“Drain Tile will solve your problem!” Perhaps you’ve heard this statement from someone and are wondering whether or not it’s true. Owning a home can solicit a lot of advice, wanted or unwanted. Friends, relatives, neighbors, and busybodies may try to be helpful by telling you what your home needs.
If you have water or seepage in your basement, the chances you’ve heard this statement are even higher. What is drain tile? When is it used, and what is it used for? Can it help you? Continue reading to find out more and to learn how Basement Repair Specialists can help.
Encyclopedia.com defines “Tile Drain” as “short lengths of concrete or ceramic pipe placed end to end to make a drain, which is laid at an appropriate depth and spacing to remove water from the soil but allowing water to enter at the joints. Nowadays, continuous, slotted plastic piping is often used.”
In short, drain tile is a system that removes excess water. Basements can accumulate excess water from the surrounding ground, causing structural damage. As a homeowner, you want to protect your basement from excess water. Who wouldn’t, right?
Originally named for the clay tiles used to form the pipes of the early drainage systems, today’s drain tile is made out of a variety of materials, including concrete, ceramic, PVC, or ABS. The system functions now in much the same way that it did in the 19th Century, diverting water from an over-saturated area to another area, maybe one in need of water.
In earlier times, farmers were the ones who used drain tile most often. After all, too much water can be just as damaging to agriculture as too little water. Though the system is still used in farming today, modern use extends to the damp basement.
Tile drainage systems existed as early as 200 BC. The idea was brought to the US in 1838 by a man named John Johnston who wanted to make sure his crop didn’t drown. He built his system with a lot of hard work, and a bountiful harvest was his reward. Although systems are simpler to construct today, the resulting basement without seepage is just as rewarding.
The use of drain tile spread as people moved west to claim free land. Some states even helped land-owners pay for drainage systems to increase farming. Use of these systems continued to grow as the population of the country skyrocketed.
Advances in tile installation and materials helped to increase the use of the system. Initially, people dug the trenches with their hands or with the help of farm animals and manual equipment. As mechanized equipment became available, digging these trenches became quicker. As plastics became readily available, the tiles themselves became cheaper and easier to obtain. The use of drain tile has continued to increase through the years.
Luckily, if you choose drain tile, you won’t have to use your own two hands. Basement Repair Specialists will get the job done efficiently, and you won’t have to get your hands dirty.
Drain tile has many uses, both for agriculture and homes. Agriculturally, drain tile is used to remove the excess water in fields. Drain tile can also be used for yard drainage.
In your home, you probably have no desire to irrigate your basement, but nature often has another idea. Water has a way of getting into basements, and drain tile may be the way to get that water out–aside from breaking out the old rusty bucket, that is.
The tile pipes are installed deep under the ground. In the case of your home, these pipes connect to areas where water can get into your basement, leading the water out and away from your home. Trenches or ditches will need to be built to bury the piping. The soil surrounding your home can impact the types of materials used for the system, but there are a variety of materials to meet the needs of each job.
If all of this sounds like too much to think about, don’t worry. At Basement Repair Specialists, we are committed to giving you “A Great Job at a Great Price!®” We will honestly assess your situation and help you determine the solution that is right for you!
Drain Tile has the following characteristics:
There are several solutions to a basement with seepage.
How do you know which solution will best meet your needs? Our experts are trained in a variety of basement services. We will work with you to determine which solution best fits your needs without going over budget.
Drain tile is beneficial because this system can relieve water pressure that could be affecting the floor or walls of your basement. It can also collect the water that might be slowly seeping into your basement and direct it elsewhere.
If you are in the process of buying, repairing, or selling a home with a basement, drain tile might just be the insurance policy you’ve been looking for. You can rest in the knowledge that your basement will be a useful space for storage of precious keepsakes, or the perfect, dry spot for your man cave, without the worry of water damage. Contact us today and let the experts at Basement Repair Specialists help you determine the best way to protect your basement.
For more information about your basement repair needs, visit our Basement Repair Blog.
