that weight of the rock and earth on top seems like it would push those holes extremely tight against the ground, possibly eventually sealing them off with built-up soil and dust from the rock. Why make the water fight to get in the holes? I've heard the arguments for holes facing up and down, but I think holes on both sides are the best idea, especially in this case. Thanks for the video!
at 4:08 & 5:15 you can see the filter fabric right underneath the french drain is on a compacted bed of septic rock. Maybe they're hoping the sediments won't travel upwards along with the water, but yes I'd think over time sediments would migrate and build up in that unfiltered bed. My understanding is you want the rock bed within the fabric so the pipe is protected on all sides. Brian's description of "the burrito" with multiple layers of fabric and rock and more fabric and more rock was pretty confusing, so maybe I don't understand. A diagram would've been nice.
This looks like the drainage installs made in Sweden in the 70s. The drainage pipes aren't below the house foundation and makes it possible for the concrete to suck water. The plastic wrap around the house looks pretty much like the infamous swedish product "platon" with some modifications. The blue goo makes it impossible for the ground water that have been sucked up in the walls to escape out, so the only way is to dry to the inside of the wall which will make damages inside the building. Take a look at "isodrän" or "pordrän" for superior swedish drainage systems which solved these problems in the 80s.
And the platon is supposed to have the nipples towards the wall, making it breath. No blue goo is necessary, and as you states it will close the moisture inside the wall. The rocks and the pipes needs to be below the slab to drain the water away or else this is a recipe for disaster. I am glad I am not the owner of this house.
Hopefully, grading the landscape away from the house will keep the water from ever hitting the foundation and the drain tile at all. Drain tile is only for heavy precipitation (10-year events).
Currently doing my research for basement waterproofing. Your comment is quite helpful. Do weep holes help in draining water that is sucked up by concrete ? I would think not but half a dozen masonary contractors and waterproofing experts could not provide a clear scientific answer.
Mr. Brian Long, excellent job. May I add, water is not the best solvent, but the universal solvent. Bio diesel or vegetable oil are faster, so possibly they are. the best solvents. Your drainage design is impeccable . I commend you.
6 років тому+2
I used a product called Form-a-drain to make the footings for my house. It's a rectangular french drain piping system that also acts as a form.
I like that concept. Why not use the form as the drain tile, right? How does it work as a waterproofing layer and keeping hydrostatic pressure off the foundation for constantly wet earth?
Thank for the great videos. Qustion, what about underground water coming up and soaking through your foundation slab? Have you done any protection for that and is that an issue at all?
Withe the amount of gravel they are placing on it plus the backfill soil weight of course its doing to crumple, my step dad who i worked for and owned a basement waterproofing company would suggest to the customer which they prefer be it schedule 40 or black corrugated. Most selected the schedule 40 which we ourselves preferred though the black flex is more easily installed. We never had to go fix the ones with the black pipe or even schedule 40 with our warranty service. So to say, its fine to use if your using inside the basement under less than a foot of back-fill and under concrete, but you want to use what he said for deeper drain system or outdoor use the schedule 40.
@@Joshua79C Forget schedule 40. If we have all this money to burn, use schedule 80 for those drains. We can economize by leaving the marble off the walls in the maid's quarters...
Very nice. I would add that the only thing that the perf pipe really does is provide a pathway for whatever clean out maintenance activity you do over time. If your geotextile truly keep sediment out of your septic rock, the septic rock “burrito” will be the pathway for any water...not the perf pipe. Imagine your bathtub full of septic rock and a 5’ length of perf pipe at the bottom. Turn the shower on. Is the pipe REALLY doing anything?
Not as expensive as not having one or one that improperly installed like what PLfL is doing wrong in one of their latest video showing how they installed it.
I have not heard from other builders about corrugated black drainage pipe collapsing. I have tile drains in my farm fields that are 40 years old. The ones I dug up are good. Granted, they are only 3-4 feet deep but I have 10 miles of them.
I can't tell you how many times I've dug up failed French drains her in California only to find they put the holes facing up. I guess in some alternate universe it makes sense! LOL The best is when they argue with you and ask how is the water going to get into the pipe with the holes facing down!
It looks like the perf pipe is sitting on the top of the footing. If it is, the cold joint between the stem wall and the footing will see water before it's carried away in the drainage pipes.
99.9% of the wall is covered with a membrane and there shouldn't be any hydro-static pressure. They are using the membrane as their primary drainage surface and not the typical "french drain" scenario. Footing to stem wall transition is sealed and continuous liquid flashing across both surfaces.
Not sure. It would be nice to see what happens after it turns the corner. My earlier assumption was that the second pipe was the daylight pipe and the first a dedicated membrane collector.
