French Drain Systems

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Warrantied French Drain Systems Near Bethesda, Lynchburg, Frederick

Our interior basement drainage solutions will keep your home dry

If you have water leaking into your basement, a perimeter drain could be the right option for you. At Fortress Foundation Solutions, we offer a variety of interior drainage systems to help you keep your basement dry and clean. Our systems fit all types of foundations and floor slabs, and our experts will help you identify the best drain for your needs.

Call us today at 1-844-877-3244 or click below to learn more about how we can help you. We offer free estimates on all basement drainage system installations in Lynchburg, Bethesda, Frederick and nearby.

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What is a French drain?

French drains are also known as:

  • Basement drains
  • Drain tile
  • Weeping tile
  • Footing drain
  • Perimeter drain

This might surprise you, but French drains don't originate from France at all! In fact, the concept was designed by Henry Flagg French in Massachusetts in the mid-1800s. A French drain is not a specific item per se, but rather a name for the space between a basement wall and the concrete slab that allows water to drain outside of the home rather than pool on the floor. Unfortunately, traditional French drains clog easily and often struggle to thoroughly remove water.

Our basement drain systems take this drainage concept to the next level by using a wall flange that allows seepage to enter the drain and collects water off the walls to easily funnel it away from your foundation. Our drain systems also prevent debris from entering the drainage area and provide a clean finished appearance on your floor.

Which French drain system works best for you?

Different problems call for different tools to fix them. In the same way that we wouldn't use a hammer to drive in a screw, we do not use the same drain system for every basement waterproofing job we complete.

Each of our drainage systems is designed to address a different, unique challenge that you may be facing. Some of these challenges involve the way your home has been designed, while others address unusual basement water issues, such as iron ochre. We offer a wide selection of French drain systems to choose from:

WaterGuard® Below Floor Drain
The WaterGuard® basement drain system.

For a typical basement, our WaterGuard® system is the ideal choice for waterproofing. This French drain is designed to be installed below the floor slab, resting on top of the foundation footing. This keeps the drainage system out of the "mud zone", where drains can clog. WaterGuard® is installed with minimal invasion of the slab, and all concrete is restored after installation.

The WaterGuard® system collects water that seeps through basement walls and drains it to your sump pump. The system installs quickly and has a clean finished appearance, meaning you don't have to worry about having an unsightly drain around the basement. WaterGuard® works for both block walls and poured concrete, ensuring that your basement remains dry in all situations. This product also comes with a written lifetime warranty.

FlowGuard® Thin Floor Drain System
The WaterGuard® IOS (Iron Ochre System) Drain Tile

Sometimes the concrete floor in a basement is too thin for a drain to be installed on top of the footer. If we did install it on top of the footer, the drain would stick up past the concrete slab. We usually address this challenge with our FlowGuard® Thin Floor System. This system is designed to sit in front of the footing in a bed of drainage stone. After installation, the concrete floor is restored over the drain.

Like our other drain systems, FlowGuard® includes a wall flange, which extends up the wall to direct any leaking water to your sump pump system. This system avoids the "mud zone" to prevent any clogging issues as well. With quick installation and a seamless finish, you'll be able to enjoy protection from leaks in your basement for years to come.

WaterGuard® IOS Iron Ochre Perimeter Drain
The WaterGuard® IOS (Iron Ochre System) Drain Tile

If iron bacteria is present in your water, it will create a gelatinous, rust-colored substance known as iron ochre. This unpleasant material is notorious for smelling terrible, staining everything it touches, and clogging drainage systems. Our experts tackle this rare problem with our WaterGuard® IOS Basement Drain.

This product is a modified version of our WaterGuard® system that includes an extra-wide drain channel and larger drainage openings. To allow for easy drain system maintenance if clogged, the drain system also includes an exposed, removable lid. This system will protect your home from the nasty appearance and smell iron ochre brings while helping prevent any water from seeping into your basement.

TrenchDrain™ Grated Drain Pipe
The TrenchDrain Grated Drainage Pipe System

For many homeowners, preventing flooding from an outer entryway such as a hatchway, garage door, or doorway is a priority. In this case we use the TrenchDrain™ Grated Draining Pipe to span the opening and prevent water from flowing into your basement. The grated opening of this system is designed to accept water from the floor, where it's then redirected to your perimeter drain and your sump pump.

This system comes with a removable lid to clear any debris that may enter the drain and is compatible with all our perimeter drain systems. The device lays smoothly across the floor to eliminate tripping hazards. We also recommend installing the drain inside the door to prevent debris from flooding in as well as to prevent freezing in the winter. TrenchDrain™ comes with a written lifetime warranty.

TrenchLock™ Drain Inserts
TrenchLock system

Unfortunately, trench drains have the unintended consequence of allowing air from drainage channels and from the ground into the home. This air from the ground may contain hazardous radon gas, a naturally occurring radioactive gas. TrenchLock™ trench drain inserts are specially designed to block unwanted ground air and gasses from entering the basement and ultimately your home.

TrenchLock™ is an insert that can be installed in an existing trench drain to allow water down without allowing air to come up. The system comes with balls that fit over the drainage holes, which create an airtight seal when there is no water. When water enters the drain, the ball floats to allow the water to drain, sinking back into place as the water drains out. This allows the drain to function perfectly without allowing air to enter.

Let us install the drain system you need for your home!

No matter how your house was constructed or what kinds of problems you're facing, our waterproofing products can provide a solution that's ideal for you! Call your local basement waterproofing experts at Fortress Foundation Solutions today to get started with a free estimate in Arlington, Sterling, Silver Spring, Fredericksburg, Alexandria, Rockville, Roanoke or nearby.

our service area

We serve the following areas

Our Locations:

Fortress Foundation Solutions
129 Vista Centre Dr Suite A
Forest, VA 24551
1-434-207-5599


Fortress Foundation Solutions
5305 Jefferson Pike
Frederick, MD 21703
1-301-234-7042
Fortress Foundation Solutions Service Area