French drain installation that keeps water out of the basement.
Water keeps showing up where the wall meets the floor? A French drain gives it an easier path than your basement. Our French drain installation NJ crew cuts the trench, sets the pipe and stone, and puts the floor back.
French drain installation NJ: how the system moves water away
A French drain is a trench with a perforated pipe and stone that collects water before it can build up against your foundation or under your floor. You'll also hear it called a perimeter drain, drain tile, weeping tile or trench drain. The idea is the same: give water a low, easy path and send it somewhere harmless.
There are two main ways to do it. An exterior French drain is buried around the outside of the foundation to catch water before it reaches the wall. An interior French drain is installed under the basement floor along the inside perimeter, where it collects water that comes through the wall joint or up through the slab and carries it to a discharge point or sump.
We've installed both in homes around Warren and Somerset County. The photos on this page are from one of our interior jobs: the floor broken out along the wall, the drain channel and wall flange set in place, and the finished floor patched and painted with drainage board on the wall.
Before any French drain installation, NJ homeowners can check how exposed their area is through the NJDEP flood resilience program. The EPA’s guide to mold, moisture and your home is a good read on why water against a foundation turns into a moisture and mold problem when it isn't handled.
How we install a French drain.
Clean, planned work. We protect the rest of the house and leave the basement ready to use.
Find where water enters
We look at the walls, floor, grading and existing drainage to decide between an interior or exterior system.
Route and discharge
We map the drain path and where the water will go, then give you a written estimate.
Cut and remove
For interior drains we cut the slab along the perimeter and remove the concrete and soil.
Pipe, stone and flange
Perforated pipe or channel and drainage stone go in, with a wall flange to catch water from the wall.
Patch the floor
New concrete is poured and finished over the drain, and drainage board goes on the wall where needed.
Clean up and rebuild
The area is cleaned, and if you want, our crew finishes the basement once it's dry.
Drainage problems we solve.
French drains are often one part of a bigger fix. We can handle the related repairs too.
- Water at the wall-to-floor joint after rain
- Wet or damp basement floors
- Interior perimeter drain systems
- Exterior foundation drains
- Yard drainage and pooling near the house
- Sump pump drainage support
- Related basement waterproofing
- Repairs to water-damaged walls and floors
The repair is where it becomes an upgrade.
Once the drain is in and the basement stays dry through a few storms, the space is ready for the finish you've been putting off.
Because our remodeling crew does the rebuild, you're not handing the job to a second company halfway through. The person who saw the damage is the person who puts the room back together, and if you've been wanting a better layout, new floors or a fresh color, this is the moment to do it.
Keep the drain doing its job.
Send roof water away
A French drain works best when roof water isn't dumped right next to the foundation.
Test the sump pump
If your drain feeds a sump, pour a bucket of water in before storm season and make sure it runs.
Keep the outlet clear
Exterior outlets should be free of leaves, soil and ice so water can leave the pipe.
Notice new dampness
New wet spots after a dry stretch can mean a clog or a new leak. We can take a look.
French drain near Warren and across New Jersey.
We're based in Warren, in Somerset County, and work in homes throughout Union, Morris, Middlesex, Hunterdon, Monmouth, Ocean and Hudson counties. Not sure we cover your town? Call and ask.
French drain FAQs
What's the difference between an interior and exterior French drain?
An exterior drain is buried outside around the foundation and catches water before it reaches the wall. An interior drain sits under the basement floor along the walls and collects water that gets through. The right choice depends on where your water is coming from.
Is a French drain the same as drain tile or a perimeter drain?
Yes. French drains go by many names, including drain tile, perimeter drain, weeping tile, trench drain and sub-surface drain.
Will my basement be usable after an interior French drain?
Yes. We patch the concrete over the drain and clean up. Once it's dry, the basement can be finished like any other room.
Do you give free estimates for French drains?
Yes. We'll look at the basement and the outside of the house and give you a free written estimate.
Where do you install French drains?
Warren and all of Somerset County, plus Union, Morris, Middlesex, Hunterdon, Monmouth, Ocean and Hudson counties.
Often handled together.
Water, mold and drainage problems tend to travel together. One crew can deal with all of them in the right order. All restoration services.
