What Are Basement Waterproofing Systems

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.

That big hole in the ground, the first on the list above is important to note. The construction of basement walls invariably leaves a void on the exterior which requires backfilling. 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. Typical basement waterproofing systems utilize water drainage pipes that often become silted. As the water comes it brings all sorts of suspension with it and that is to be expected as it is natural. Allowing these pipes to fill up, can result in an overload of the system, which can be catastrophic to the basement's outside walls. If there are crevices in the walls, water will push through even if the basement walls are waterproofed.

This kind of situation is persistent because the tubes that should drain the excess water eventually deteriorate.

A lot of the time a huge mistake is made by not providing access to these pipes. In an attempt to keep excess moisture out basement waterproofing also can be put onto the outer walls of the basement. This is often referred to as 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. Water is controlled, collected and allowed to flow through hidden drainage channels either to natural drainage or to a sump pump where the water is removed away from the property.

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.

In conclusion, you want a basement waterproofing system that will deliver:

- a permanent or long term fix

-stop water through the floor and walls

-not disturb the exterior appearance of your home

-an approved method by home loan lenders

-more affordable than other methods

From an expert in the field, not waterproofing can be a dumb an expensive mistake in the future. You should look at waterproofing not as an expense but as an investment in the value of your home.