WATERPROOFING OPTIONS FOR FOUNDATION REPAIRING
Preventing water from infiltrating foundations necessitates choosing the correct waterproofing method and installing it accurately.
The most painful thing to a residential structure is a foundation problem other than burning down. The foundation is precisely what the house is built on, what holds the building where it was built, shifting the dead loads and the live loads into the earth.
The origin of the vast majority of foundation problems is water. Wet soil underneath a foundation can expand or lose strength.
And that’s only the primary reason to keep the basement dry. Then there’s the slight difficulty of wet, moist basements and crawl spaces that can cause mold and make below-ground internal spaces usually unpleasant. The problem is that conventional concrete is not waterproof. Although uncracked, it will typically keep out liquid water, and water vapor can still penetrate quite quickly. So holding water drained away from concrete foundations and stopping it from moving into the concrete are necessary to a successful structure.
Then, fulfilling our goal of removing any water away and ensuring a dry interior space below grade can be comparatively simple or somewhat involved depending on geographic location, climate, topography, soil/water table situations, and foundation depth. There are three elements of any method designed to keep water out. These are, of the bottom up:
- Drains to push water away from the base of the foundation
- Wall therapy to prevent dampness from passing through the wall and down to the drains
- Soil surface treatment proximate to the building to lead surface water away
And remember that since this will frequently be covered when the construction is complete, doing it right the first time is crucial because coming back to fix it is expensive. For instance, a cracked foundation in a residential house can damage surfaces and furnishings, even the construction itself. Likewise, in a commercial building, water can demolish costly equipment and interrupt vital work. It all sums up to lost capital, wasted time, upset clients, and sometimes lawsuits.
Ways to Waterproof a Foundation:
Check out our basement waterproofing video –
PLANNING FOR CONCRETE WATERPROOFING
Allow ample time for waterproofing. If you’re studying a waterproofing subcontractor, recognize that good water proofers can be in massive demand during the busy period. A Thunderstorm can also delay waterproofing work.
Plan the design of waterproofing well ahead of time. The design elevations will likely show the finish grade line on the basement walls, but those lines should be verified with the architect if required. You don’t need black, gooey waterproofing not above grade. Watch for differences in the level of quality. A line of waterproofing falling at a diagonal from one level to another won’t work if the designer has decided to handle the transition with a retaining wall.
INSTALLATION HINTS
Ideally, you should identify layout lines with a pencil or chalk line, particularly on a complex foundation with changing grades. It might be trustworthy to instruct the water proofer to endure its work so many inches from the top on a simple foundation. You are looking at waterproofing close to the finishing grade as feasible, but no deeper than 6 inches in any case. Don’t neglect form-tie holes that are below standard. Work out whatever you’re going to do ahead of time at foundation windows and bulkheads, balcony foundations, and intersecting partitions that don’t have to be waterproofed.
WHEN DETERMINING WHAT WALLS GET WATERPROOFED, UNDERSTAND THIS BASIC RULE:
Waterproof any foundation wall with the ground on one side and valuable space on the other, including crawl areas. Extend waterproofing at least 12 inches onto bisecting walls that don’t have to be waterproofed. You might need to extend the waterproofing on other walls if it’s a very wet site. Under severe conditions, water has been identified to travel through the keyway accompanying the footing and into engaged space. Consult with the engineer if you have any uncertainties.
Check the waterproofing manufacturers’ literature for temperature modifications. You’re okay applying waterproofing on a calm day if you’re serving with solvent-based stuff. But see if your stock is water-based.
WATERPROOFING CURING TIME
Likewise, check the manufacturer’s specifications for concrete curing time. For every sheet layer, concrete must be kept a minimum of seven days before membrane application, sometimes even longer. That is because the cement will remain dry long after it’s drained. In addition, the water vapor emerging from the concrete can prevent the waterproofing material from bonding. Cement curing conditions for liquid membranes vary considerably.
