Purpose of Residential Basement Floor
Purpose of Residential Basement Floor
(OP)
I plan on installing an interior French drain around the perimeter of my full depth basement and was warned by a contractor that the basement floor should not be entirely cut (or separated) from the basement walls (via the French drain trenching and subsequent slot) because the concrete floor acts as a beam and keeps the bottom of the basement walls from kicking in, much like floor joists.
I'm skeptical of his explanation.
Any truth to his claim?
I'm skeptical of his explanation.
Any truth to his claim?






RE: Purpose of Residential Basement Floor
Hope that helps.
RE: Purpose of Residential Basement Floor
RE: Purpose of Residential Basement Floor
I'm getting water in the basement, mostly through the walls.
The French drain (perforated pipe surround by crushed stone, enclosed with filter fabric) will be installed on the interior perimeter.
In order to install a French drain, I'll have to trench it, thereby penetrating the slab.
In order for water to drain to the French drain, typically a 1/4 to 1/2 inch gap is left open between the wall and the concrete patch atop the trench. This permits the water to drain down off the wall and into the French drain - never making it out onto the basement floor.
An exterior perimeter drain would be much more costly than an interior drain.
RE: Purpose of Residential Basement Floor