Services
Interior French Drain & Sump Pump
The most common basement waterproofing method in America — done the engineered way. A perforated drain tile system installed inside the basement at footing depth, connected to a pro-series sump pump that ejects water out and away from your foundation.
Our system, FootingShield™, includes a pro-series sump pump, battery backup for power outages, and a WiFi smart controller — so you know your pump is running even when you’re not home. Lifetime warranty.
Every FootingShield™ includes
4″ Perforated Drain Tile (footing depth)
Non-Woven Geotextile Filter Fabric
Washed Gravel Envelope
Drainboard Membrane
Pro-Series Sump Pump
Battery Backup System
WiFi Smart Controller
Slab Seat™ Restoration
Lifetime Written Warranty
How It Works
Catch the Water. Move It. Get Rid of It.
Interior french drain is a closed-loop system. Water that gets through the foundation wall is caught at the footing, channeled to a sump pit, and pumped far away from your home. Done right, it’s permanent.
Catch
4″ perforated drain tile installed at footing depth captures water as it enters at the wall-floor joint.
Channel
Water flows by gravity through the drain tile, sloped toward the sump pit at the lowest point.
Pump
Pro-series sump pump activates automatically when the float switch triggers — sends water up and out.
Discharge
Water exits through a discharge line that ejects it 10+ feet from your foundation — never to return.
The Sump Pump System
Three Layers of Protection. Even When You’re Not Home.
A sump pump is only as good as its backup. Power outages happen during storms — exactly when you need the pump most. That’s why every FootingShield™ includes pro-series equipment, battery backup, and WiFi monitoring built in.
Primary
Pro-Series Sump Pump
Heavy-duty cast iron pump rated for continuous-duty cycles — far more durable than the plastic builder-grade pumps most homes come with. Built to outlast 3 generations of standard pumps.
Failsafe
Battery Backup System
When the power goes out — and DMV storms make sure it does — the battery backup kicks in automatically. Pumps thousands of gallons on a single charge. Your basement stays dry through the worst nights.
Peace of Mind
WiFi Smart Controller
Get a notification on your phone every time the pump runs. Travel for a week and know your basement is dry. If anything goes wrong — power loss, pump failure, high water alarm — you’ll know before it becomes a flood.
Our Process
8 Steps. Done in 3–5 Days.
Free Inspection
Engineer-trained inspector diagnoses the water source and confirms interior drainage is the right system.
Slab Cutting
Concrete slab cut along the perimeter — leaving Slab Seat™ sections intact every ~6 feet for structural integrity.
Excavation
Excavation down to footing depth (up to 16″ below slab). The drain tile is tunneled under the Slab Seat sections.
Drain Tile Install
4″ perforated pipe wrapped in non-woven geotextile, sloped to the sump pit. Surrounded by clean washed gravel.
Sump Pit + Pump
Heavy-duty sump basin set at the lowest point. Pro-series cast iron pump installed with check valve and discharge line.
Battery Backup + WiFi
Battery backup system wired in parallel. WiFi smart controller configured to your home network and phone.
Drainboard + Restoration
Drainboard membrane installed along the wall. Reinforced concrete slab restoration with rebar dowels and structural epoxy.
Test + Walkthrough
System tested with a full water cycle. We walk you through the WiFi app and answer every question.
What’s Included
Every Component. Every Time.
No upsells mid-job. Every FootingShield™ installation includes everything below — written into your estimate.
4″ Perforated Drain Tile
Footing-depth, geotextile wrapped
Non-Woven Geotextile Filter
Prevents soil clogging the pipe
Washed Gravel Envelope
Hydraulic capacity around drain tile
Drainboard Membrane
Wall-to-floor moisture barrier
Pro-Series Sump Pump
Cast iron, continuous-duty rated
Battery Backup System
Automatic activation during power loss
WiFi Smart Controller
Phone alerts + remote monitoring
Slab Seat™ Restoration
Reinforced concrete, full slab thickness
Lifetime Written Warranty
Transferable to next owner
The Engineering Difference
Why FootingShield™ Beats Generic Interior Systems
Footing Depth, Not Floor Level
Most companies install plastic channels on top of the slab — that only catches water after it floods the floor. Our system goes up to 16″ below the slab, intercepting water before it ever reaches the basement.
That’s a real french drain. Engineered for the high water tables across DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
Slab Seat™ Keeps Your Slab Strong
Cutting a continuous trench around the basement weakens the entire slab. Our crews leave intact ~2 ft sections of slab every ~6 ft — tunneling the drain tile beneath them.
