What is an Exterior Weeping Tile System?

May 23, 2022

If you have suffered through a basement flood in your home in Kitchener, or feel weary about the structural integrity of your home each time a downpour occurs, an exterior weeping tile system could help strengthen your foundation and give you peace of mind. Here’s how it can benefit your home.

What is an Exterior Weeping Tile System?

An exterior weeping tile system is a porous pipe used to collect and discharge water underground. It acts as a defensive line between water percolating through your walls and foundation. This porous pipe collects water and prevents it from seeping through the walls, floors, and basement ceilings of your home. As they are installed along the exterior of your home, the drain is able to keep moisture from penetrating through your foundation and away from the interior of your home.

How Does It Work?

These tiles are in fact, not tiles at all, although they used to be hundreds of years ago. Nowadays, they typically consist of 4” diameter plastic pipes with holes placed throughout them.  They are then covered in a rot-proof permeable “sock” that prevents the pipe from clogging, and allows it to direct water away from the foundation. It does this by catching naturally occurring groundwater and allowing it to discharge naturally, or into a sump pump if necessary.

How Can I Tell Whether I Need This System for My Kitchener Home?

Whenever the foundation of a basement is dug out and re-filled with the backfill soil, it is extremely imperative that the soil is properly stamped down and compacted in order to alleviate and minimize any potential for ground water percolating through to the foundation of the home. Unfortunately, depending on who you hire and the methods they have employed, this isn’t always achieved. Without the proper techniques, water can easily find its way through and weaken the structural integrity of your home over time.

If you start to notice signs of flooding during a downpour or any significant cracks suddenly occurring in your foundation, walls or ceilings, there could be moisture in your walls and potential for damaged structure.

If you’re living in Kitchener, call a local foundation repair company like The Crack Doctor to consult with and assess the foundation of your home. If they encounter signs of moisture and structural weakness, they can guide you on preventative actions. Combined with an exterior weeping tile system, you can achieve the best course of action for ensuring your home’s foundation remains strong and safe.

With these tips, you will be better prepared to take on a foundation waterproofing project. If you have any questions or require a free foundation consultation on your home, contact The Crack Doctor today!

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