Footer and Foundation

Wet Wall? … Wet Floor?
We can help!

The footer needs drainage. Its just that simple. Well, it takes a lot of work to get down to the footer, but it needs drainage!

Lets look at 2 of the most common types of footer and foundations.

Slab Homes – (monolithic) This is where the floor acts as the footer to hold up the foundation walls. This type of footer is usually 3 to 4 inches thick. Common throughout Florida and Gulf Coast States.

When water finds a way into the house, it usually starts under or around a window. Most people think the window is the problem, but in most cases, its the footer. In the Gulf coast states, the foundation walls are either Block with Stucco or Wood Frame with Siding or Stucco. Water rising UP as it rains more and more. Once there is enough water in the ground, it pushes through the weakest point of the concrete floor. Pressure builds and cracks from, then water has a pathway to enter the home.

To solve this problem, a footer pipe is needed. This pipe lays just along the side and just below the concrete floor. Some people call it a French drain. We call it Footer Pipe. Its perforated pipe surrounded by gravel encased in a geo fabric to keep the sand out of the gravel and the pipe. We also use a product called EZ Flow Drain Pipe. This is 4″ perforated pipe surrounded by Styrofoam Peanuts (like packing peanuts). It actually works a little better than gravel. There are more voids between the peanuts allowing water to rise quickly into the holes of the perforated pipe.

In addition to installing Footer Pipe, we also seal the wall from the footer up a few inches above grade with a liquid rubber compound. Over the years, we have found the best compound to be BlackJack #57 damp proofing roofing compound. We apply this to the area then lay the pipe and back fill.

Now we need a place for the water to go. In most Gulf states and especially in Florida, a sump pump is usually needed. This is because the lots are so level that there is no fall , pitch or grade to drain the water away. The Sump Pump sits in a basin 24″ deep. This allows the water collected by the footer pipe to easily drain into the sump basin an the pump can lift the water up and send it to the street or storm.

A Properly installed Footer Pipe and Sump Pump WILL move the water away from your home! We have been installing this system for many years and even during a Hurricane, the system works to remove water that normally would have entered the home.

Costs of the system –
You can expect to pay from 2100 to 6,000 depending on how much footer needed to be drained and sealed. Also how far the water must be pumped to remove.

Poured Footer – This is 8×8 inches of solid concrete that is pour as the footer all the way around for the exterior walls to be build upon. This is the most common footer in both north and south. Then foundation wall is block to build the home.

It doesn’t matter if its a basement, a crawl space or slab home, this type of footing is most common.

When it rains water rises up from below the footer and enters through the first course of block. Microscopic pathways allow water to enter just under the floor and as more water comes in, pressure builds and finds the path of least resistance. Soon you see small puddles on the by the wall.

To solve this problem, the footer must be excavated, cleaned and Footer Pipe Installed. Its the same for the monolithic slab footer. Drainage is needed!

In crawl space, we can usually work inside and lay the pipe along the inside perimeter walls. Trench and excavate to just below the TOP of the footer. The lay a base of gravel, then perforated pipe Holes Point down into the gravel) the more gravel covers the pipe and fills the trench back to grade.

Now we need a place for the water to go. Again, A Sump Pump is needed. The water from the footer pipe flows through the pipe into the sump basin, which is 24″ inches deep. The pump lifts the water up and send it out.

We also need to drill (Core) a 2″ hole through the foundation block or brick for the discharge pipe from the pump. Once the pipe is outside the foundation wall, it needs to go underground and out to the street or storm

Costs
An Average Crawl Space with 1 wall of footer pipe and sump pump runs 3800.00 Then there is the discharge pipe. This varies greatly due to length of discharge and landscaping, but an average cost of discharge is 1600.00

A Basement can be done the same way, just cut the floor with a concrete saw and install the system.

A Basement can also be sealed from the exterior. Much more costly due to the extensive labor involved to excavate down 8 feet or more. We lay the footer pipe at the footer level and cover it with stone and fabric. Also seal the wall. A Sump is need to lift the water up and send out to the street or storm.

Some Quick Notes for Homeowners – –
Do Not let a BUG Company scare you into letting them install this footer pipe.
Do Not let a handyman install sump or footer pipe.
Do Not let Irrigation Company install this system.
(This is based on 30 years of work. We follow behind this people and redo their work at least once a week)
In addition, be weary of mold and remediation services!!! While sometimes this is needed, Most of the time toxic mold is not present. Again based on 30 years of seeing and hearing homeowners telling us their story.

Drainage is the Key!
Its just that Simple! If you want a dry floor, wall, or any area, Drainage Must Be Installed.

Use our SERVICE SIGN UP SHEET to get on our schedule. Its the fastest way to get service!
Or call us

Florida (Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa, Sarasota, Melbourne)
321-200-0685

Charlotte NC 704-336-9111

Apple Drains
Drainage Contractors

Trusted and Recommended
by Your Neighbors

Over 30 years experience

Over 17 MILLION Views on YouTube

We Wrote the Book on Rainwater Drainage!

Apple Drains