What you're looking at here is a permeable liquid membrane product designed to remedy the weakness of OSB, intended as house wrap alternative, being used for foundation waterproofing! Being permeable, the membrane allows water to travel back and forth. Drain boards don't waterproof the foundation. As basically little air pockets they counter hydrostatic pressure and channel water down to the perimeter drain, in this case French Drain because of complex site drainage issues. The foundation wall section shown in this video isn't waterproofed. If located in Texas, maybe not a big deal. But this blue goop, including the cartridge sealant, is designed for wall and roof sheathing. The compound on the foundation wall and footing/foundation joint should be 100% waterproof.
I'm in a similar area here in Texas and about to build a hill top home as well with a walkout basement. Jason could you elaborate on this? I thought it looked waterproofed to me. This is very new to me, and I am relying on the foundation contractor I'm hiring to know exactly his plan will work. So your knowledge is definitely helpful! I don't want regrets :(
Most basements will have a humidity problem due to outside or humid house air entering warm air gets in to the cool basement like when you take a shower the bathroom mirrors fog up. It’s worth it to install a goops dehumidifier for the whole house
Thanks so much for the video but there was no mention of sump pumps or if they’re needed.... Also pro/cons on running gutters down to perimeter drains or separate drainage all together.... Thanks Matt for your great video and informative methods to building a great home
In the video he says it runs to daylight. Daylighting is a term used in the industry, if the open end of the pipe is pointed downhill that's daylighting.
This is typical foundation drainage in commercial projects. Great residential application. The excavation looked a little sketchy. I wouldn't want to be sandwiched between a foundation wall and a 6 foot unshored excavation.
When you cut the dimple board at the corners it allows water to get through. From there you're relying on the liquid membrane to avoid a damp or wet basement? Just curious, we are planning to use the same system on 2 new homes. Thanks
The dimple board is not a water barrier. The dimple board provides a space for water flow between the wall and the dimple board and the dimple board helps protect the waterproof membrane from the sharp backfill.
This membrane works I used installed it in 1988 basement is still water tight I have been. Building foundations in NY for 35 years from dog houses to the freedom tower in NYC they call me best of the best this contractor knows what he is doing 👍
This guy Matt’s talking to is doing it legit. Also with the clean outs you can go back into it. A lot of contractors are bone heads & don’t plan for the future.
Our house is built in the 1940s and the french drains needed to be repaired since we are seeing some dirt coming into the drain. However, we don't where the french drain goes or if there is any layout plan for it ever exists since the house if very old? Where should we start,? Should we talk to the landscaping company or plumbing company instead? Thanks for your help.
Paul Keogh I don’t think it’s a pride issue. Most people who want to build have great ideas and expectations only to face sticker shock. When you reduce your design to match your budget, cuts are all made in the wrong places because god forbid they build a smaller house or buy cheaper land.
I recently purchased a house and I've been enjoying your channel and getting renovation ideas. I need to move water away from the foundation in my new place and I've thought about using board with the dimples. Do you know if there are applications in which that board can be placed horizontally towards a drain tile about 5 or 6 feet away from the foundation? I'm thinking of starting the board against the foundation (below grade) as show here for about a foot and then angling it horizontally towards the drain tile. Tough to explain. Main thing is to figure out if that drainage board can be run horizontally with run.
The weep holes go on the bottom because everything down there is denser than water, this helps keep dirt from entering, and filling up, the pipe. At least this is how my father explained it. Has anyone dug up an old one of these? How did it do? ( I also think Bryan is right about using schedule 40 instead of that soft stuff. That soft stuff is just going to flatten into uselessness.)
This is a seriously nice setup. One question, with the french drain system being tight to the ground with the filter fabric sandwiched tight between the holes of the drain and the earth, is this not effectively creating a tight sock on the only part of the drain that matters for taking in water? Would it not make sense to lay down a shallow layer of rock/gravel before the filter fabric is layed down on the ground? I realize this would allow for some water to sit below the drain, but it seems this theory of drainage assumes water gets under the drain anyway to be able to percolate up. As soon as the holes are clogged with dirt against the fabric, this drain has no way for water to find its way in.
