Defining basement waterproofing systems.
How do waterproofing systems work in the basement and what exactly are they? For answering that question it will help to first take a look at historically conventional basement waterproofing and the way it was supposed to work.
If you imagine how a basement is first built, when the house it is sited in was first conceived, then basically the following happens:
A big hole in the ground is dug, the footer or foundations are laid, the walls of the basement are built and then the rest of the house follows.
The important point to note is the first one in the list above – that big hole in the ground. When basement walls are constructed there is an area outside the walls that must be filled. Loose backfill is what is used to fill this void. No matter how well the backfill is compacted, it is still backfill and water seeks the places of little resistance.
This area is going to have water constantly seeping into it. The conventional basement waterproofing system provides some form of drainage pipe for this water to drain away, but the problem with this is that often these pipes get silted up. The water is naturally bringing all sorts of suspension with it. When these pipes get filled the system overloads and a lot of water pressure gets applied to the outside walls of the basement. If there are crevices in the walls, water will push through even if the basement walls are waterproofed.
This type of problem doesn’t usually go away because the pipes that are supposed to take away the excess water gradually worsen over time.
Many times there is simply no access to these pipes which is a huge oversight. Basement waterproofing is also applied to the external walls of the basement to try and keep the water out. This is also called a tanked system.
A better basement waterproofing system, such as the drained cavity basement waterproofing system, works by getting rid of the water pressure on 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.
So to summarise, a good basement waterproofing system will:
- usually be a permanent or long-term solution
- stop both ways by which water can enter through the walls and up from the floor
- not disturb landscaping, decks, patios, driveways, etc
-an approved method by home loan lenders
-more affordable than other 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.
This will simplify the use of basement waterproofing systems. Teach yourself the important steps and get an environment lacking problems by visiting a basement waterproofing systems website As with most companies you can now get information on basement waterproofing systems via an online website.
