Defining Waterproofing a Basement.
The basement waterproofing systems and their working.
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.
The important point to note is the first one in the list above – that big hole in the ground.
When basement walls are constructed there is an area outside the walls that must be filled. 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 continuously seep into this area. Typical ways of waterproofing a basement utilize water drainage pipes that often become silted. The water is naturally 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. 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.
The problem of this type is not easily rectified. The reason is that the pipes which are supposed to take away the excess water are gradually getting deteriorated and worsen over time.
Many times there is simply no access to these pipes which is a huge oversight. To keep water out of a basement waterproofing is also applied to the external walls. 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. 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 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, 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
You want to be sure to choose a reliable waterproofer for your home, keep in mind that it will greatly increase the value by far more than what you initally paid.
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.
This entry was posted on Friday, February 26th, 2010 at 4:29 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.