I am considering installing a french drain along one side of the house
that faces an uphill grade with a fairly high water table and heavy
clay soil. On heavy back-to back downpours I have water coming up to
the bottom of the basement slab. It does not intrude inside the
basement because at that poont it is handled by the sump pump, but
would I do better to divert the water away from the slab?

A related question is this: Will I compromise the structural integrity
of the slab/foundation/wall by digging out the perimeter of the wall
all the way down to the footings? The house is 20 years old and has a
solid concrete slab floor and cinderblack foundation walls.

Thanks,
David