Sunday, October 9, 2011

Basement Water Proofing - Common Methods for Basement Water Proofing


Basement water proofing is the term for ways used to eliminate water from moving into the basement of a residence or any other building. Waterproofing becomes necessary when a structure is constructed at ground level or below ground. Waterproofing as well as waterflow and drainage considerations are particularly needed in cases where ground water will probably build up in the soil and raise the water table. As a result, hydrostatic pressure forces water in through cracks in foundation walls, through openings caused by expansion and contraction of the footing-foundation wall joint and up through floor fractures. Hydrostatic pressure can result in serious structural damage to foundation walls and is likely to contribute to mildew, corrosion and other water related problems.

Here are a few measures developed for basement water proofing:

Interior Sealants

In poured concrete foundations, cracks and pipe penetrations could be the most common entry points for seepage. Most of these openings can be immediately sealed from the inside. Epoxies or urethanes are pressure injected in the openings, penetrating the foundation right through to the exterior, in doing so cutting of the route of the seepage. Most of these repairs can last for long periods. Numerous contractors give 10 year to lifetime warranties on these repairs.

In masonry foundations, interior sealers won't deliver fixed defense against water infiltration in which hydrostatic pressure exists. Interior sealers are good for controlling high atmospheric humidity inside basement, from soaking up into the permeable brickwork as well as eliminate spalling. Spalling is a condition in which continuous high humidity or moisture wear out masonry surface types causing damage and even shedding off of the concrete materials.

If the foundation is made of cement blocks, an interior drain tile technique, mentioned below, can capture the water coming into the block system and drain the water into a sump. Frequently, weep holes are drilled on the lowest length of block, allowing for the water drainage to occur. This technique can provide a dry and moisture free basement for a long time.

Interior water drainage

Although interior water drainage is not really waterproofing, it is a widely approved technique in mitigating basement water as well as being often termed as a basement waterproofing choice. Various interior waterflow and drainage systems are patented and also recognized by B.O.C.A (Building Officials and Code Administrators)to be good at handling basement water. They function by emptying below ground water from beside the foundation footers and beneath the basement floor. Then they channel it with a French drain, PVC pipe, or by using a patented product towards a sump pump system, which will subsequently push the water from the basement. Foundation sump pumps is usually installed by do-it-yourself kits, plumber installations, or by a experienced waterproofing contractors and generally come in plastic and cast-iron types.

Interior basement waterproofing systems should be ready to operate in the case of a electricity outage, the breakdown of a sump pump, plus in the face of overwhelming heavy rainwater. A proper sump pump, backup sump and/or battery backup sump pump needs to be set up in a substantial sump pit with an airtight lid for basic safety and also to retain humidity from seeping through to the basement environment, where it can encourage mildew and mold increase. This airtight process may also lower the risk of dangerous radon gases for moving into the living area.

Exterior Waterproofing

Exterior waterproofing prevents water from moving into foundation surfaces as a result avoiding the wicking and molding of building materials. Waterproofing a structure on the outside is the only technique the IBC (International Building Code) recognizes as appropriate to prevent structural deterioration due to water breach. Before the 1980s, a great deal of the initial exterior waterproofing was really damp-proofing utilizing a degradable asphalt-based covering.
 
For more information on how to get a dry basement, visit: basement water proofing

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