Hello all,

I have a question on adding a french drain around part of my basement
that was re-inforced with vertical steel I-beams. The beams go into the
basement floor next to the wall and touch the wall, thereby holding the
wall up (long story, there was a long horizontal crack, anyway that's
ok now).

I don't want to cut into the floor and weaken the foundations of the
beams. But I might want to add a french drain, as on really wet days it
does leak a little.

So I was thinking of adding a raised barrier, away from the wall an
inch or two, all the way round, skirting the beams where they protrude
out, and then drop down into a regular drain which exists around the
corner.

Wondering what materials to use and to seal the stuff from coming out.
Maybe a plastic barrier sealed in with cement, and then painted with
waterproof paint inside on the side facing the wall?

Thanks for any ideas,

Dean