Home Improvement

How Foundation Waterproofing Can Keep Your Basement Dry

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From gradual water seepage, to oversaturation and flooding, water intrusion can be a serious problem for any building, and foundation waterproofing is essential to help keep it safe and dry. As with many repair jobs, a damp or flooded basement isn’t a one solution fits all scenario, and only a thorough assessment by a reputable foundation waterproofing contractor such as waterproof lab, can determine the exact extent of the damage and the required treatment, such as concrete pumping service frederick md.

Let’s take a brief look at each possible waterproof solution for a water damaged basement:

Damp proofing

This method is not as comprehensive as proper foundation waterproofing, and doesn’t prevent water from entering the basement through gaps, cracks and holes made during construction. When a building is being constructed, a waterproof coating is often applied to the foundation to keep moisture from the soil out, while a truly effective waterproof treatment should keep moisture and water out.

Typically asphalt-based, a damp proof coating is applied to the outside of the foundation’s walls, and has several drawbacks, mainly that it isn’t capable of sealing large cracks or holes, and involves a risk of damage caused by backfill that is coarse or not properly installed.

Waterproofing paints and primers

When moisture seeps through a basement that hasn’t been treated with foundation waterproofing, it can quickly destroy the bond between the waterproofing paint and the concrete, and while this method may be cheaper and easier to apply yourself, it will never stop water seepage through cracks or porous concrete.

Viewed as a quick, cosmetic fix, waterproof paint and primers are no substitute for a professional foundation waterproofing treatment by a reputable contractor such as waterproof lab.

Exterior drainage systems

Often becoming clogged up with dirt, plant roots and general garden debris, plastic drain pipes installed around the exterior of a foundation can cause water infiltration. Exterior foundation waterproofing when carried out by a professional contractor, involves digging down to the foundation footer to install or replace drainage pipes, and is often referred to as a ‘French drain system’. On some occasions, a waterproof membrane is applied to the exterior of the foundation wall.

Costlier than some other methods because of the need to excavate, it also poses the risk of being crushed during the backfill process and becoming clogged up with silt and debris.

Interior drainage systems

Perhaps the least invasive method of foundation waterproofing, an interior waterproofing system better addresses the forces of hydrostatic pressure; the pressure from groundwater that forces its way through the walls of the basement.

When carried out by a professional waterproofing contractor such as waterproof lab, the interior perimeter of the concrete floor is jackhammered to a sump pump that removes the water.

As you can see, there are a number of different foundation repair schertz tx, and finding the right one can easily be achieved when you consult with the waterproof lab.

 

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