Don't Build Like This, Footer Needs Drainage

Every Footer Needs Drainage. Its just that simple. So many general contractors do a great job of building, but do not understand drainage. They don't install footer drains.

When building a new home, INSTALL FOOTER PIPE.

Learn how with out videos.

Apple Drains
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Charlotte NC
Orlando Florida

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footer drain, french drain, sump pump, Apple Drains

[blessed]

Thanks for taking the time to explain! Would have enjoyed seeing the proper way with French drain 😊

[Mike-dbnn]

I have built 151 homes over 40 years in Tucson az and have always dug the footers like in this video as every builder here does. What is more important is to slope the ground away from the house at 2% all the way around the home. If the water moves away from the home no problem.

[Observer]

on and on and on and on ... ABOUT FOOTER TILE. Well, show us the footer tile!!

[frankflanagan]

Here in Washington DC, we put our footer tile in after the foundation is done when we are waterproofing. Good video!

[benbryan]

I showed my buddy this video. We live in Tennessee and we get alot of rain. When I seen his house getting built it looked like this. I told him hey the apple drains dude would say you need footer drainage. My buddy told me no it would be o.k because of what the build company was telling him. 8 months later his hard wood floors are gone. So much water backed up and got in his house.

[prettygirlus]

Thirty years ago in SW FL, I had a 1200sf pre-maufactured house delivered in two halves and the set it up in the air on 10-foot high pilings. The house stays dry and plenty of parking and storage now under the house.

[JoseOrtiz-zxsf]

In some norther states, the foundation is about 42-48" deep, preferably below the frost line and 12" wide. Any additions within 10 feet of the house also need to follow this rule. If you build a detached garage that is farther than 10 feet from the house, then the footer can be 1 foot deep by 1 foot wide, 4 inches above grade. Every state is different, so the best place to know is from the local building department.

[daveozsydney]

really useful.- thanks for taking the time to share

[johnagsmith]

They wouldn't build like that here. Footer has to be below freeze line. Around 3 foot below grade in my area. And they require drainage around foundation.

[gibsonguy]

I added 900 square feet to my 1976 brick ranch home. 30x30. Zero moisture or water anywhere. Built in 2001. No settling, cracks, sagging or any problems.

[kevindouglas]

Where I live in Michigan, even though we get a lot of rain. You often find well drained soil. Some areas only require the proper grade to remain dry. However the foundation shown here would be illegal it wouldn't be very stable in regard to frost heave. It would only be acceptable for something like a garage. Of course it wouldn't be legal for anything more than a shed. For most structures here most people dig about 4 feet 42" being the legal requirement.
In regards to drainage it really should be a case by case thing. Our soil was moved around by the glaciers so conditions are extremely variable.
We even have a type of sand that's resistant to frost heave. We are still legally required to dig deep footings in those locations.

[tclodfelter]

So what DOES a footer with a French drain look like? Where does it go? I always thought a French drain goes around the perimeter at the bottom of the footer to wick/move water pressure away from the foundation? Am I wrong?

[PatriciaAnnGriggs]

That was very educational. Well I started to do a French design at my house. The rain does collect at the fence. So I dug it out about 100ft by myself and now I am going to back off the garage and connect the drain pipe from the garage and the side of the house to the street. I see what you mean about digging in water. I actually don't mind. I wish I could send you a picture. A good rain floods my yard and the neighbors yard like A small lake because the people behind us built up their yard so high all the rain runs in our yard. Thank you for your time

[sealteamryx]

Just formed up a footer on a side job I'm helping somebody with. Here in Salt lake county area ours have to be down a minimum 30" below grade and 10 inches thick. I didn't think about drainage while we were forming but now that I have I will mention it and see if the guys want to put in a French drain

[petertoplak]

I have only seen it being done this way in the USA. In Europe the footer typically would come up at least a foot higher than the ground level. It would be level and smooth. Then there will be a layer of waterproofing membrane on top of the footer to prevent ground water being wicked up by the footer and the wall. (Even concrete can wick up water from the ground through capillary action.) Then the blocks will be laid over the waterproofing membrane. In the US most of the houses tend to sit way too close to the ground.

[charmainehutchinson]

In Bahamas footer must go into the. The bedrock to pass inspection
Standard is 2 ft wide 18 inc deep column steel are placed in footer 15 feet apart for single level 10 feet for 2 story or more

[JL-gtbg]

It would've been great to add an example of the footer drain that you think is ideal. That said, I can go find that info. Thanks for the vid

[tudorgheorghe]

Smoothing footer upper section will be better ? What about creating a key for next pouring upper concrete sections ?

[rtheprizeisright]

This is a big problem in the Philippines they build all the houses like this. and they're hollow blocks they don't fill the joints with mortar and in some cases the blocks aren't straight they look like steps in your house they aren't straight and when you tell the they say we render the level 5 over the front so it doesn't mater if they are straight. But great video you even complimented the workers even though the job maybe sub par,

[francoa.]

Would a poly vapor barrier beneath the footer and beside the first layer hollow block be good protection?