Residential Waterproofing

Ground water has been the root cause of water seeping into basements for over a century. Water seepage and leaks in foundation walls allow water to accumulate in your basement, promoting the growth of mold and fungus

Foundation Issues

Poured foundations are generally smooth and continuous from end to end. They also have a uniform network of tie hole patches. When forms are set to pour foundation walls, the inside and outside forms are fastened together with treaded rod to resist the outward force caused by the concrete when it is being installed.  After the concrete has solidified the ties are removed and the forms are brought down. The removal of the ties causes a network of holes spanning across the entire foundation wall. Installers uses hydraulic cement to patch each hole. If the hole isn’t filled entirely, it will be the weakest link in in the foundation wall, allowing for future failures. In the event of a tie-hole leak, it is recommended that a larger area be waterproofed, as more times than not, repairing a small section will fix the apparent problem and every other tie hole patch will be in question.

Cracks in foundation walls are generally caused by 2 main factors; lateral pressure and concrete shrinking. In some cases these two factors can compound a crack, however it is important to understand that these two factors occur under different circumstances.

• Concrete shrinking;

The amount of shrinking in a foundation wall is dependent on a number of factors, including curing environment, the size of aggregates in the concrete, and the Portland cement content. All of these factors affect the concrete in the same manner as they directly affect the moisture content during the installation and curing process. As the concrete sheds moisture, the concrete begins to shrink. Under some circumstances when a very moist concrete becomes excesively dry during the curing process, vertical and diagonal cracks can form. These cracks can be severe enough to be potential water leaks, in many cases however, the cracks do not span through the entire wall.

Window well issues

• Window wells typically start to cause problems when there is an issue with adequate draining. It is fairly common for leaves and debris to accumulate at the bottom of window wells. This can act as dam, stopping the water from draining properly. In this case a simple remedy is in order, remove all the debris inhibiting the water from draining may solve window well issues.

Window well drains, much like weeping tile can be plugged from silt, sediment and debris. In this situation the options for repair can be limited. Depending on the extent of the plug different methods can be used to bring the drain back into working order. If the majority of the material causing the plug is found in the vertical section, high pressure water jetting the line is an affordable and effective way to bring the line back to working condition. More often than not, the vertical section rinses the material into the weeping tile, and the material accumulates in long horizontal sections of the weeping tile. This situation requires excavation, as a new drainage system is required with preventative measures in place to avoid future blockages.

Downspout or Grading issues

• Often times down spouts that lead to underground cast iron drain lines have shown to cause issues over time. This can result in rain water being channeled in the surrounding soil of the home’s foundation wall. In some instances, underground plastic downspout drains have caused similar issues due to broken or plugged sections.
• Grading issues around a home can be seen when the surrounding ground or landscape are sloped towards the house. As water begins to accumulate and drive towards the house, any foundation defects or substandard waterproofing becomes evident allowing water to leak into your basement living area.

Sump pump

• A non-functioning sump pump is a common cause for basement flooding. The causes for sump pump malfunction may vary. The most common causes are a lack of maintenance over time allowing debris and sediment to damage the pump impeller.
• High levels of hydrostatic pressure under a home can cause water to be pushed through a basement floor. In this instance the optimal solution is to install a sump system, consisting of a sump pit and discharge pump. The function of the system is to alleviate the buildup of pooling water under your basement floor, by channeling the water into the sump pit. Once water enters the sump pit, it is discharged by the sump pump to a suitable area where the ground water cannot find its way back to your home.

Leaking Pipes

• Leaking sanitary drains causing grey water or sewage to migrate through basement floor or walls resulting in hazardous material accumulating in the basement of a home.
• Leaking water supply lines can be split up in to above ground and underground categories;
  • Under ground water supply lines may leak due to corrosion or in some cases by hot/cold expansion friction when in contact with foundation walls or footings.
  • Above ground water supply lines have been found to leak because of:
    • Impact or abrasion.
    • Nail or screw penetration within a water line.
    • Corrosion due to water turbulence within a pipe.

Above ground water lines can be difficult to find when they are not in plain view. In some cases water lines that have pin hole leaks can in some cases be very difficult to identify, and may also show misleading signs of foundation leaks.