June 23, 2017
As an underground structure, your basement comes into direct contact with soil at each of its four walls. This places it at a heightened risk for flooding and water damage. In order to help prevent any unwanted damages or flooding in your home, it's important to have your basement properly waterproofed. Below, our New York waterproofing professionals at Everdry Waterproofing have compiled a short guide to several basement waterproofing methods. Read on to find The Best Waterproofing Plan for Your Basement, and contact our contractors at (585) 247-7692 today!
Exterior Waterproofing Solutions
Since water will enter your basement from the outside, the most effective way to waterproof your basement is to waterproof its exterior. Waterproofing an underground structure such as a basement from the outside will require a substantial amount digging and installation work. The process itself typically involves excavating soil away from your foundation's exterior on all sides and installing a drain tile system at the base of your property's foundation. The digging itself will require a permit. And since digging a trench several feet deep around your building's foundation comes with a set of inherent risks and difficulties (including collapse), it's usually best to a hire a licensed contractor for this work. Be sure to schedule your contractor at the right time before encountering a trench filled with rainwater, which can be costly and time-consuming to pump out. Your drain tile system will also require a sump pit to be installed so that water can be collected before it's pumped to the surface with a sump pump. Sump pits are either installed outside, below a window well, or inside, beneath the basement floor. While your drain tile system is being installed, an experienced contracting team will repair and seal any areas of your basement's exterior walls that need preparation. This will ensure that no water permeates your wall.
Interior Waterproofing Solutions
When leakage less severe or exterior waterproofing is simply out of the question, interior waterproofing may be used to your basement water-free. Waterproofing a basement's interior works in helping to keep water from seeping in. For extra water-protection, your contractor can also add an interior drainage system to your basement. Interior drain systems work similarly to exterior drain systems, except excavation is much shallower a confined to the interior side of the basement's floor. Perforated drain tile and a sump pit are still needed, as are plastic panels that are installed over leaky walls to help direct water downward to the grate.
Combination Waterproofing Systems
If water damage and flooding is a big concern in your basement, our professionals at Everdry Waterproofing may recommend a combination waterproofing solution that uses both exterior and interior systems to help protect your basement from water. Our combination waterproofing system utilizes all of the features in traditional exterior and interior systems, plus our added components including an E-Z Breathe Ventilation System, Pressure Relief System, and state-of-the-art DuraShield and StablWall products where needed. Visit our Basement Waterproofing Systems page to learn more about our exterior, interior, and combination waterproofing solutions.
Precautionary Plans and Measures
Before investing in an intensive waterproofing construction project for your basement, it's important to first take advantage of several precautionary measures to help keep your basement water-free. Installing properly-placed gutters and downspouts on your building will greatly help to direct water away from your foundation and basement walls, reducing the risk of leakage and flooding. Adding topsoil around the perimeter of your property to achieve a minimum 2% grade is another excellent way to keep water from flowing downwards towards your foundation. Other ways to reduce the risk of water damage in and around your basement include moving plants that require significant watering away from your foundation and installing waterproof window well covers on any basement windows that can't be used for egress. Most importantly, we recommend finding a waterproofing professional in your area to help answer any of your questions and provide you with detailed waterproofing solutions for your property. That way, you'll be equipped to handle current water issues and you'll have someone to call should new ones arise.