Residential Foundation Drain
Residential Foundation Drain
(OP)
Hello. I have read a number of threads here on this topic. Great conversations.
I am hoping that some of you may offer feedback on a proposed foundation drain I am working on. Details as such:
Drain is exterior to a ~4ft foundation stem wall (~3ft wall on a~1ft footing). Surrounding soil is clay (Buffalo NY area) - when wet it will stick to your boots inches thick and can be wadded into balls like play doh.
4" SDR35 perforated pipe will be laid so that it's invert lies along the top half of the footing (putting it well below the top edge of the interior slab). The pipe sits in a trench ~12" wide. The pipe will be encased with Cariff Drain-Sleeve, a knitted polyester fabric sleeve. The pipe will be bedded in 1-2" of concrete sand, then backfilled with ~1ft of addtl concrete sand. ~6" of native clay soil will cap the sand in the trench, with some organic topsoil on top of that.
A couple of questions:
1) Should geotex fabric (I currently have Mirafi 140N) be placed over the top of the sand, separating it from the clay cap? I currently have this fabric covering the opening on a 4" pipe stub where the drain water enters a sump pit, and the fabric clogs quickly when runoff in the trench accumulates around the pipe opening. This concerns me that the fabric is not a good match for my soil and will clog over time if installed as part of the drainage system.
2) Could Mason Sand be used for any part of this design? I have a ton of it but don't know if it would perform adequately in this drainage situation.
Much obliged for any feedback offered.
Mike
I am hoping that some of you may offer feedback on a proposed foundation drain I am working on. Details as such:
Drain is exterior to a ~4ft foundation stem wall (~3ft wall on a~1ft footing). Surrounding soil is clay (Buffalo NY area) - when wet it will stick to your boots inches thick and can be wadded into balls like play doh.
4" SDR35 perforated pipe will be laid so that it's invert lies along the top half of the footing (putting it well below the top edge of the interior slab). The pipe sits in a trench ~12" wide. The pipe will be encased with Cariff Drain-Sleeve, a knitted polyester fabric sleeve. The pipe will be bedded in 1-2" of concrete sand, then backfilled with ~1ft of addtl concrete sand. ~6" of native clay soil will cap the sand in the trench, with some organic topsoil on top of that.
A couple of questions:
1) Should geotex fabric (I currently have Mirafi 140N) be placed over the top of the sand, separating it from the clay cap? I currently have this fabric covering the opening on a 4" pipe stub where the drain water enters a sump pit, and the fabric clogs quickly when runoff in the trench accumulates around the pipe opening. This concerns me that the fabric is not a good match for my soil and will clog over time if installed as part of the drainage system.
2) Could Mason Sand be used for any part of this design? I have a ton of it but don't know if it would perform adequately in this drainage situation.
Much obliged for any feedback offered.
Mike





RE: Residential Foundation Drain
It is refreshing to see drain system proposed that didn't call for clean stone backfill and explains also all the features planned.
RE: Residential Foundation Drain
Thanks for the thoughts on use of the filter fabric vs. not, as well as the usage of mason sand.
RE: Residential Foundation Drain
Water goes to a sump pit within generally.
Dik
RE: Residential Foundation Drain
As an alternative drain design, I considered putting clean stone around the perf pipe, wrapped in geotex (Mirafi 140N), then covered with ~6" of concrete sand (as a prefilter for the geotex).
RE: Residential Foundation Drain
Dik
RE: Residential Foundation Drain
RE: Residential Foundation Drain
Dik