Posts Tagged ‘waterproofing a basement’

Defining Waterproofing a Basement.

Sunday, January 25th, 2009

What are basement waterproofing systems and how do they work? Let’s take a look at the time and tested waterproofing of basement and how it works.

If you imagine how a basement is first built, when the house it is sited in was first conceived, then basically the following happens. A big hole in the ground is dug, the footer or foundations are laid, the walls of the basement are built and then the rest of the house follows.

From this list the most vital point is the top one – the vast crater dug in the earth

When basement walls are constructed there is an area outside the walls that must be filled. Loose backfill is what is used to fill this void. The problem here is that water looks for the path of least resistance, and you’ve just given it just that with a huge pile of loose backfill, no matter how well it’s been compacted.

This area is going to have water constantly seeping into it. The conventional way of waterproofing a basement provides some form of drainage pipe for this water to drain away, but the problem with this is that often these pipes get silted up. It’s natural enough, the water is bringing all sorts of suspension with it. The system can overload if the pipes get over-filled and then the pressure of the built up water would be concentrated on the outer basement walls. If there are crevices in the walls, water will push through even if the basement walls are waterproofed.

This kind of situation is persistent because the tubes that should drain the excess water eventually deteriorate.

A huge problem is that often there isn’t access to these pipes. Basement waterproofing is also applied to the external walls of the basement to try and keep the water out. This is also called a tanked system.

The drained cavity basement waterproofing system is a better system that works by getting rid of water pressure in the walls. To protect the property water is controlled, collected and then made to pass through hidden drainage channels which are either natural drainage or sump pumps.

To Waterproof a basement is reputedly a better system when installed internally, having easy access ports for removing any silt and can be applied to basements where traditional tanking or other methods have failed but with minimal disturbance to the original basement.

So to summarise, a good basement waterproofing system will:

- usually be a permanent or long-term solution
– stop both ways by which water can enter through the walls and up from the floor
– not disturb landscaping, decks, patios, driveways, etc
– usually be an approved waterproofing method for home loans
– often be substantially cheaper than other waterproofing methods

Choose a reputable basement waterproofer when protecting your home, remember it is economically foolish not to waterproof, because the increased value from waterproofing will definitely exceed the cost of the waterproofing.

In conclusion, you want a basement waterproofing system that will deliver:

- not disturb the exterior appearance of your home
– an approved method by home loan lenders
– more affordable than other methods
– stop water through the floor and walls
– a permanent or long term fix

You should look at waterproofing not as an expense but as an investment in the value of your home.

Waterproofing Your Basement

Sunday, November 2nd, 2008

Basement waterproofing services are everywhere these days. It seems like every week there is a new company fighting to get your business. This sector has become VERY competitive over the past few years. Here are some more tips to help get you started.

What is basement waterproofing and how does it work?

Let’s take a look at the time and tested waterproofing of basement and how it works.

In case you are curious to know how the basement is built, you will see that the idea was first conceived in the design and then the next steps follow. It starts with the digging of a big hole, then the footer or foundations are laid. After the base is done, the walls of the basement are built and then only the rest of the house is constructed.

That big hole in the ground, the first on the list above is important to note.

The construction of basement walls invariably leaves a void on the exterior which requires backfilling. This void gets filled with loose backfill. Well compacted or not, introducing a huge pile of loose backfill is going to cause problems.  Water will always flow in the path of least resistance.

Water will constantly ooze into this area. Typical ways of waterproofing a basement utilize water drainage pipes that often become silted. As the water comes it brings all sorts of suspension with it and that is to be expected as it is natural. When these pipes get filled the system overloads and a lot of water pressure gets applied to the outside walls of the basement. If there are crevices in the walls, water will push through even if the basement walls are waterproofed.

This type of problem doesn’t usually go away because the pipes that are supposed to take away the excess water gradually worsen over time.

Many times there is simply no access to these pipes which is a huge oversight. In an attempt to keep excess moisture out basement waterproofing also can be put onto the outer walls of the basement. This is also called a tanked system.

If you want to find out if you have water inside the concrete block of your walls simply tap a hole into the concrete block, near the floor, and see if you have water coming out of this block then you may want to consider drained cavity basement waterproofing. This system drains the water from your walls, much the same way you just did, by adding drain holes in the bottom blocks that allows those areas to drain into a type of interior french drain system. To move water away from your property; it first must be collected and sent through drainage channels to a sump pump or a natural drainage field.

Waterproofing a basement is when they are installed internally, have easy access ports for removing silt, and can be installed in basements where other methods have failed.

So to summarise, good basement waterproofing will:

  • not disturb landscaping, decks, patios, driveways, etc
  • usually be an approved waterproofing method for home loans
  • often be substantially cheaper than other waterproofing methods
  • usually be a permanent or long-term solution
  • stop both ways by which water can enter through the walls and up from the floor

Choose a reputable basement waterproofer when protecting your home, remember it is economically foolish not to waterproof, because the increased value from waterproofing will definitely exceed the cost of the waterproofing.

In conclusion, you want a basement waterproofing system that will deliver:

  • an approved method by home loan lenders
  • not disturb the exterior appearance of your home
  • more affordable than other methods
  • stop water through the floor and walls
  • a permanent or long term fix

You should look at waterproofing not as an expense but as an investment in the value of your home.

Use these tips to make dealing with basement waterproofing a lot easier. If you follow the basics you will eliminate your problem for a long time.

