What is a drain tile type and what are its functions?
A drain tile system, also called a French Drain, is designed to collect and redirect water seepage away from the house. Drain tiles can be installed either on the interior perimeter of the foundation or along the exterior as a house is being built. Drain tiles basically consist of a perforated pipe (typically a PVC pipe with weep holes along one side) set in a trench and covered with gravel. Some contractors cover the pipe with a nylon filter sock to prevent the pipe from filling with debris. Usually the water that enters the pipe is then redirected to the sump pump or away from the foundation by gravity flow. Most drain tile systems are designed from the same concept. The differences come in the materials, shape of the pipe, and placement. Differences in Materials and Shape Before the 1950s, drain tiles were made of a red or orange clay material. The original drain tiles had no holes in the pipe, but instead the sections were laid with a quarter-inch space between them to let in water
