The truth about basement waterproofing

Trying to sort out all the information concerning basement waterproofing can be an extremely confusing process. What is the difference between waterproofing and water control? Why do the majority of the waterproofing companies only want to work from the inside? What is best for my situation?

The majority of waterproofing today is being performed by system companies. System companies may claim to offer different methods, but will always steer you to their method, which is usually an interior water control system. This one size fits all approach to basement waterproofing benefits the waterproofing company more often than the customer. I can think of no other industry that so predominantly utilizes a system approach as opposed to a problem solving approach.

Their remains basically two options available to solve wet basement problems. Interior or exterior. Interior work utilizes drainage inside your basement to control the water that is entering and directs it to a sump pump. This method should never be called waterproofing, it should be referred to as water control. Water control systems allow the water in, in order to pump it back out. Waterproofing is accomplished only by exterior excavation to the bottom of the foundation, installing proper drainage and treating the walls to prevent the water from entering. Let it in and pump it out, or keep it out all together. This is the main difference between waterproofing vs. water control.

Which method is best for your foundation? The overwhelming consensus among professionals outside of the industry, structural engineers, local building department officials, etc. is waterproofing is always the best choice. So why do so many companies in this industry propose water control approaches? The answer is because it is all they do. Water control systems are relatively easy to install. It requires very little in the way of equipment or material. It is fast, and requires minimal labor skills. Water control systems do have their place, however if damp spots, cracking, or shifting of the walls is your concern, water control systems can actually make your problem worse.

When evaluating your specific situation, take a problem solving approach as opposed to a system approach. An honest foundation expert will examine you basement or crawl space to determine the cause of your problem, in order to offer a solution, specific to your needs. A system company salesman is ultimately unconcerned with the cause of your problem because the solution he will present, is the same for everyone. You must be aware that a growing number of water control companies are beginning to propose some outside work, such as shallow outside drainage systems, or exploration trenches. This outside work benefits the customer very little and allows the system company to appear different, and drive up their price. Excavation outside is only effective if you dig to the bottom of the foundation.

Never fall for the discount you will be offered if you sign the contract today. Sign now discounts are nothing more than a sales tool to get you to sign on the spot. Do not make a same day decision, sleep on it. If you feel pressured, show the salesman the door. Shop around, do some research, take your time.

Finally always investigate a companies Better Business Bureau Report. Check with your states Attorney Generals Office for a listing of complaints. Angies list is a good source to find a good contractor. Remember a companies size has absolutely no relation to how reliable or competent the company is.

Thank you,

Steve Allen

http://www.integritywaterproofing.com

Comments


robapacli

Untitled

Informative but lacking a key element. What about new home construction. My first house was located in a sandy area where the water table was 3 feet below the surface.The vast majority of homes in the area relied on sump pumps. I had none . My basement shell was cast ( I was told ) as a single shell. I wish I could have seen the structure prior to pour, particularly the junction between floor and walls. I wonder how they joined the meshes. I doubt if they used rebar although nobody knew. In any event, the basement was dry, although I was told I might have a few problems if the house started to float. When I built my shed at a later house, I welded the rebar for the slab at each joint but the cement guys thought it was overkill. The slab for the house had 2 long sections of mesh which were not joined, rather with a gap in the middle between them. I insisted the gap be removed and the meshes joined by overlap leaving a gap at the walls instead. No cracks in the middle. Subsequently, I researched ferro-concrete boats where I was informed the final test was to go aound beating them with a large sledge hammer. The bunkers for coastal artillery gave adequate support to the stories of the strength and integrity of re-inforced concrete. Try to find a company or builder that can exploit the virtues. Hah!!! Similar to the insualtion problems of houses. A guy built a house of foam plastic with foot thick walls and cut-outs for the windows and doors ( I assume triple or quadruple pane windows ). It took 300 watts to keep the whole house warm. Of course, it was unlivable because of the lack of a heat exchanger for the ventilation. We don't even have heat exchangers on our furnaces , nor basic emission controls to optimize combustion. The gap between what is readily achievable and what is current practice is frightening. Shows what happens when you have Techno-morons running the show in Washington and Wall St.

Last edited Feb 1, 2009 9:37 AM
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Steve Allen
Steve Allen
Integrity Waterproofing
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