Are Interior Drains Better Than Exterior Drains?

When it comes to foundation waterproofing in a city like Bismarck, ND, perimeter drainage is a must. The soil of the region is capable of retaining water incredibly well, meaning that there needs to be a way to drain all that groundwater before it causes damage. There are two types of perimeter drainage systems you could have: interior and exterior drains. The two attempt to do the same thing, but the way they are installed and their overall performance are vastly different. Interior drainage systems are considered to be superior due to their ease of installation and their efficiency.

Because exterior drainage systems are installed outside, excavation is required for installation. The drain is installed around the perimeter of the basement and then the hole is filled back up. Because of the excavation work that is needed, installing exterior drains are a lot more expensive than interior drains. Interior drains, as the name implies, are installed inside the perimeter of the basement. A small trench is excavated where the drain will go, but this crevasse is miniscule compared to what needs to be dug up for an exterior drain.

Exterior drains are often a hassle to maintain because they can easily clog with mud. Because of their design, they can often fail homeowners and cause basement flooding. Compare that to AquaStop BasementGutter™, an interior drainage system that is installed above the “mud zone” and can filter out debris a lot better than exterior drains. Designed to catch groundwater that seeps through the wall-floor joint as well as any water running down the wall, AquaStop BasementGutter™ is capable of doing much more than the average exterior drain.