Basement waterproofing

Basement waterproofing

Basement waterproofing refers to techniques used to prevent water from entering the basement of a house or other building. Effective below ground waterproofing will include both drainage and sealers.

Waterproofing is needed anytime a structure is built at ground level or below ground. Waterproofing and drainage considerations are especially needed in cases where ground water is likely to build up in the soil and raise the watertable. This higher watertable causes hydrostatic pressure to be exerted underneath basement floors and against basement walls. Hydrostatic pressure forces water in through cracks in foundation walls, through opening caused by expansion and contraction of the footing-foundation wall joint and up through floor cracks. Hydrostatic pressure can cause major structural damage to foundation walls and is likely to contribute to mold, decay and other moisture related problems.

Methods

The three measures developed to prevent this problem differ greatly in ideology and design. The first being interior wall and floor sealers. The other two methods are interior water drainage and exterior drainage combined with waterproofing coatings.

Interior Sealants

Interior sealers will not provide permanent protection from water infiltration where hydrostatic pressure is present. Interior sealers are good for preventing high atmospheric humidity inside the basement, from absorbing into the porous masonry and to prevent spalling. Spalling is a condition where constant high humidity or moisture break down masonry surfaces causing deterioration and shedding of the concrete surfaces.

Interior water drainage

Although interior water drainage is not technically waterproofing, it is a widely accepted technique in mitigating basement water and has generally referred to as a basement waterproofing solution. Many interior drainage systems such are patented as well as recognized by B.O.C.A (Building Officials and Code Administrators)as being effective in controlling basement water. They function by draining underground water from alongside the foundation footers and underneath the basement floor. They then channel it with a French drain, PVC pipe, or through a patented product to a sump pump system, which will then pump the water from the basement. Foundation sump pumps can be installed through do-it-yourself kits, plumber installations, or by a professional waterproofing contractor and generally come in plastic and cast-iron models.

To simplify:

  1. Water enters the home from the basement wall floor joint, where it would normally enter into the house.
  2. A perimeter trench drain such as a French drain collects the water before it enters into the basement.
  3. The drain directs the water to a sump pump.
  4. The sump pump directs the water out of the house.
Interior basement waterproofing systems should be prepared to work in the case of a power outage, the failure of a sump pump, and in the face of overwhelming torrential rain. A proper sump pump, backup sump and/or battery backup sump pump should be installed in a large sump pit with an airtight lid for safety and to keep humidity from seeping through to the basement environment, where it can promote mold growth. Despite widespread sump pump failures, top-of-the-line sump pump systems are more reliable than ever.

Exterior Waterproofing

Exterior waterproofing prevents water from entering foundation walls therefore preventing the wicking and molding of building materials. Waterproofing a structure from the exterior is the only method the IBC (International Building Code) recognizes as adequate to prevent structural damage caused by water intrusion. Prior to the 1980's much of the original exterior waterproofing was actually damp-proofing using a degradable asphalt-based covering. Today, however, Polymer products such as Tremco's Paraseal membrane will completely waterproof an exterior foundation wall. This material has a half life in the thousands of years which makes it ideal for a long term exterior waterproofing solution. Asphalt and tar based compounds are affected by soil pH. and break down after 10-20 years, thus making that type of waterproofing ineffective over time.

Polymer based compounds

Over the past ten years, polymer-based waterproofing products have been developed. Polymer-based products last for the lifetime of the building, and are not affected by soil pH. Polymer-based waterproofing also has the advantage of a low enough viscosity that it can be sprayed directly onto a wall.

External links

* [http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/5807638-fulltext.html Patent for polymer-based waterproofing]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Basement — This article is about the section of a building. For other uses, see Basement (disambiguation). An unfinished basement used for storage and exercise equipment …   Wikipedia

  • Waterproofing — Waterproof or water resistant describes objects unaffected by water or resisting water passage, or which are covered with a material that resists or does not allow water passage. Such items may be used in wet environments or under water.… …   Wikipedia

  • Sump pump — A sump pump is a pump used to remove water that has accumulated in a sump pit. A sump pit, commonly found in the home basement, is simply a hole to collect water. The water may enter via the perimeter drains of a basement waterproofing system,… …   Wikipedia

  • panic merchants — (PAN.ik mur.chunts) n. Media, special interest groups, and businesses that exploit common fears and anxieties for profit, power, or other gains. Example Citation: Now, some not all basement waterproofing companies are bonafide panic merchants who …   New words

  • Installing building insulation — Due to the variety of building insulation materials available and the various building elements that may require insulation, there are a number of ways of installing building insulation.Where to insulateWhere to insulate depends on where your… …   Wikipedia

  • Snowhill — Infobox building building name = Snowhill caption = A view of Phases 3 and 4 from St. Chad s Cathedral building type = Hotel, residential, office and retail architectural style = Postmodern structural system = location = Snow Hill Queensway,… …   Wikipedia

  • The Fullerton Hotel Singapore — Infobox hotel hotel name = The Fullerton Hotel Singapore image width = 200 caption = location = Downtown Core, Singapore coordinates = coord|1|17|10|N|103|51|10|E|type:landmark opening date = 2001 stars = 5 diamonds = closing date = developer =… …   Wikipedia

  • Colorado Plateau — A map of the Colorado Plateau. The …   Wikipedia

  • integument — /in teg yeuh meuhnt/, n. 1. a natural covering, as a skin, shell, or rind. 2. any covering, coating, enclosure, etc. [1605 15; < L integumentum a covering. See IN 2, TEGUMENT] Syn. 1. cortex, involucre, involucrum. * * * Covering of the body,… …   Universalium

  • Piccadilly Circus — is a famous road junction and public space of London s West End in the City of Westminster,built in 1819 to connect Regent Street with the major shopping street of Piccadilly. In this context a circus , from the Latin word meaning a circle, is a… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”