What's the Difference? Drain Tile or French Drain

Dealing with excess water on your property can be a headache. Pooled water can damage landscaping, lead to flooding issues, and promote mold growth. Installing an effective drainage system is crucial to divert water away from your home's foundation and protect your property investment.

When it comes to subsurface drainage systems, two main options emerge -- drain tile and French drains. But what exactly is the difference between these two systems? And how do you know which is better suited for your home?

Defining Drain Tile and French Drains

First, let's clearly define both terms:

Drain Tile

Drain tile, also called perimeter drain, refers to a system of perforated plastic pipes installed underground around the foundation perimeter of a building. Holes in the piping allow water to seep in and drain away from the structure. Drain tile is buried 2-3 feet beneath the ground and sloped to facilitate water runoff.

Materials for drain tile piping include PVC and polyethylene plastic. Drain tile systems require professional installation and excavation machinery to dig trenches around the foundation.

French Drain

French drains consist of a trench lined with landscape fabric and filled with gravel. A perforated plastic pipe runs through the gravel bed to collect and transport water. French drains are usually 1-2 feet underground. The fabric prevents soil and debris from clogging drainage while allowing water to seep into the gravel. Water then enters the piping through perforations and drains away.

French drains can be installed DIY-style without the need for trenches around foundations. However, some trench excavation is still required to set up the system.

Mechanisms for Drain Tile and French Drain

How Drain Tile Works

Drain tile uses a network of perforated plastic pipes to divert water. When pipes are placed below ground around foundations and sloped downward, gravity pulls liquid into pipe openings. Water travels through the tubing to escape outlets away from the building perimeter.

Weep holes are placed at the footings along foundation walls. This allows water pressure beneath concrete to equalize, preventing cracks or wall damage. Drain tile transports water from the foundation's underside out to daylight.

How French Drains Work

Instead of plastic piping alone, French drains use gravel. When underground trenches fill with small rocks, empty space forms to hold liquid. Landscape fabric wrapped around gravel stops soil intrusion while permitting water flow.

Perforated piping sits at the gravel's lowest point. With holes facing downward, pipe openings have direct contact with the water collected across rocks. The angled slope makes gravity pull moisture into tubing.

Water enters the drain system and travels through to an outlet away from property structures. While drain tile relies solely on plastic pipes, French drains use dual layers of gravel media and landscape fabric to filter and transport liquid.

Main Differences Between the Drainage Systems

Now that you understand how each system functions, let's discuss the key differences between a drain tile perimeter system versus a French drain.

1. Depth Underground

A main distinction is depth below the surface.

• Drain tile piping sits about 2-3 feet beneath foundations.
• French drains average just 1-2 feet underground since system effectiveness is less dependent on depth.

Drain tile requires enough depth for adequate slope and drainage volume away from basement walls or crawlspaces. French drains, relying partially on surrounding gravel, provide more flexibility in depth options.

2. Installation Process

Installing these systems also differs significantly.

• Drain tile installation demands trenching around the entire home using specialized digging machinery.
• French drains only require partial trenches where systems connect --usually 20-30 feet per downspout area.

The narrow continuous trenches of drain tile make for an invasive, complex process across foundations. French drain trenches are wider but shallower and less disruptive overall.

3. Location Flexibility

Suitable locations diverge as well.

• Drain tile DIRECTLY borders foundations for basement/crawlspace moisture protection.
• French drains work NEAR structures diverting groundwater and surface overflow.

Drain tile serves one clear purpose -- keep foundation walls dry. French drains have added flexibility in design to handle various outdoor flooding troubles.

Cost Comparison of Drain Tile vs French Drain

Drainage system expenses can influence homeowners the most. Let's break down what comprises costs for each method.

Drain Tile Cost Factors

Professionally installed drain tile costs between $40-100 per linear foot according to basement size. What drives the price up?

• Excavation machinery to dig perimeter trenches
• Specialized labor for handling piping system
• Foundation depth influencing digging/installation effort
• Drainage volume based on home size and water flow

With so many cost variables, most homeowners hire contractors for drain tile -- which also adds to expenses. Professional services help correctly gauge drainage system requirements.

French Drain Cost Factors

French drain installation ranges from $2-20 per linear foot, with DIY averaging around $7. Cost stays lower thanks to:

• Flexible design with less strict water flow/depth needs
• Partial trenching involving less digging effort
• No specialized equipment or professional crew necessary
• Homeowner DIY installation possible lowering labor fees

For water problems beyond just foundations themselves, French drains provide affordable drainage control with DIY appeal.

Deciding Between Drain Tile vs French Drain

We've explored definitions, mechanics, comparisons, and costs. Now, let's discuss ideal scenarios to utilize each system.

When to Choose Drain Tile

• Water pools near foundations , causing flooding, cracks, or moisture damage
• Yards have poor drainage or flat gradients preventing water runoff
• Extreme weather with heavy rain or snowmelt floods basements often
• Prefer professional installation for roof gutter tie-in and footer connections
• Don't mind extensive excavation and higher cost for foundations-only drainage

When to Choose a French Drain

• Surface flooding issues across lawns or landscaping
• Poor drainage causes soil erosion and landscape damage
• Want to handle downspout overflow from roof gutters
• Need to divert driveway/walkway runoff
• Prefer DIY-installation with flexible design capabilities
• Budget-conscious water control solution