Step 2 · Breaking and Trenching the Concrete

This is the step most people slow down on. Take it one move at a time — there’s no rush, and you can rewind the clip as many times as you need.

This is the most physically demanding step. Wearing full PPE (safety glasses, hearing protection, dust mask, gloves), use a chalk line to mark the paths for your drain trenches. Begin breaking the concrete along these lines using a sledgehammer for smaller adjustments or an electric jackhammer for the main trenching. Break the concrete into manageable pieces and remove them from the basement using a wheelbarrow. Once the concrete is removed, use a shovel and pry bar to dig the trenches in the underlying dirt and gravel. The trench must be deep enough to accommodate the pipe and maintain a consistent downward slope of 1/4 inch per foot towards the main drain line. Check the slope frequently with a level as you dig.