The slab stays bonded to the footing. Structurally stronger than the day we started.
Reinforced Concrete Restoration
When we close the slab, we don’t just pour plain concrete. Rebar dowels drilled into the existing slab, bonded with structural epoxy, reinforced with rebar, then poured to full slab thickness.
The restored sections are stronger than the original slab.
Three-Layer Pump Protection
Pro-series pump, battery backup, WiFi monitoring. Most companies install a single builder-grade pump and hope for the best. We engineer for the night the power goes out during a thunderstorm — because that’s when basements flood.
Pricing Transparency
Honest Price Ranges. Free Written Estimate.
Interior french drain pricing depends on linear footage, basement size, and accessibility. Both tiers include the full FootingShield™ system — drain tile, pro-series pump, battery backup, WiFi controller, and lifetime warranty.
Partial / Smaller Basements
$8K–$15K
One or two walls · Up to 40 linear feet
- Full FootingShield™ drain tile
- Pro-series sump pump
- Battery backup system
- WiFi smart controller
- Slab Seat™ restoration
- Lifetime warranty
Full Perimeter / Larger Basements
$15K–$25K
Full perimeter · 80+ linear feet · Complex layout
- Full FootingShield™ all walls
- Pro-series sump pump (larger HP)
- Battery backup system
- WiFi smart controller
- Slab Seat™ restoration all sides
- Lifetime warranty
Free written estimate · 0% APR financing available through Wisetack
FAQ
Common Questions About Interior French Drain
How long does a pro-series sump pump last?
A heavy-duty cast iron sump pump typically lasts 10–15 years with normal use — far longer than the plastic builder-grade pumps that come standard with most homes (those last 3–5 years on average). Our pumps are rated for continuous-duty cycles, which matters during heavy storm seasons.
How long does the battery backup run during a power outage?
On a single full charge, the battery backup can pump several thousand gallons of water — typically enough for 6 to 12+ hours of intermittent pumping during a power outage. Most DMV storms drop water faster than that, so the backup handles all but the most extreme events. We also offer dual-battery configurations for homes in flood-prone areas.
How does the WiFi controller work?
The controller connects to your home WiFi network and pairs with a smartphone app. You’ll get real-time alerts every time the pump activates, plus notifications for: power loss, battery low, pump failure, high water alarm, and pump cycle counts. You can travel for a week and know your basement is dry the whole time.
Will the interior drain tile work for my type of foundation?
Yes — interior french drain works on any foundation type: poured concrete, CMU block, brick, or stone. It’s installed at the wall-floor joint, so the wall material doesn’t matter. The water is caught as it tries to enter — before it can reach the basement floor.
Does the drain tile clog over time?
Not when it’s installed correctly. The 4″ perforated pipe is wrapped in non-woven geotextile filter fabric and embedded in a clean washed gravel envelope. The geotextile prevents fine soil from entering the pipe, while the gravel creates a high-flow zone around it. We’ve serviced systems installed 15+ years ago that are still clear.
How is FootingShield™ different from competitors’ interior systems?
Three main differences: (1) Depth — we install at footing depth (up to 16″ below slab), most competitors install plastic channels on top of the slab. (2) Slab Seat™ — we leave intact slab sections every ~6 ft for structural integrity, most companies cut a continuous trench. (3) Restoration — we use reinforced concrete with rebar and structural epoxy, most companies use plain concrete patches.
How disruptive is the installation?
Most installations are 3 to 5 days. There will be dust and concrete cutting noise during days 2–3 (excavation phase). You’ll need to keep the basement perimeter clear of stored items. The crews tarp off work zones and clean up daily. By day 5, the basement is back to normal use.
What’s the warranty on FootingShield™?
FootingShield™ carries a lifetime written warranty on the drain tile system. The sump pump and battery backup carry manufacturer warranties (typically 3–5 years), with our installation labor covered for the life of the system. Warranty is transferable to the next homeowner at no charge.
Free Inspection
Get an Engineer’s Diagnosis
An engineer-trained inspector visits your home, diagnoses the water source, and gives you an honest written estimate. Same-week availability across all four branches.
Main Line · 24/7
Four Branches Across DMV
Rockville · Kensington · Ashburn · Manassas
Free Inspection
No obligation · Engineer on-site · Same-week availability