Frequently Asked Questions

A basement drain system is an internal drain system designed to prevent and control ground water that is actively seeping through or penetrating basement walls and floors. The system is designed with a trench, stone and perforated pipe running along the perimeter of the problem areas. The system is pitched and designed to channel the water into a large, perforated container encompassing a sump pump. The sump pump then ejects the water from the house through a pipe that leads to the exterior. This process is the most effective method of preventing ground water from entering your walls and floor and ensuring a dry basement.

Hydrostatic pressure is the force produced when ground water under the basement of a home or building pushes upwards against the concrete floor slab. Hydrostatic pressure is a major cause of basement water seepage and issues.

If you have water in more than one location in the basement, a full or partial drain system will provide more coverage and protection against water intrusion. A sump pump will only capture and eject water from the location it is installed in. However, a sump pump can be a great start if you are not prepared to spend the money on a full system. If you choose to install just a sump pump, then a French drain can be installed and tied in at any point in the future. A sump pump can offer a bird’s eye view of what’s going on underneath your basement floor and if your basement does flood it will prevent the water from getting too high and causing catastrophic damage to areas such as your heating system.

No, pumps can be very different in quality and function. Drycrete Waterproofing uses the highest quality pumps as they are the heart of your basement waterproofing system. Sump pumps are constantly working and submerged in water, and it is vital that they be high quality and powerful enough to eject the water. Our Premium ¾ Horsepower Pump comes with a 5-year manufacturers warranty. It features submersible stainless-steel housing, a cast iron base, silencing check valves, and an independent float switch rated for up to 1 million cycles.

YES All of our sump pumps have a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty. Our drain systems have a lifetime transferrable warranty (dependent upon regular maintenance). We guarantee that your system will not fail due to improper installation or material failure. If it does, we’ll promptly correct the issue. We also offer a 10-year warranty on crack-injections.

On a typical install day, you can expect our team to arrive between 7:00 and 8:00 AM. Set up will take about 30 minutes and our crew lead will review the job with the home owner or property manager. On average, internal drain jobs will have 2-3 dump trucks and 6-7 expert technicians with a goal of efficiency and productivity.

This will vary from project to project and our goal is to ensure the highest level of productivity along with quality. We strive to minimize the disruption to our customers, and using innovative processes and highly trained technicians, be the most efficient company possible.

We accept check, debit and credit cards. A 3% processing fee will be added to charges over $2000 when paying with a credit card. This is a fee charged by the credit card company that we have to pass on to the customer.

Here’s the checklist we provide our customers before their job.

COVER UP!

If we are breaking concrete, cover any personal belongings you do not want getting dusty! This is a dusty process!

HVAC Off!

If you have an HVAC system be sure it’s shut off while the crew is breaking concrete.

5 Foot Clearance!

Any areas our crew will be working should be cleared to give access and room to perform work (5-6ft is the minimum needed, unless otherwise discussed with sales rep)

Check your quote!

Your sales rep may have left some notes for you on items that need to be completed before we come out! (i.e. baseboard heat removal, oil tank removal, bulkhead stairs to be removed, etc.)

Any gas appliances will need to be disconnected prior to our day on site – only plumbers should be doing any disconnection & reconnections!

If demolition is required prior to our arrival, ensure that all work discussed with your sales rep has been completed. When in doubt, you can always contact us with photos to confirm! If any demo is left unfinished, this can add additional time and cost to your project.

Crack Injection specific – 

If demolition is required prior to our arrival, make sure it is completed so the entirety of the foundation wall is exposed- all the way to the top of the foundation to where the floor meets the wall – bottom framing plates need to be removed as well!

If the working area is carpeted, pull back carpet, unless otherwise discussed with sales rep

Slab Replacement & Basement Lowering specific – 

Any necessary permits are pulled and ready before work if you are pulling them yourself – job will be delayed if not approved in time!

• Entire space should be clear and empty (if whole basement)
• If any plumbing work is required, make sure your sales rep is in contact with the plumbing professional.
• If DigSafe is required for your project, make sure this is done at least 7-10 days before start of work to ensure clearance for digging on your scheduled day of work!

The nature of the work does often create some dust during the mixing and pouring of concrete, the installation of crushed stone and other aspects of the process. We understand this is a valid concern to homeowners and we take all precautions to minimize the effects of dust and dirt during this process. Remember to cover up any personal belongings that will remain in the basement and turn off your HVAC system on the day of your project.

In the event of a power outage, a battery backup system will ensure that the sump pump continues to operate and remove water from the home. In New England we are prone to Nor Easters and storms that bring heavy precipitation and high winds. During these periods many homes and areas will suffer. Our industry leading battery backup systems also come with a backup sump pump and Wi-Fi monitoring.

Foundation wall cracks that run vertically from top to bottom are not unusual in homes in New England and are typically the result of foundation settlement. Over time these cracks can expand. We strongly recommend injecting cracks that leak any amount of water. Over time these cracks will leak more and more water and may penetrate your basement walls.

Over the past 10 years we have successfully installed over 4000 basement drain systems. Our process and design takes more time, labor and materials and results in a better outcome. Check out each service page to learn about the specific install process.

We do offer an annual maintenance plan, which we recommend for all of our customers who have sump pumps in order to prolong the life of your pump and system. Please check out our annual maintenance page for more details.

External systems are not a guaranteed solution to ground water intrusion. Drycrete can install a dry-well on the exterior of your house as well as bury and trench your exterior connection to your sump pump if necessary. We do not install french drain trenches on the exterior of a house as we cannot warranty them. We cannot control factors like ground, soils, and exterior landscape that will change over time.

There are no guaranteed reliable products available that can seal a basement floor and prevent water entry long term. The force of the water pressure under the floor is much greater than any “sealing” products and will not stand the test of time. The best way to prevent water from coming through your basement floor is to install a French drain which will help relieve hydrostatic pressure. French drains will also direct groundwater to your sump pump which will then pump water out of your house.

Yes. Vapor barriers are a pivotal component of a complete basement waterproofing system. We install a 14mm antimicrobial vapor barrier called Flexi-Seal tucked behind a dimple board leading into your French drain. This helps control and divert water seepage from walls. We also install Flexi-Seal during slab replacements over a layer of crush stone to prevent your floor from wicking water from the wet soil below.

No. We are a proud and privately owned and operated company. We believe in the highest quality and standards and our outstanding customer reviews support this.

Don’t ask us…. Ask our hundreds of happy customers that took the time to write us amazing reviews. Read about their stories and our history of success. For over 17 years we have helped more than 4000 people see the possibilities of their dirty damp basements!