Structural

Footing Drain / Drain Tile

Structural · definition

Perforated pipe in gravel along the footing that collects groundwater and routes it away or to a sump, relieving pressure on the foundation.

Source: U.S. DOE Building America Solution Center — Footing Drain Pipe

  • Footing

    The widened concrete base below a foundation wall or post that spreads the structure's load over enough soil to prevent settling. New str…

  • Foundation

    The structure (slab, crawl space, or basement) that transfers the building's load to the ground. Foundation condition underlies the feasi…

  • French Drain

    A gravel-filled trench with perforated pipe that redirects surface and groundwater away from the structure.

  • Flitch Beam

    A composite beam of steel plate sandwiched between wood members, used where a slim but very strong beam is needed.

  • Frost Heave

    Upward soil movement when moisture freezes and expands, lifting shallow footings, slabs, and steps. Prevented by footing depth and drainage.

  • Exterior Waterproofing

    Excavating to the footing and applying a membrane/coating plus drainage to the outside of the foundation — the most thorough (and costly)…

  • Frost Line / Frost Depth

    The depth to which ground freezes locally. Footings must bear below it (in central Ohio ~32 in.) so frost heave can't lift the structure.

  • Expansive Soil

    Clay-rich soil that swells when wet and shrinks when dry, cyclically stressing foundations. A leading cause of foundation cracking and mo…

Where this term fits in a remodel

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