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Let Our Experienced Contractors Help with Basement Waterproofing Issues

Feb 07, 2018

Water is not what homeowners want to see in the basement. Any amount of moisture in the basement can damage anything stored in that space, ruin finishing materials, and lead to mold growth. If you are having water issues in your basement, you need to get an experienced waterproofing contractor to come in and fix the problem.

With so many DIY waterproofing products on the market, why not do the work yourself?

Every situation is different. What worked for your neighbor or your cousin may not work for your home and your situation. You can spend a lot of time and money on trying multiple solutions to solve the problem. Or you can call in a professional and have it done right the first time.

The Water Sources

Basement Waterproofing SystemsWater can get into your basement in multiple ways. It may be coming through the walls, seeping up from the ground below, or from leaks in your plumbing, or any combination of the three.

A waterproofing contractor is going to start with finding out where the water is coming from. This will tell him what the best solutions are for solving your moisture problems.

A very common source is water pooling against the foundation, then seeping through the walls. This can be caused by negative grading around your home and misdirected downspouts. Even mulch piled too high, too close to the house can also cause water to move the wrong way.

These are easy-to-solve problems that can stop the water seeping. Hydrostatic pressure is not so easy to solve. This pressure comes from the weight of ground water pressing against the foundation. This pressure can cause it to start seeping through the concrete.

The Solutions Recommended

Engineers recommend two techniques for managing water getting into the basement: exterior excavation waterproofing and interior excavation waterproofing.

sump-pumpExterior excavation waterproofing involves digging down and exposing the foundation wall. The waterproofing company will apply a membrane to the exterior wall to keep the water from penetrating. Then, they will lay out drainage tiles or a French drain to capture and move water away from the foundation. This technique can involve one wall in the foundation or several of them.

Interior excavation waterproofing starts by excavating a trench within the perimeter of the basement. Then the contractor installs drainage tiles or pipes to capture and drain the water to a sump pump installed in the lowest point of the basement. The sump pump will pump the water up and out of the basement.

Deciding which technique is best for your home is something you need to leave to the professionals.

The Solutions Not Recommended

There are certain solutions contractors do not recommend for waterproofing your basement. One popular solution with homeowners is waterproofing primer and paint.

The advertisements say that it will solve any problem you might have with moisture leaking through your basement walls. In reality, you are only putting a bandage on the problem. It is still imperative that you find the source of the water and stop it if possible. Plus, the paint and primer can only block the water at a cosmetic level. The water is going to still get in, seeping through where it finds an opening.

Leave waterproofing to the professionals. If you have water getting into your basement, take action as soon as possible. Contact us here at Engineered Solutions of Georgia. We are foundation specialists.