FootingShield™ · DC, Maryland & Virginia

Interior French Drain & Sump Pump

FootingShield™ is our interior basement waterproofing system: a perimeter drain collects water below the slab, and a sump pump carries it away from the foundation.

Book a Free Inspection Call 1-833-888-2533

We identify the problem, explain the repair, and give you a written price before we leave.

Standard in every installation:

Perimeter drain
Sump pump
Battery backup
WiFi monitoring

Installed sump basin with discharge pipe, battery enclosure and wall drainboard

How we install your interior French drain

Six stages, carried out by our own crew.

Swipe to follow all 6 stages → · Tap a photo to view it full size.

Basement floor protected with covering and plastic sheeting separating the work area — Step 1 of 6Protect the work areaFloor covering and a plastic partition separate the work area. Concrete cutting still creates dust and noise.

Cut drywall exposing the basement foundation wall and wood framing before interior French drain excavation — Step 2 of 6Cut the drywallWhere needed, we remove the agreed drywall section to expose the foundation wall.

Staged perimeter excavation beside exposed basement framing with existing slab sections retained — Step 3 of 6Excavate in stagesOur SlabSeat™ approach leaves sections of the existing slab in place. The drainage route continues beneath them.

Black drain tile installed in the perimeter trench below retained sections of the basement slab — Step 4 of 6Install the drain tilePerforated drain pipe collects water beside the footing and carries it toward the sump basin.

Clean gravel filling the open perimeter drainage sections along the basement wall — Step 5 of 6Fill with clean gravelClean gravel surrounds the collection pipe; filter fabric helps separate the drainage assembly from surrounding soil.

Restored concrete perimeter beside exposed framing and white wall liner in the basement — Step 6 of 6Restore the concreteReinforced concrete closes the opened perimeter. Wall and floor finishing are identified separately in the agreed scope.

Sump pump setup & testing

We connect the sump basin to the agreed discharge route, test the pump and battery backup, and set up WiFi alerts. At handover, we show you the controls and maintenance checks.

See a basement drainage installation in Manassas, VA →

What affects interior French drain cost?

Drainage length and basement layout.
Access to the work area and existing wall or floor finishes.
Foundation, slab and excavation conditions.
Pump sizing, basin locations and the discharge route.

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Questions about your system

Can a basement leak be fixed from the inside?

An interior French drain can manage water entering at the wall-floor joint or beneath the slab. We check the source first: an isolated leaking crack may need crack repair, an accessible foundation wall for exterior waterproofing, or roof runoff for outside drainage.

Will the sump pump work during a power outage?

The battery backup provides pumping during a power outage. Runtime depends on battery capacity, condition and how often the pump runs. WiFi alerts require a working home network and internet connection.

What maintenance does the sump pump need?

Keep the basin and discharge area accessible, and test the pump and backup as directed by the equipment instructions. Contact us if an alarm sounds, a fault is reported or the pump runs unusually often.

What warranty covers this system?

Interior waterproofing carries a lifetime written warranty. Equipment coverage and exclusions are set out in your written warranty. Read our warranty overview →

Interior French Drain & Sump Pump

How we install your interior French drain

Sump pump setup & testing

What affects interior French drain cost?

Questions about your system

Let’s talk about your home.

Four local branches

Rockville, MDMAIN

Kensington, MD

Ashburn, VA

Manassas, VA