French Drains for Kansas City Basements

Interior french drain systems are the workhorse of basement waterproofing in Kansas City. We cut a narrow channel around the perimeter of your basement floor, lay perforated drain tile, and route everything to a sump pit with a pump. Water gets intercepted at the wall-floor joint — before it ever pools on your floor. For most KC homes with wet basements, this is the most effective and cost-efficient solution.

Interior vs. Exterior French Drains

For most Kansas City homes with wet basements, we recommend an interior french drain. It's less expensive, less disruptive, and just as effective at keeping the basement dry. Exterior drains work too, but they require excavating all the way around the foundation — that means tearing up landscaping, walkways, and sometimes driveways. We do exterior systems when the situation calls for it, but 8 out of 10 times interior is the way to go.

How Interior French Drain Installation Works

Why Kansas City Basements Need French Drains

The heavy clay soil around Kansas City holds water for weeks after heavy rain. That water builds up hydrostatic pressure against your foundation walls and floor — and eventually finds any crack or joint it can push through. A french drain doesn't try to stop the water at the wall. It intercepts it and removes it before it causes damage. That's why it works so reliably in our climate.

Frequently Asked Questions — French Drains