A leaky Durham basement can cause terrible issues including odors, mold, damage to cherished belongings, structural damage to your house, and the list goes on and on. Odds are your basement has already had some exterior waterproofing system installed when the house was built. This could include a french drain or a waterproofing compound applied to the below-grade walls. Unfortunately, this type of exterior waterproofing system does not prevent hydrostatic pressure from building up under the slab and then causing basement leakage. A basement can only leak in two places. Through the wall or through the floor.
As the illustration below shows, the most common leak that occurs in a basement is where the concrete slab meets the block wall. This area must be managed from the interior of the house. Even if we were to excavate all the soil away from the house down to the footing, we still could not address this joint that leaks.
Common Durham Basement Water Problems
1) Floor Seepage
North Carolina weather is often severe, and it can take quite a toll on your home, especially by causing leaks and cracks in your foundation. The weakest part of your foundation is where the wall and floor meet. The walls are installed over what is known as the footer before the floor is poured, causing cold seams where the concrete has voids. The floor also shrinks when it cures, causing gaps between these separate parts. The force of ground water is strong enough that it can seep in through these spaces, oftentimes resulting in serious flooding.
2) Wall Seepage
When water seeps down into the ground, either through the soil or out a downspout, the first part of your home that it comes in contact with is your foundation walls. Existing waterproofing membranes break down over time, making your home susceptible to seepage. Concrete is a very porous material and is capable of absorbing large amounts of water. When put in contact with water for an extended period of time, a block will lose its structural strength.
3) Cracks
Whether they are on the wall or the floor, basement cracks pose a serious structural threat to your home. Cracks, even those from the normal settling of the foundation, indicate that water is flowing under your foundation and eroding the soil around your home.
4) Efflorescence
This white powdery substance results from a chemical unfolding of the foundation. In places where the efflorescence occurs, the wall actually begins to flake away. This is most noticeable where the walls have been painted. In these places, the paint will peel or flake away from the wall, exposing the foundation damage.
How Do I Get These Issues Fixed in my Durham Basement?
The only effective way to relieve the pressure and to stop water infiltrating is by installing our Dual Pressure Relief System.
Typically, the installation process is as follows:
- The inside perimeter of the floor is cut about 8-10 inches from the wall. A trench is excavated and cleared of all debris
- The lowest course of block is drilled at every core pocket to release and remove the entrapped water. This step is not necessary with brick or poured concrete walls
- A drainage pipe is laid in the trench and pitched towards the sump pit(s). All subfloor voids are then filled with ¾” washed gravel
- A vapor barrier is installed over the excavated trench and the floor is re-cemented to its original level over the drainage, exerting pressure against the wall and thereby adding stability to the foundation walls
- To discharge the water collected through the drains, a submersible sump pump is installed in each sump pit. The water is then discharged away from your home
Call the Durham NC Basement Waterproofing Experts for an Estimate Today!
Contact us today at (919) 847-7072. You can also fill out our online form to learn more about the benefits of our crawl space and basement services and schedule your free estimate today! We will visit your home to give you the most accurate price point for the job. Our trained specialists will guide you through the options to determine the best solution for you and your budget.
All work is performed by Durham Crawl Space and Basement Technologies trained technicians and each project comes with a lifetime warranty. All of our work is fully licensed and insured.
