So I've had a pretty significant water leak in my basement. Straycat has been a tremendous help and resource and has hooked me up with a waterproof contractor. He is digging down to the footing, doing some waterproofing, putting in French drains, etc... When I got home he showed me the "French drain" the original contractor put in when the house was built. It was a SOLID pipe!!! No way whatsoever for water to get in the pipe and drain. I want to ask WHY a contractor would do that, knowing it's wrong and won't work but I also have to ask, if they are going to do that, why even bother putting the pipe in anyway? I think if I ever build another house I will act as my own GC and look at every single thing done by every sub.

Be sure that pipe doesn't go to something else!


God Bless,
David B.

That's what I thought. French drain could be under that pipe.

I built my house and what your describing sounds like what I did. I used perforated pipe around the footing and covered with p-gravel. Above that I used solid pipe to drain the gutters.

His gutter downspouts are not connected to any pipe, just extended out from the house.

Glad I could help a little. Frank will do a good job for you.

That's insane.
Are you absolutely sure that solid pipe isn't used for something else?
I've seen stupid, believe me it wouldn't shock me, but it is insane. What kinda moron would use noncoragated pipe for a French drain?

Absolutely positive. He's already pulled out part of it to make sure.

That is so sad.

You should have no problems for a very long time after it's done correctly.

I think you mean "perforated". Perforated pipe could be either corrugated or non-corrugated.

Yeah, yall knowd whut I mint.

Probably an English to Spanish translation mistake.