PRESERVING IN-PLACE WATERPROOFING
Most waterproofing practices need stability during backfilling. Some operators have their protection board for this plan. A drainage mat or covering can also operate as a shield board. An economic, 1-inch-thick, extended polystyrene foam board works fine as an introductory stability course. Nevertheless, one manufacturer has a protection board that operates as insulation, protection board, and drainage medium in one.
When adhering to the shield board, make sure to use an adhesive that’s compatible with the waterproofing layer. We have seen some bonds eat right through waterproofing elements. Besides preserving backfilling, you should safeguard the in-house waterproofing composition from destruction by other operators and trades. Keep artisans from tracking across opened membranes on foundations, decks, or other parallel surfaces.
WATERPROOFING SAFETY
Waterproofing below grade can be critical. Because of the hazards, it’s typically not an excellent idea for anyone to waterproof alone. If you’re using a waterproofing subcontractor, make sure operators follow a written safety plan and comply with hazard-communication conditions. Also, keep other trades and workers well away from the water proofers work area.
Once you determine how to work with waterproofing supplies, you can make real-time without sacrificing protection.
HERE ARE SOME INITIAL SAFETY CONCERNS:
Flammable materials: Many waterproofing outcomes are solvent-based. Keep fire, smoking materials, welding processes, cutting torches, and other ignition sources well away from the area.
Respiration hazards: Use the manufacturer-recommended respirator, particularly with solvent-based elements. In a confined space, you might require an air-fed respirator. Don’t be complacent concerning this. Solvent gases are deadly, and a large surface area of newly applied material can put out a lot of condensation. The steam is heavier than air, so they grow up in a recessed area like a basement excavation.
Skin injuries: Waterproofing elements can carry all sorts of chemicals that can injure your skin. As required, wear protective clothing and gloves.
Injection hazards: Take precautions when operating with or encompassing spray equipment. A high-pressure airless sprayer can inject toxic chemicals directly into your bloodstream.
And much more.
SURFACE MIXTURE METHOD
Don’t sacrifice surface preparation. It would help if you got the basement wall and footing clean, free of loosened material, and relatively stable. Do as much as you can before time: Once you start waterproofing, rhythm is essential, and you don’t want to have to stop scraping loose cement from the footing or cut off a form tie.
Waterproofing materials aren’t meant to cover large voids or honeycombs.
So here are some questions that we get quite frequently:
IS BASEMENT WATERPROOFING IMPORTANT?
You may be wondering if basement waterproofing is worth the cost, but a leaky basement could cause big problems. Even if your foundation has never overflowed, there’s always a risk. So why not do everything you can to prevent this issue? A wet or leaking basement can attract harmful black mold and cause structural damage to your home’s foundation. You’re also putting your belongings at risk by not waterproofing your foundation. Any item in this space could be demolished by water when your basement leaks.
HOW DOES FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING WORK?
Foundation waterproofing isn’t just one quick fix. It is a variety of components that all work together to prevent water seepage into the home. A fully waterproof basement is achieved only through both interior and exterior features. Any splits or holes in the deck, walls, or ceiling need to be filled and sealed with the proper watertight materials. The same goes for any basement windows. To the exterior, the process involves excavating soil that surrounds your foundation to achieve the optimal grade. You want the ground to be sloped so that water runs away from the house and not toward it, effectively moving water from near the foundation. It requires the knowledge and planning skills of an experienced professional, as well as advanced equipment. Lastly, once the soil has been accurately graded, it’s advised that a sealant, often a polymer-based material, is applied to the exterior walls to help keep water out.
DOES FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING BOOST VALUE?
The simplistic answer: yes, it does. Consumers will not buy a home that has a leaky foundation, nor will they want to pay an average market price for one. So showing that you’ve waterproofed your basement will ensure buyers that the home is protected, and they won’t worry about any leaks in the future, allowing you the potential to get more money in the sale.
If you reside in Charlotte, NC, and need a highly experienced foundation repair, basement waterproofing, or crawl space repair company, look no further! HydroHelp911 is ready to renew the life of your foundation or crawl space! Call us toll-free at 704-741-9737.
