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:
If you can see a home being built the contractor first surveys the lot using the blueprints for the home to be built; then he sights out the lot to find out the best place to start digging and grading the property, then he lays the footer or foundation and begins building the basement walls, lastly the balance of the home follows.
From this list the most vital point is the top one - the vast crater dug in the earth
When the walls of the basement are built, there is always a gap left outside the walls which needs to be filled. This void gets filled with loose backfill. The problem here is that water looks for the path of least resistance, and you’ve just given it just that with a huge pile of loose backfill, no matter how well it’s been compacted.
Water will constantly ooze into this area. Typical basement waterproofing systems 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.
This kind of situation is persistent because the tubes that should drain the excess water eventually deteriorate.
A lot of the time a huge mistake is made by not providing access to these pipes. In an attempt to keep excess moisture out basement waterproofing also can be put onto the outer walls of the basement. 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. To protect the property water is controlled, collected and then made to pass through hidden drainage channels which are either natural drainage or sump pumps.
Basement waterproofing systems are reputedly a better system in that 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.
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
- 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.
You should look at waterproofing not as an expense but as an investment in the value of your home.
Start using the waterproofing system for your basement with no hassle or hard work. Teach yourself the important steps and get an environment lacking problems by visiting a basement waterproofing systems website, a website describing the plus and minus points of a water proofing system.