I had the same question as you. Normally I see people lay a shallow layer of gravel and then lay down the perforated pipe. This installation had the pipe sitting directly on the filter fabric. I'm curious what are the pros and cons and also performance differences after several decades. Luke H mentioned one difference, "this would allow for some water to sit below the drain...". I would assume that a 1 or 2 inch layer of gravel under the pipe is not a problem because the water will still flow horizontally through the gravel but just slower as compared to water flowing horizontally in the pipe, so the water is flowing slower and not actually "sitting". During a massive rain, the water will rise up several inches and then fill the 4-inch pipe, which is filled with air, and allows the water to flow horizontally unimpeded since there is no gravel inside the pipe to slow things down. This will make it less likely that water can ever rise more than 4-inches (above the top of the pipe) since it is draining fast, unless of course a hurricane comes, but still it should drain back down to the level of the pipe shortly after the hurricane is over. Think of how fast water flows in a 10 foot tall glass tube tilted so it's almost horizontal. If that glass tube is empty then pouring water in one end will reach the opposite end in a few seconds, but if you stuffed the glass tube with 3/4 inch drainage gravel and poured water in one end, it would take 10 times longer for water to reach the other end, but in both cases all water would completely pass though.
This actually the best way to do a french drain...its the burrito method meaning the pipe lays on bottom...on top of the fabric, then gravel however high you want it, then close the fabric....the fabric is the key...non woven geo fabric....
@@joshuaguenin9507 I understand how the method is setup. He did a good job of demonstrating it. My question was regarding the holes being tight to the dirt with nothing other that the filter fabric as a buffer against clogging the small holes over time. I would imagine they would eventually clog with sediment and dirt. That's why you don't put filter fabric socks tight against French drains and include rock around the pipe in the first place.
Cleanouts are a good idea (and quality builders do that as a matter of course), but need to use long-sweep fittings to allow the snake to work - don't see that on the cleanout riser pipe.
Schedule 40. Nice. That's the right way. The black pipe shreds Sch 20 would be ok close to the surface but not 5 feet Theses guys look like it's done right
Used to work for my step-dad when he owned a basement waterproofing company 15 years ago, we sometimes if the customer chose to go with would use the bendable drainage only in the basement, outside was either 40 or nothing. He warrantied all his work and would go with him to help fix issues for past customers, ever a problem with the system other than the pump which would get overworked or clogged.
And how do you connect the black pipe of the MiraDrain to the white, Sch40 pipe? Just T-s? And every how many feet do I need to have the black MiraDrain drain pipes in place?? Thank you!
If they initially build the basement with ICF they would already have the foam insulation. Kind of stupid to still do form work leaving bare concrete monolithic wall needing a sealant coat before the drainage system is installed, the ICF would have saved a few steps and made the build go a bit faster, but would still use the dimple and french drain system. Seeing as once ICF is installed just as fast as forms and does not need to be removed unless one side was removable board for a bare wall, then there is no need to pay the company for forms which you loose money on anyway.
Any tips on applying dimpled membrane around plumbing that penetrates the foundation wall? Currently adding a french drain to my 80-year old house. My water intake is 3.5ft down in the middle of the wall). Do I just need to cut the dimplemat vertically? Do you do anything about the seam?
Did Brian say PVC schedule 40 pipe is "green" at 5:40? Better check that. It's made from petroleum, isn't generally considered recyclable, and has lead, phthalate, VOC, dioxin and chlorine issues. Otherwise, nice work.
Does all this external waterproofing create an issue with moisture internally, with the basement walls? i.e. damp. Is that solved by ventilation? Whats a good system?
Regardless of the fact this is a high dollar house, that French drain job with all that exterior wall detail insures that basement has a near zero chance of leaking! That is high end work on a high end house! Very good job, first rate! Do it once and do it right!
That is an awesome looking French Drain and meticulous attention to detail!
Well for 50 years... nothing lasts forever. Great work!
There is so much miss-information on French drains on the Internet but not this, finally someone doing it right, great job!
My favorite comment now that i saw somewhere else :
Waterproofing takes up only 1% of the construction cost but if not done correctly can be responsible for up to 95% of damages.
😂🤣😅
I'm not a fan of french drains because of sediment clogging, but i must say , this is one of the best french drain jobs i have ever seen. Very high quality work.
That’s why he has the sediment filter fabric burrito to prevent that from happening. As the clean out option if it still happens.
What happens if the filter fabric clogs? Will the cleanouts help with that? That burrito might one day be water tight.
Perfect! I love that there were more than products featured. The step by step process is a great addition to the normal product review. The length of the video was longer, which is perfect because you had great content. I hate a rushed video that leaves me with more questions than answers
+tommydjohnsonjr good feedback. Thanks
Yeah! What Tommy said! More details are better.
Very thorough. I find myself here because I'm first year home inspector. Matt makes great content for me to remain educated about architecture and engineering.
In marketing it dkesnt matter how long it takes ro get to your call of action. As long as your copy is good it will keep us reading or watching the video, i love how detailed this is, great video, very i formed more now about product than i once was lol
Wow. this is great. I love the dedication to doing things right. The guy Bryan obviously knows his stuff.
