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lei1shear · Sep 2, 2009, 09:14 AM

I have quotes from basement contractors on installing a waterproofing system (french drain dug around interior perimeter of the foundation wall that leads to sump pump). One contractor insists on PVC w 2-6 slits for water to enter, while the other uses perforated ABS of like 120 slits. The PVC user says that ABS is too weak and prone to getting crushed while the ABS user says PVC is too rigid and prone to cracking... plus the water has fewer places to enter. Both pipes would be surrounded by a qravel bed. I'd love to hear advice on pros and cons of the two pipes in this particular usage scenario. Thanks

cyberheater · Sep 2, 2009, 09:23 AM

Where do you live? Do you know what type of soil you have next to the foundation?

What type of water problems are you having?

lei1shear · Sep 2, 2009, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by cyberheater

Where do you live? Do you know what type of soil you have next to the foundation?

What type of water problems are you having?

I live in Northern New jersey. The house we bought had a couple known wetspots in basement. We were planning on refinishing the basement. Given the very wet summer we have had there seems to be more mold/moisture than expected. I've pulled out the old wallboard and linoeluem tile to expose the foundation, which has multiple cracks where water is seeping in. I'm just trying to determine which pipe type (PVC or ABS) is superior in the waterproofing system the contractors are talking about... neither one can give me an objective answer. Thanks for your help

cyberheater · Sep 2, 2009, 09:50 AM

I am not going any further then to give my opinion on the pipe material and only that in this case. I assume you have checked your options for drainage and know about backfilling techniques and have checked out your contractors. There are so many opinions - right?

I prefer PVC over ABS. I have had more problems when snaking ABS. It seems to break easier and if you are going to have the system installed so that you can actually "unclog" the drainage system then I would go with pvc. My concern is also with washed rock on the ABS. PVC seems to be a studier material.

Again - my opinion. There are plumbers on here that would give you more - I am sure.

speedball1 · Sep 2, 2009, 10:48 AM

I agree with Cyberheater. I live in Florida where the sun gets really hot in the summer months. Back in the 60's we were roughing in with ABS. However our sink arms would droop almost to the ground and the stacks would want to lay over the hotter it got.
We had to run stays on everything to keep our rough intact. It vwas O(K after it got framed in but we needed drainage that could hold up under our sun. PVC was our answer. We didn't have to prop up our lateral pipes or tie our stacks to stakes any more.
Now perhaps they've improved ABS since then, I don't know, because we've never used ABS since. I have no reason to believe that ABS wouldn't work in your case, All I'm saying is that down here we don't use it. Regards, Tom

massplumber2008 · Sep 2, 2009, 10:50 AM

Hi all:

In my opinion both contractors are just blowin' smoke here... ;) In fact, both PVC and ABS pipes are rated for this application and BOTH types have a good and extensive history to back that up!

The fact is that if the ground is packed properly and the gravel is placed properly then there should not be any issues to be concerned about here. It's not like people will be driving heavy equipment over the concrete... right?

Go with whichever contractor has the best price and/or the individual you feel best working with. Get references and actually call them.

Good luck!

MARK