Mold, odors, water damage to your belongings–these are just a few of the problems a leaky basement can cause to your Sanford home.
Most homes have exterior waterproofing systems installed when they are built, such as french drains and waterproofing compounds. These are useful, but unfortunately, they do not address the cause of most basement leaks. Hydrostatic pressure builds up under your house slab, which causes water to leak through your basements two entry points: the wall or the floor.
As you can see below, basement leaks most commonly occur where the concrete floor slab meets a block wall–an area that can only be addressed from inside your basement.
Why Does Your Home Need Basement Waterproofing?
Floor Seepage
Sanford weather is often severe and can leave its mark on your home. Leaks and cracks in the foundation are common. The weakest part of your home’s foundation is where the wall meets the floor. Typical construction involves installing these two components separately, leaving what is called a cold seam where they join up. Concrete shrinks as it cures, and this can cause gaps inseam to form. Also, groundwater beneath your home can exert enough force to seep through these seams, which can result in flooding in severe cases.
Wall Seepage
Water that seeps into the ground through the soil or a downspout will come in contact with your foundation walls causing wear and tear. The existing waterproofing membranes on their exterior will break down over time. Furthermore, because concrete is porous (and capable of absorbing large amounts of water), it too will break down over time, compromising the structural integrity of your foundation.
Cracks
Basement cracks pose a very real structural threat to your home–even those from normal “settling.” They indicate water is flowing under your foundation and eroding the soil around the foundation.
Efflorescence
Efflorescence is a white, powdery substance that is a by-product of the chemical breakdown of your foundation. Portions of a wall will actually begin to flake away where efflorescence has occurred. You can see this noticeably where walls are painted: the paint will peel away from the wall, exposing the foundation damage.
Our Basement Waterproofing System
Our Dual Pressure Relief System effectively relieves pressure and puts a stop to basement water infiltration. A typical installation process goes something like this:
1. A trench is cut along the inside perimeter of your basement floor, approximately 8-10 inches from the wall.
2. For non-brick or poured concrete walls, the lowest course of block is drilled at each core pocket to release trapped water.
3. The trench is fitted with a Free-Flow drainage pipe and is pitched towards the sump pit.
4. All sub-floor voids are filled in with three-quarter-inch washed gravel.
5. A vapor barrier is installed over the trench and the floor is re-cemented to its original level over the drainage pipe. This exerts pressure on the wall and thus adds stability to them.
6. A submersible sump pump is installed to remove the water collected through the drains and transport it away from your home.
Schedule a Consultation with Our Basement Waterproofing Company in Sanford
Contact us with any questions about our basement waterproofing system and how it can help protect your basement and home. We are glad to provide no-obligation estimates and dedicated to helping you choose the best solution for your Sanford home.
All work is performed by Crawl Space and Basement Technologies trained technicians and each project comes with a Lifetime Warranty. All of our work is fully licensed and insured.
We can be reached by phone at (919) 847-7072 or complete the online contact form to speak with a specialist today!
