Water should be kept away from your foundation to prevent it from leaking into your basement. This useful solution, however, is not the only way to cure a moist basement. With these foundation waterproofing recommendations from Basement Systems, you can decrease the burden on your sump pump.
What Are the Causes of Foundation Leakage?
From the moment a house is erected, the chances are stacked against it. When a home’s foundation walls are dug to create a place for them, space is left between the foundation wall’s outside border and the dirt surrounding it. This space is then backfilled with excavated dirt to create a loose, fluffed earth surface. Because this dirt is more absorbent than the surrounding unexcavated soil will ever be, a fake water table forms around your home. When it rains, the area immediately surrounding your foundation accumulates more water than everywhere else in most yards.
As the water level rises, pressure is exerted on the foundation walls. Water will travel through the foundation walls in any manner it can, including through foundation wall cracks, the basement or crawl space floor, and, most commonly, the foundation wall-floor joint. Furthermore, water can be forced through porous concrete and grout, causing dampness and humidity in the basement or crawl space.
Water must be kept away from the region around the foundation as much as possible to remedy this problem. If this isn’t practicable, the water must be drained.
Grading of the Foundation Soil
The excavated dirt surrounding the foundation will begin to sink over the course of many years. As it does so, it will form a “dip” in the yard along the foundation’s border, which will collect rain and snow. This causes water to gather around your foundation, exacerbating the problem. If your foundation soil slopes toward your house, you should add dirt to the area until the slope goes away from the structure (this is known as “grading”). This should be thick soil, ideally clay. Adding sand and mulch to your foundation can drain water right through and around it, exacerbating the foundation water problem.
It’s also crucial to make sure the dirt doesn’t extend all the way up to the siding. A four-inch space between the soil line and the siding will prevent it from rotting or becoming a passage for termites and carpenter ants looking to gain access to your home.
It’s also crucial to make sure the dirt doesn’t extend all the way up to the siding. A four-inch space between the soil line and the siding will prevent it from rotting or becoming a passage for termites and carpenter ants looking to gain access to your home.
Downspouts and Gutters
A gutter that is clogged with leaves and debris will be unable to perform its function. Make sure to do periodic maintenance to ensure that everything is running smoothly and properly at all times and that they are screened if feasible to prevent leaves from blocking the drains. However, after your gutters are in good functioning order, you may notice a secondary issue: the water from your downspouts is being discharged straight against your foundation! If this is the case, make sure your downspouts reach as far as away from your foundation.
Downspout extensions are, unfortunately, deemed outmoded. The reason for this is that installing one necessitates the installation of unsightly pipes or other equipment in several locations around your home. These pipes are not only unsightly, but they are also a tripping danger and a continual source of frustration when mowing the grass. Investing in a recessed downspout extension or one that can be buried without clogging with debris can divert water away from the foundation while maintaining the yard’s aesthetics and accessibility.
The Waterproofing Solution for the Foundation
Although foundation soil grading and downspout extensions will assist keep water away from your house, installing a basement waterproofing system along the interior of your basement or crawl space is the best approach to keep your basement dry at all times. Even the greatest downspouts and foundation soil grading in the world won’t keep a severe downpour from flooding your basement if there’s any seeping along the inside. Install an internal perimeter waterproofing system, such as RESTOMEDIC’S WaterGuard, which is an improvement on traditional French drains. It’s also a good idea to employ the best cast-iron sump pump and battery backup sump pump, as plastic sump pumps and do-it-yourself sump pump kits keep plumbers working around the clock when they fail during storms. Basement Systems provide no-obligation-free estimates and inspections. For a visit, give us a call now.
About RESTOMEDIC
RESTOMEDIC is a critical element to finishing a basement because to create a fully functioning RESTOMEDIC is a leader in the basement waterproofing and crawl space repair industry. Contact your local basement waterproofer today!