How to Lay Drain Tile

Drain tile is typically installed when building a new house to prevent water from causing damage to the foundation. Homes that do not have drain tiles may have ground water seep into the basement during times of heavy rains. If your home has problems with water drainage you can lay tiles to force water away and prevent costly repairs to the foundation.

Things You'll Need

• 4-Inch drain pipe
• Pea gravel
• Pipe covering

Instructions

1. Dig a trench about 1 foot wide along the sides of your house's foundation. The trench must be at least 2 to 3 feet deep.

2. Place a 2- to 4-inch layer of pea gravel along the bottom of the trench. Make sure the gravel is as even as possible.

3. Lay the 4-inch drain pipe on top of the pea gravel. The pipe will collect the water seeping from the ground to prevent damage to your home's foundation.

4. Cover the pipe with a material such as felt paper that is used to prevent weeds in gardens. This will prevent dirt and debris from getting into the drain pipe.

5. Place about 4 to 6 inches of pea gravel as backfill on top of the drain pipe. The pea gravel acts as a filter for the water to pass through before going into the drain pipe.

6. Fill in the rest of the trench with dirt to complete the project.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a walk-out basement, you may need to rent an excavator to dig a trench. The pipe being used should be perforated to allow water to properly drain.

• If pea gravel is not used as the base mud and other debris can get into the drain pipe.

References

• Foundation Drain Tile Installation
• Drainage Around the Home