Liking the FD system, I did something similar in 12/17 after being fed up with 2"-3" of water in the basement every time we got a heavy rain. FD was set 7' away from foundation, 6.5' deep (about a foot lower than the floor of the basement). 62' was cleared and 3 tunnels were done (driveway, walkway, water/sewage/gas lines). A $600 budget kept me from using adhesive, had to use fabric anchors every 18" to wrap up the burrito. True test was on 8/17/18 when we got over 5" of rain in a day, which would've resulted in at least 4" in the basement last year. Not a single drop this year.
How did you do it for $600? Man I spent like $1500. I had to do like 300ft of it. Did you not use gravel? My gravel cost was like $450 alone - 10 tons.
Nope, I used 1" gravel. I went up with a truck and got it for about $100 after tax. The delivery for the gravel cost more then the gravel itself, so I saved a bunch there. Perf pipe and caps were $90, fabric and anchors were $55. Mini excavator for 1 day was $200 Dingo to backfill was $150. Lowes online coupons saved me $30 and tool rental coupons saved me another $40. Did it all in a weekend with no labor, so I didn't need to buy beer for anyone except for me. :)
Nice work.
It also took a month of planning. Not exactly speedy, but a 60 hour work week really dragged out the research and design time.
Can you elaborate how you dug the tunnels. Did you dig them by hand? How long was the tunnel for the driveway? Were they big enough to walk in and set the pipe?
There’s a saying that the more you know, the more you know you don’t know. Matt is a treasure trove of information. Somehow as soon as I have a question he’s already made a video on it.
Great video would love to see more on a remodel version of this...buying in CO. Looking at how to improve house, add Radon mitigation, waterproof and condition attic and crawl space...
Ohh La La!! I’m going to retro fit this on my 1806 stone house! Thanks Matt!
I was hoping the guy in the red shirt would wrestle Matt.
+Allan Branch I would lose.
@@buildshow Absolutely Matt. You look like a fairly well built guy, but Dude was Uooge. My money's on the Mountain wearing a Red Shirt
This is invaluable information. You excel at finding the best builders and subs.
+AF-O6 thanks buddy. Brian is a great builder indeed!
@@buildshow the only problems with this, otherwise great, video is that he Brian didn't address why he is installing two pipes (you asked but he didn't answer), and the video rushes through the final stages of installation after he lays down the first layer of rock and folds over the outer edge of the geotex material - but only a foot or two from the outer edge. I'd like to see a more detailed view of how he finishes out the wrapping of the geotex and additional layers of rock. Can you supplement this video or just post info on the exact details of finishing off the drain.
@@northavealum I initially planned 2 pipes just to be 'overkill' but 2nd guessed myself out of it. I theorized that if you use pipes or upgrade to a 6" pipe then you slow the water flow, which may allow silt to settle in the pipe sooner.
Here is how to make the best French drain system ever. Tools needed for this job. Block saw, brush, drill, hammer, shovels, and a rake. First step is to find where water is coming into the house. On this house where the block meets the slab had a gap. I filled it with water proof epoxy. Let dry then put black tar base water proofing over it and also put it along the block where it meets the footer. Put pipe down and cover up. Always make sure the pipe is going down hill so water will fall.
Dimple membranes called as drainage sheet are one of the most versatile and effective materials for waterproofing of the buildings. It is (HDPE) High Density Polyethilen based and provides speed in your construction projects, sustainability and environment friendly solution.
This was first invented and used in Holland called playton the dimples go against the basement walls running just above grade now here is what most contractors get wrong there is a top open channel piece that goes on top all around the perimeter to allow air in to keep the walls dry. I constantly see just plastic strips used to adhere it to the walls negating the whole concept of the system. Probably done as a cost measure but will never work as intended
French drain with clean out!?!?!?
Badass.
Cynical Texas Dad have access to any drain is a goof practice
Dang it! Why didn’t I think of that?
I’ve put clean outs I. All my French drains for the last 25 years
If nothing else, air moves water. So there should be a breather pipe going to the surface to allow air to push the water through the system. Otherwise you get a thermos bottle effect. In addition, if the downspouts from the gutters are connected to the drain, you need even more air.
Your show is like This Old House on steroids!
This old house with chai tea
I love how he non-Ironically said,
" If you have 5 million dollars to build a hill country house..."
I'll just go drown myself in a french drain system now.
Michael Peila 🤦♀️🏦💰🤷♀️
Gotta go down and get some lottery tickets...
Lol goals though. I am an home inspector. That's how I found myself here. I laughed on that part too.
They did drop the word French in there. Must be worth 5 mill.
In Finland we install the dimples on the inside, because of possible condensation against the cold ground. I guess in a warm and humid climate it's reversed.
I am really impressed by Brian's methods. Bombproof. Very attentive to detail. Great job buddy.
