- 1). Snap a chalk line or spray paint a line on the basement floor 1 foot from the wall where you want to install drain tile.
- 2). Remove the basement's concrete floor in the area you marked, beginning at the line and working toward the wall. Using an electric jackhammer to tear up the concrete speeds up the process; use it until you get 2 to 3 inches from the wall, and then clear the last few inches of concrete with a hammer and chisel to prevent the jackhammer from unintentionally striking the wall. Wear safety goggles, ear protection and work gloves while using the jackhammer.
- 3). Clear the concrete debris, and then remove soil inside the work area to create a trench that is 1 foot beneath the bottom edge of the remaining concrete floor.
- 4). Cover the walls, including inside the trench, with a waterproof membrane. Allow it to dry for the time specified on its package directions.
- 5). Cover the soil in the bottom of the trench with 2 inches of gravel. Tamp down the gravel.
- 6). Measure the distance between the beginning of the trench and the sump pit, and use a hacksaw to cut drain tile to fit the space. The sump pit is the hole in the basement floor where the sump pump is located.
- 7). Attach a 90-degree polyvinyl chloride (PVC) elbow to the end of the drain tile that will be in the opposite end of the trench from the sump pit. The elbow will provide access to the drain tile to unclog it without tearing up the floor.
- 8). Cover the drain tile with landscaping fabric. It will prevent clogging from soil and debris.
- 9). Lay the drain tile in the trench, with the PVC elbow pointing straight up in the air. Pour gravel into the trench until it reaches a height even with the bottom of the concrete floor.
- 10
Prepare a batch of concrete, and use it to cover the trench. Smooth its surface with a trowel. - 11
Cover the end of the PVC elbow with a PVC cap.
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