Shingles, Nails, and Beyond

Have recently storms in your area with excessive rain caused water to come into your home through your basement? This has likely caused you to look into how to waterproof your basement and keep that water out for good. Here are 3 methods that can be used for basement waterproofing. 

Exterior Waterproofing System

An exterior system may be necessary when water is coming through the walls of your basement foundation. The process involves excavating the exterior of the house so that the weeping tiles and footings are exposed. The exterior of the foundation walls will need to be cleaned, and cracks in the foundation wall will be repaired with hydraulic cement. Old weeping tiles will be removed from the perimeter of the home and replaced with new material. Gravel will be put in place to help water seep further down into the water table, rather than collect against your home's foundation. 

The exterior of the foundation walls can then have a special waterproofing coating placed over it, which will help prevent water from seeping through. The goal is to create a solid barrier where water will not be able to get through.

Interior Drainage System

If you do not want to dig up around the exterior of your home, it is possible to install an interior drainage system. These systems are great for getting rid of groundwater that currently seeps through a floor. It involves creating a gutter around the perimeter of your basement so that the water goes into the gutter first. The water then is able to safely drain out from the gutter and into the sewer system, which keeps the basement dry from seepage problems. One thing to keep in mind is that the system only gets rid of groundwater seepage that is coming in through the floor, not water that is coming through foundation walls. 

Sump Pump

Another option is to use a sump pump to reduce the ground water levels beneath your home. As the water levels increase from rain, the groundwater is going to become saturated. Pipes will be used to redirect that groundwater into the pit installed in your basement, known as the sump, and then water is pumped out into the sewer system. 

These are just a few waterproofing solutions that will help keep water out of your basement. Schedule a consultation with a professional in your area to help figure out which waterproofing solution will work best for your home based on how water is getting in.