BTW, were you ever a pro-wrestler? You should have been.
Reminds of strong man Bill Kazmir. Great waterproofing. 👍
Excellent video. I tried myself in my house and the results were fantastic!
I've built on some unique projects. But - it seems that there aren't a lot of Generals and subs that care to do things right. This is a great example of a great contractor. Thanks for the video and detail. The steps, the products, and why you wouldn't use other products were all great. Thank you!
Good point. And even if it does go, you have no idea which way it is going.
People are too cheap these days to pay for quality.
Sometimes it's just that people don't want to pay to have it done right.
Seeking permission to direct our viewers to this particular video it supports our philosophies.
I love your videos I live in Idaho now but grew up in Macomb County I sent your information to my family for any french drain work
You should open up your videos
To comments.
You have a great Channel and no-nonsense approach the French drains and how to do it right
French Drain Man - would you put the high octane on top of the footer, or at the bottom of the footer?
I truly miss the luxury of having a walk-out basement - here in Dallas, basements are few and far between, which is unfortunate, as a basement offers a nice controlled environment that comes in handy during the sweltering 100+ degree summers, as well as offering storm-cellar safety during the frequent spring storms
kind of relaxing listening to brian's voice
GREAT subject and video. I built an underground home (3 sides and top covered with earth) 38 years ago. I wish we had these technologies back then.
You can always retro fit, I used to do this for my step dad when he owned and ran his own company doing this type of work.
That is exactly how i did my basement waterproofing, but i did a 10ft setback all crushed rock all the way up.
Bulletproof foundation drains, bravo.
I thought I heard Ben as well. I went back and listened I think he said thanks man
I really like the cleanout idea and this system! Thank you! The only question I have is about the french drain holes. You mentioned that the caliche soil is very fine so you protected the top of the drain with layers of rock and filter fabric, but what about the bottom, where the actual holes are? You only have a single layer of filter fabric between the ground and the holes. If the holes are facing up, you have all that protection above it. I understand most water will come from the top down, but any water working up from the ground and any standing water around the filter fabric at the very bottom could eventually compromise that single layer, inviting that caliche soil in, right? Also, all that weight of the rock and earth on top seems like it would push those holes extremely tight against the ground, possibly eventually sealing them off with built-up soil and dust from the rock. Why make the water fight to get in the holes? I've heard the arguments for holes facing up and down, but I think holes on both sides are the best idea, especially in this case. Thanks for the video!
at 4:08 & 5:15 you can see the filter fabric right underneath the french drain is on a compacted bed of septic rock. Maybe they're hoping the sediments won't travel upwards along with the water, but yes I'd think over time sediments would migrate and build up in that unfiltered bed. My understanding is you want the rock bed within the fabric so the pipe is protected on all sides.
Brian's description of "the burrito" with multiple layers of fabric and rock and more fabric and more rock was pretty confusing, so maybe I don't understand. A diagram would've been nice.
Glad to see a vid on French drains 👍
Super dope...need that in Portland....great vid
This looks like the drainage installs made in Sweden in the 70s. The drainage pipes aren't below the house foundation and makes it possible for the concrete to suck water.
The plastic wrap around the house looks pretty much like the infamous swedish product "platon" with some modifications.
The blue goo makes it impossible for the ground water that have been sucked up in the walls to escape out, so the only way is to dry to the inside of the wall which will make damages inside the building.
Take a look at "isodrän" or "pordrän" for superior swedish drainage systems which solved these problems in the 80s.
And the platon is supposed to have the nipples towards the wall, making it breath. No blue goo is necessary, and as you states it will close the moisture inside the wall. The rocks and the pipes needs to be below the slab to drain the water away or else this is a recipe for disaster. I am glad I am not the owner of this house.
Hopefully, grading the landscape away from the house will keep the water from ever hitting the foundation and the drain tile at all. Drain tile is only for heavy precipitation (10-year events).
Excellent. Thank you for your insights.
Currently doing my research for basement waterproofing. Your comment is quite helpful. Do weep holes help in draining water that is sucked up by concrete ? I would think not but half a dozen masonary contractors and waterproofing experts could not provide a clear scientific answer.
Mr. Brian Long, excellent job. May I add, water is not the best solvent, but the universal solvent. Bio diesel or vegetable oil are faster, so possibly they are.
the best solvents. Your drainage design is impeccable . I commend you.
I used a product called Form-a-drain to make the footings for my house. It's a rectangular french drain piping system that also acts as a form.
I like that concept. Why not use the form as the drain tile, right? How does it work as a waterproofing layer and keeping hydrostatic pressure off the foundation for constantly wet earth?
