What it is
Interior drain tile is a pipe with holes in it, set in stone along the inside of your footing, under the edge of the basement floor. It catches groundwater before it can push up through the floor joint and sends it to the sump basin to be pumped out.
In river-valley neighborhoods of Shakopee, Carver and Jordan, and in homes near the area's many lakes, groundwater can sit high in spring. Drain tile is the standard way to keep it off the floor.
Signs you need it
- Water entering along the floor edge, not at a single crack
- Wet floor during spring melt that lingers for days
- Repeated seepage after other repairs
- No sump basin, or a basin that stays dry while the floor gets wet
How the work is done
Remove a strip of floor
About a foot of concrete is cut out along the affected walls.
Lay pipe in stone
Perforated pipe is set beside the footing in washed rock, often with a wall membrane.
Route to the sump
The pipe drains into a sump basin, and the pump discharges outside.
Pour and test
The trench is closed with new concrete and the system is tested.
What it costs
Compare every service in the cost guide. These are rough ranges; the real price comes after an inspection.
Questions
Is drain tile the same as a French drain?
They work on the same idea. Interior drain tile is the term for the system inside along the footing; a French drain usually refers to a gravel trench drain outdoors.
Do I need it around the whole basement?
Not always. Partial systems on the walls that leak are common, especially in walkouts.
Will the floor look patched?
Yes, you'll see a strip of new concrete along the walls. In finished spaces it's covered by flooring.
Read more
- Living near the Minnesota River: groundwater and your basement
- Interior vs. exterior waterproofing: costs and tradeoffs
Related services
- Basement waterproofing: Find where water gets in and stop it for good, from the footing to the window wells.
- Foundation crack repair: Stop leaking cracks and get structural cracks assessed before they get worse.
- Sump pump installation and replacement: Reliable pumps and backups so storms and outages don't flood the basement.
- Window well drainage and leaks: Drains, covers and sealing for window wells that fill with water and leak inside.
Where we serve
We connect homeowners with contractors across Scott, Carver and southwest Hennepin counties, including Shakopee, Chaska, Chanhassen, Eden Prairie, Carver, Prior Lake, Victoria, Minnetonka. See all service areas.