When would you use a drainage board?

All buildings are susceptible to water damage. Drainage boards allow water that has reached the walls of a structure to flow harmlessly away. Without drainage boards, water can saturate a building’s walls or pool around its foundation.

Drainage cell Board is the lightweight three dimensional geocomposite with flat back which is pressed against an underground structure used for subsurface water management method.

What is a Drainage Mat?

Drain boards or pads help water run off the foundation. Without it, water could get trapped in the concrete or pool at the bottom. Drain pads are designed with dimples that allow water to accumulate and flow away, creating air gaps.

A good drainage pad will also have a polypropylene geotextile. As the water moves, it carries away fine silt and soil particles. When water stops flowing—such as when it reaches a concrete wall—silt and soil can build up, further increasing the pressure on the foundation. The membrane of the drainage pad protects the pad from clogging with sediment.

What other functions can be used with drainage mats?

Home waterproofing requires a comprehensive solution. In addition to using drainage mats and waterproofing membranes, here are some other waterproofing products to consider:

Once the water runs down the drain pad, what happens next? It's not enough to move the water away from the walls - you need to keep the water completely away from your home or you risk running the water down the basement floor.

Traditionally, the solution has been to install something called a French drain, a concrete pipe that collects water and helps it drain away from your foundation. Unfortunately, French sewers are notorious for clogging or collapsing, which in turn will only make your drainage problems worse when water accumulates.

Drain tiles and rollers work on the same principle as drain pads, creating channels that allow water to flow and use a membrane to protect the system from soil and gravel. They are placed at the bottom of the drain board and can be used to direct water downgrades or for mechanical drainage systems such as sump pumps.

Insulating Drainage Mat

Drain pads create air gaps to encourage water flow, which is great. But in cooler climates, that air gap can also trap warm air from a poorly insulated basement. Even if the ground freezes, the warm air will form a thin layer of liquid water on your foundation.

Insulating drain pads do double duty. It provides the hydrostatic pressure protection that comes with any good drainage pad, while also providing the insulating R-value that keeps the basement warm in the air. This, in turn, not only saves you expensive water damage repairs, but also lowers your monthly energy bills.

When looking for an insulating drainage mat, make sure you're looking not only at its insulating properties, but also its compressive strength. Not all insulation materials are designed to withstand the external forces of soil and water, so when choosing a drainage board, make sure the insulation is durable.