ANOTHER MARVELOUS VIDEO FULL OF MARVELOUS 411!
What a great product and process of installation.
Enjoy your videos. Great openers. Clean and right to the point.
Thank for the great videos.
Qustion, what about underground water coming up and soaking through your foundation slab? Have you done any protection for that and is that an issue at all?
They didn't say, but that is why they have two drains in the pit. One for water coming from below and one for water coming from above.
*Sets down black dimpled drain pipe and backs away slowly*
Yeah...that's all I have used because it's affordable and simple to lay. Oops
Withe the amount of gravel they are placing on it plus the backfill soil weight of course its doing to crumple, my step dad who i worked for and owned a basement waterproofing company would suggest to the customer which they prefer be it schedule 40 or black corrugated. Most selected the schedule 40 which we ourselves preferred though the black flex is more easily installed. We never had to go fix the ones with the black pipe or even schedule 40 with our warranty service. So to say, its fine to use if your using inside the basement under less than a foot of back-fill and under concrete, but you want to use what he said for deeper drain system or outdoor use the schedule 40.
@@Joshua79C Forget schedule 40. If we have all this money to burn, use schedule 80 for those drains. We can economize by leaving the marble off the walls in the maid's quarters...
@@Crusader1815 At what schedule do we start losing children in our drainage system?
You guys are unbelievable the best I just learned so much from you guys
Very nice. I would add that the only thing that the perf pipe really does is provide a pathway for whatever clean out maintenance activity you do over time. If your geotextile truly keep sediment out of your septic rock, the septic rock “burrito” will be the pathway for any water...not the perf pipe.
Imagine your bathtub full of septic rock and a 5’ length of perf pipe at the bottom. Turn the shower on. Is the pipe REALLY doing anything?
Man Matt, that dude makes you look tiny...he is a mountain!
Jeremy Eisenhut High BP
Best advice I have when looking to buy a home; buy the one on top of the hill
I believe the "killer french drain" was the most efficient and ubiquitous execution device during le revolution.
I see what you did there ... :-)
Hey Matt, awesome video. Great step by step.
Love the clean out on the drain pipes
Definitely a must from my experience working for my step dad when he owned-operated a basement waterproofing company.
I like the concept of laying two pipes as a fail safe.
Sceptic rock. Been looking for name if rock someone we using for landscape and was giving some away. Now I now!!
That has to be the best system I've ever seen. That must be very expensive.
Not as expensive as not having one or one that improperly installed like what PLfL is doing wrong in one of their latest video showing how they installed it.
PLFL ruined their foundation drain !!!
It's cost effective if done correctly. It's expensive only if done incorrectly.
That is the best system I have ever seen.period.
🇦🇺⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is the French drain of my dreams.
I have not heard from other builders about corrugated black drainage pipe collapsing. I have tile drains in my farm fields that are 40 years old. The ones I dug up are good. Granted, they are only 3-4 feet deep but I have 10 miles of them.
Done the right way! Not cheap but worth every cent!
What slope does the French drain need to be on when it’s going around the footer?
5 STAR Draining system seriously 🎯💯🤙🏽
Thanks for the video! Incredible job!
In my opinion, the best drain concept I've seen!
Awesome video. After 2 layers of septic rock, is that back filled with dirt or does the rock come all the way up to the grade?
4:31 - if you say "Burrito Wrap" 3 times, French Drain Man will appear.
What if you want to insulate your basement with rigid foam on the exterior? What's the best way to go about that when you have the dimple mat?
Nice to see a contractor that knows his s***
I can't tell you how many times I've dug up failed French drains her in California only to find they put the holes facing up. I guess in some alternate universe it makes sense! LOL The best is when they argue with you and ask how is the water going to get into the pipe with the holes facing down!
It looks like the perf pipe is sitting on the top of the footing. If it is, the cold joint between the stem wall and the footing will see water before it's carried away in the drainage pipes.
Arroyo drain membrane connects to the pipe
The arroyo drain outlet sits on top of the footing too, right? Holes in the schd. 40 perf pipe are at least an inch up, maybe 1.5" up.
99.9% of the wall is covered with a membrane and there shouldn't be any hydro-static pressure. They are using the membrane as their primary drainage surface and not the typical "french drain" scenario.
Footing to stem wall transition is sealed and continuous liquid flashing across both surfaces.
What about slope of the pipe. Wouldn't we want to see 1/4" per foot? How does that work on top of the footing?
Not sure. It would be nice to see what happens after it turns the corner. My earlier assumption was that the second pipe was the daylight pipe and the first a dedicated membrane collector.
Would this really work for a home near a lake or the ocean? If so then this is a game changer.
