How to Cut a Basement Perimeter Drain

Mark a line along the perimeter of your basement floor 16 inches from the base of the walls using a piece of chalk. Measure directly from the wall at a 90-drgree angle with a tape measure to make certain you maintain an equal distance, and use a straight edge to keep your perimeter line straight along the wall’s length.

Cover your eyes with a pair of safety goggles, place a particle mask over your mouth and put on a pair of work gloves and ear protectors. Move a walk-behind concrete saw to the line along one of the walls, and position the saw blade in line with the chalk. Start the saw and move it along the chalk line, cutting through the basement slab with the blade. Follow the line along the entire drawn perimeter until you have a cut line encircling the room.

Line the tip of a pneumatic jackhammer with the cut along the edge of one of the walls. Angle the tool slightly toward the wall to avoid cutting into the side of the slab toward the center of the room. Break through the concrete with the jackhammer, working your way along the line. As you move the jackhammer along the edge of the cut line, the slab should break into smaller chunks that are easier to remove. Continue to break the slab along the entire perimeter of the basement floor.

Remove the broken concrete from the floor, hauling it out of the basement in large buckets to clear the space between the slab and the wall. After breaking through the slab, you should be able to see the footer beneath the wall. Measure the space between the footer and the remaining slab with the tape measure. You need 12 inches of space for the perimeter drain installation. If the space is less than 12 inches, mark a new cutting line onto the slab to make up the difference and cut the perimeter with the saw again. Break up the new piece of disposable slab with the jackhammer, and haul it away.