A Primer on Drain Tiles: Basic Components

Vancouver can be damp most of the year due to its proximity to the ocean. Some areas get more precipitation than others. All over Vancouver, however, a popular way to keep damp and moisture out of places where it is unwanted is with the use of a drain tile system. Here is a primer about drain tiles that you might find useful.

A drain tile is perforated, letting water in through the holes to move it away from the area, specifically the foundation, around a property. Buried in a bed of rocks, it helps draw away water. The bed of stones are generally 1.9 cm. in diameter and have been pre-cleaned. Other types of rock and stone which are not recommended include pea gravel and compacted stone, wherein these two types of rock don't have enough space between each other to allow the water to drain.

The drain tile pipe can be any shape though round is most common; diameter varies a lot depending on individual situations; standard is around 10.16 cm., which is normal for foundation tile draining although smaller ones can be found at 5 cm. and much larger at 45.72 cm.

Drain tiles around Vancouver are typically made of plastic such as ABS or PVC or clay. It can be seen in 304.8 cm. lengths, which are then cut by a tile drain service expert in order to fit their purpose exactly. Sometimes seen on-site is ABS or corrugated drain tile, a flexible type of piping that can be anywhere from 100 ft. to 3,000 ft. long.