What you're looking at here is a permeable liquid membrane product designed to remedy the weakness of OSB, intended as house wrap alternative, being used for foundation waterproofing! Being permeable, the membrane allows water to travel back and forth.
Drain boards don't waterproof the foundation. As basically little air pockets they counter hydrostatic pressure and channel water down to the perimeter drain, in this case French Drain because of complex site drainage issues.
The foundation wall section shown in this video isn't waterproofed. If located in Texas, maybe not a big deal. But this blue goop, including the cartridge sealant, is designed for wall and roof sheathing. The compound on the foundation wall and footing/foundation joint should be 100% waterproof.
I'm in a similar area here in Texas and about to build a hill top home as well with a walkout basement. Jason could you elaborate on this? I thought it looked waterproofed to me. This is very new to me, and I am relying on the foundation contractor I'm hiring to know exactly his plan will work. So your knowledge is definitely helpful! I don't want regrets :(
Great video. Correct way to do it!
Very informative video! Thanks for sharing Matt.
Matt is a builder, Brian is built
Most basements will have a humidity problem due to outside or humid house air entering warm air gets in to the cool basement like when you take a shower the bathroom mirrors fog up. It’s worth it to install a goops dehumidifier for the whole house
Of course you have a kick ass video about French Drains, seems any Construction related video I can think of you have cotent for that.
Thanks so much for the video but there was no mention of sump pumps or if they’re needed.... Also pro/cons on running gutters down to perimeter drains or separate drainage all together.... Thanks Matt for your great video and informative methods to building a great home
In the video he says it runs to daylight. Daylighting is a term used in the industry, if the open end of the pipe is pointed downhill that's daylighting.
great sound, great video, good work Matt!
This is typical foundation drainage in commercial projects. Great residential application. The excavation looked a little sketchy. I wouldn't want to be sandwiched between a foundation wall and a 6 foot unshored excavation.
Im curious how much this system roughly costs per sq ft.. excellent attention to details and very informative. Great job Bryan
More than most people can afford I guarantee you that. This Matt guy only seems to cater to the top 1% of people in this country
When you cut the dimple board at the corners it allows water to get through. From there you're relying on the liquid membrane to avoid a damp or wet basement? Just curious, we are planning to use the same system on 2 new homes. Thanks
The dimple board is not a water barrier. The dimple board provides a space for water flow between the wall and the dimple board and the dimple board helps protect the waterproof membrane from the sharp backfill.
This membrane works I used installed it in 1988 basement is still water tight I have been. Building foundations in NY for 35 years from dog houses to the freedom tower in NYC they call me best of the best this contractor knows what he is doing 👍
This guy Matt’s talking to is doing it legit. Also with the clean outs you can go back into it. A lot of contractors are bone heads & don’t plan for the future.
Our house is built in the 1940s and the french drains needed to be repaired since we are seeing some dirt coming into the drain. However, we don't where the french drain goes or if there is any layout plan for it ever exists since the house if very old? Where should we start,? Should we talk to the landscaping company or plumbing company instead? Thanks for your help.
Great video Matt, wish more guys took pride in their work the world would be a better place.
Paul Keogh I don’t think it’s a pride issue. Most people who want to build have great ideas and expectations only to face sticker shock. When you reduce your design to match your budget, cuts are all made in the wrong places because god forbid they build a smaller house or buy cheaper land.
In Germany, where I live, this is the code since the 90s
He's like Hulk Hogan
sounds like he's an awesome builder too
I recently purchased a house and I've been enjoying your channel and getting renovation ideas. I need to move water away from the foundation in my new place and I've thought about using board with the dimples. Do you know if there are applications in which that board can be placed horizontally towards a drain tile about 5 or 6 feet away from the foundation? I'm thinking of starting the board against the foundation (below grade) as show here for about a foot and then angling it horizontally towards the drain tile. Tough to explain. Main thing is to figure out if that drainage board can be run horizontally with run.
The weep holes go on the bottom because everything down there is denser than water, this helps keep dirt from entering, and filling up, the pipe. At least this is how my father explained it. Has anyone dug up an old one of these? How did it do? ( I also think Bryan is right about using schedule 40 instead of that soft stuff. That soft stuff is just going to flatten into uselessness.)
Brian is one big dude!
You guys make me want to build in TX
What part? It's not all like this! Study a geology map... it's like 6 different countries there.
This is a seriously nice setup. One question, with the french drain system being tight to the ground with the filter fabric sandwiched tight between the holes of the drain and the earth, is this not effectively creating a tight sock on the only part of the drain that matters for taking in water? Would it not make sense to lay down a shallow layer of rock/gravel before the filter fabric is layed down on the ground?