Waterproofing A Basement

Friday, October 17th, 2008

Although it seems rather easy to waterproof a basement, there are many things that you must consider first. In fact, many of the things that you’ll read about here are not discussed often. Before you buy you start, consider the following tips

What is basement waterproofing and how does it work? Let’s take a look at the time and tested waterproofing of basement and how it works.

In case you are curious to know how the basement is built, you will see that the idea was first conceived in the design and then the next steps follow. It starts with the digging of a big hole, then the footer or foundations are laid. After the base is done, the walls of the basement are built and then only the rest of the house is constructed.

The important point to note is the first one in the list above – that big hole in the ground.

The construction of basement walls invariably leaves a void on the exterior which requires backfilling. Loose backfill is used to fill in the gap. The problem here is that water looks for the path of least resistance, and you’ve just given it just that with a huge pile of loose backfill, no matter how well it’s been compacted.

This area is going to have water constantly seeping into it. The conventional way of waterproofing a basement provides some form of drainage pipe for this water to drain away, but the problem with this is that often these pipes get silted up. It’s natural enough, the water is bringing all sorts of suspension with it. Allowing these pipes to fill up, can result in an overload of the system, which can be catastrophic to the basement’s outside walls. So while the walls of the basement may be waterproofed in some way, water, as you probably already know, will usually find a way through the tiniest of gaps.

This type of problem doesn’t usually go away because the pipes that are supposed to take away the excess water gradually worsen over time.

A huge problem is that often there isn’t access to these pipes. Basement waterproofing is also applied to the external walls of the basement to try and keep the water out. This is also called a tanked system.

A better basement waterproofing system, such as the drained cavity basement waterproofing, works by getting rid of the water pressure on the walls. Water is controlled, collected and allowed to flow through hidden drainage channels either to natural drainage or to a sump pump where the water is removed away from the property.

Waterproofing a basement is a better system when they are installed internally and have easy access ports for removing the silt etc. It takes minimal disturbance to the original basement where traditional tanking or other methods have failed.

So to summarise, good basement waterproofing will:

  • not disturb landscaping, decks, patios, driveways, etc
  • usually be an approved waterproofing method for home loans
  • often be substantially cheaper than other waterproofing methods
  • usually be a permanent or long-term solution
  • stop both ways by which water can enter through the walls and up from the floor

Choose a reputable basement waterproofer when protecting your home, remember it is economically foolish not to waterproof, because the increased value from waterproofing will definitely exceed the cost of the waterproofing.

In conclusion, you want a basement waterproofing system that will deliver:

  • not disturb the exterior appearance of your home
  • an approved method by home loan lenders
  • more affordable than other methods
  • a permanent or long term fix
  • stop water through the floor and walls

You should look at waterproofing not as an expense but as an investment in the value of your home.

As you can see, the problem of basement waterproofing is not uncommon and there are steps that can be taken to make your life a lost easier when dealing with it.

Defining Waterproofing a Basement.

Saturday, October 4th, 2008

The basement waterproofing systems and their working. To answer that question, let’s first look at historically conventional basement waterproofing and how it is supposed to work.

If you can see a home being built the contractor first surveys the lot using the blueprints for the home to be built; then he sights out the lot to find out the best place to start digging and grading the property, then he lays the footer or foundation and begins building the basement walls, lastly the balance of the home follows.

The important point to note is the first one in the list above – that big hole in the ground.

When the walls of the basement are built, there is always a gap left outside the walls which needs to be filled. This void gets filled with loose backfill. The problem here is that water looks for the path of least resistance, and you’ve just given it just that with a huge pile of loose backfill, no matter how well it’s been compacted.

Water will continuously seep into this area. The conventional way of waterproofing a basement provides some form of drainage pipe for this water to drain away, but the problem with this is that often these pipes get silted up. It’s natural enough, the water is bringing all sorts of suspension with it. When these pipes get filled the system overloads and a lot of water pressure gets applied to the outside walls of the basement. So while the walls of the basement may be waterproofed in some way, water, as you probably already know, will usually find a way through the tiniest of gaps.

This type of problem doesn’t usually go away because the pipes that are supposed to take away the excess water gradually worsen over time.

Many times there is simply no access to these pipes which is a huge oversight. In an attempt to keep excess moisture out basement waterproofing also can be put onto the outer walls of the basement. This is also called a tanked system.

If you want to find out if you have water inside the concrete block of your walls simply tap a hole into the concrete block, near the floor, and see if you have water coming out of this block then you may want to consider a drained cavity waterproofing system this system drains the water from your walls, much the same way you just did, by adding drain holes in the bottom blocks that allows those areas to drain into a type of interior french drain system. To move water away from your property; it first must be collected and sent through drainage channels to a sump pump or a natural drainage field.

Waterproofing a basement is a better system when they are installed internally and have easy access ports for removing the silt etc. It takes minimal disturbance to the original basement where traditional tanking or other methods have failed.

So to summarise, a good basement waterproofing system will:

- usually be a permanent or long-term solution
– stop both ways by which water can enter through the walls and up from the floor
– not disturb landscaping, decks, patios, driveways, etc
– usually be an approved waterproofing method for home loans
– often be substantially cheaper than other waterproofing methods

Choose a reputable basement waterproofer when protecting your home, remember it is economically foolish not to waterproof, because the increased value from waterproofing will definitely exceed the cost of the waterproofing.

In conclusion, you want a basement waterproofing system that will deliver:

- a permanent or long term fix
– stop water through the floor and walls
– not disturb the exterior appearance of your home
– an approved method by home loan lenders
– more affordable than other methods,

While you are getting the house made you need to realize that waterproofing is more of an investment in the value of your house rather then an expense.