Defining Basement Waterproofing

How do waterproofing systems work in the basement and what exactly are they? To answer that question, let's first look at historically conventional basement waterproofing and how it is 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 the walls of the basement are built, there is always a gap left outside the walls which needs to be filled. Loose backfill is used to fill in the gap. 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. The conventional basement waterproofing 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. As the water comes it brings all sorts of suspension with it and that is to be expected as it is natural. 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. 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. A huge problem is that often there isn't access to these pipes. To keep water out of a basement, waterproofing is also applied to the external walls. This is often referred to as a tanked system.


If you want to find out if you have water inside the concrete block of your walls simply tap a hole into the concrete block, near the floor, and see if you have water coming out of this block then you may want to consider a drained cavity waterproofing system this system drains the water from your walls, much the same way you just did, by adding drain holes in the bottom blocks that allows those areas to drain into a type of interior french drain system. To move water away from your property; it first must be collected and sent through drainage channels to a sump pump or a natural drainage field.


The waterproofing systems for basement are better systems because they are installed internally and have easy access ports for removing the silt etc. It takes minimal disturbance to the original basement where traditional tanking or other methods have failed.


So to summarise, good basement waterproofing 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
- usually be an approved waterproofing method for home loans
- often be substantially cheaper than other waterproofing methods


Choose a reputable basement waterproofer when protecting your home, remember it is economically foolish not to waterproof, because the increased value from waterproofing will definitely exceed the cost of the waterproofing. While you are getting the house made you need to realize that waterproofing is more of an investment in the value of your house rather then an expense.


The waterproofing system for your basement. Learn the essential steps and get a problem-free environment by visiting the basement waterproofing website describing the water proofing system.