Defining Waterproofing a Basement.
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. 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. 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 system, works by getting rid of the water pressure on the walls. 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 reputedly a better system when they are installed internally, have 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
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
You should look at waterproofing not as an expense but as an investment in the value of your home.
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- Home Improvemtent is a Minor Undertaking
Tags: Backfill, Basement Walls, Basement Waterproofing System, Basement Waterproofing Systems, Cavity, Drainage Channels, Drainage Pipes, Excess Water, External Walls, Footer, Gaps, Hole In The Ground, Look At The Time, Natural Drainage, Path Of Least Resistance, Sump Pump, Water Drainage, Water Pressure, Waterproofing A Basement, Waterproofing Basement