I realize this would allow for some water to sit below the drain, but it seems this theory of drainage assumes water gets under the drain anyway to be able to percolate up. As soon as the holes are clogged with dirt against the fabric, this drain has no way for water to find its way in.
I had the same question as you. Normally I see people lay a shallow layer of gravel and then lay down the perforated pipe. This installation had the pipe sitting directly on the filter fabric. I'm curious what are the pros and cons and also performance differences after several decades.
Luke H mentioned one difference, "this would allow for some water to sit below the drain...". I would assume that a 1 or 2 inch layer of gravel under the pipe is not a problem because the water will still flow horizontally through the gravel but just slower as compared to water flowing horizontally in the pipe, so the water is flowing slower and not actually "sitting". During a massive rain, the water will rise up several inches and then fill the 4-inch pipe, which is filled with air, and allows the water to flow horizontally unimpeded since there is no gravel inside the pipe to slow things down. This will make it less likely that water can ever rise more than 4-inches (above the top of the pipe) since it is draining fast, unless of course a hurricane comes, but still it should drain back down to the level of the pipe shortly after the hurricane is over.
Think of how fast water flows in a 10 foot tall glass tube tilted so it's almost horizontal. If that glass tube is empty then pouring water in one end will reach the opposite end in a few seconds, but if you stuffed the glass tube with 3/4 inch drainage gravel and poured water in one end, it would take 10 times longer for water to reach the other end, but in both cases all water would completely pass though.
This actually the best way to do a french drain...its the burrito method meaning the pipe lays on bottom...on top of the fabric, then gravel however high you want it, then close the fabric....the fabric is the key...non woven geo fabric....
@@joshuaguenin9507 I understand how the method is setup. He did a good job of demonstrating it. My question was regarding the holes being tight to the dirt with nothing other that the filter fabric as a buffer against clogging the small holes over time. I would imagine they would eventually clog with sediment and dirt. That's why you don't put filter fabric socks tight against French drains and include rock around the pipe in the first place.
Mattt you are the Man 💪
Cleanouts are a good idea (and quality builders do that as a matter of course), but need to use long-sweep fittings to allow the snake to work - don't see that on the cleanout riser pipe.
Yep, odd that for 5 million dollars he doesn't know about a detail like that.
Brian knows his onions doesn't he!
This is so good! Thanks for posting!
Schedule 40. Nice. That's the right way.
The black pipe shreds
Sch 20 would be ok close to the surface but not 5 feet
Theses guys look like it's done right
Used to work for my step-dad when he owned a basement waterproofing company 15 years ago, we sometimes if the customer chose to go with would use the bendable drainage only in the basement, outside was either 40 or nothing. He warrantied all his work and would go with him to help fix issues for past customers, ever a problem with the system other than the pump which would get overworked or clogged.
Maybe use Sch20 to drain around a slap foundation. It’s shallow and you really just want the water from getting under the foundation
The system makes sense but correct me if I'm wrong shouldn't the pvc sit on top of stone not directly on the bottom of the filter fabric?
Great video. Great system. Thanks.
Great job!
"It's the missing LaRue!"
And how do you connect the black pipe of the MiraDrain to the white, Sch40 pipe? Just T-s? And every how many feet do I need to have the black MiraDrain drain pipes in place?? Thank you!
In some applications, to reduce stress on a below grade foundation wall or retaining wall, use Polystyrene foam blocks as fill.
David Stovall Do you have any links to this practice?
David Stovall Do you have any links to this practice?
If they initially build the basement with ICF they would already have the foam insulation. Kind of stupid to still do form work leaving bare concrete monolithic wall needing a sealant coat before the drainage system is installed, the ICF would have saved a few steps and made the build go a bit faster, but would still use the dimple and french drain system. Seeing as once ICF is installed just as fast as forms and does not need to be removed unless one side was removable board for a bare wall, then there is no need to pay the company for forms which you loose money on anyway.
Any tips on applying dimpled membrane around plumbing that penetrates the foundation wall? Currently adding a french drain to my 80-year old house. My water intake is 3.5ft down in the middle of the wall). Do I just need to cut the dimplemat vertically? Do you do anything about the seam?
Some day I wanna see someone weld a giant stainless steel bathtub around the foundation wall/floor. Ain't no way water is getting through that.
Did Brian say PVC schedule 40 pipe is "green" at 5:40? Better check that. It's made from petroleum, isn't generally considered recyclable, and has lead, phthalate, VOC, dioxin and chlorine issues. Otherwise, nice work.
Does all this external waterproofing create an issue with moisture internally, with the basement walls? i.e. damp. Is that solved by ventilation? Whats a good system?
What weight fabric do you recommend for a french drain?
Is there any specific type of adhesive, like brand you would recommend and system to spray it onto the wall? Thank you!