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Finished Basement Ideas :: Basement Waterproofing
Basement Waterproofing: Ways to Stop Basement Leaks
For many people a basement leak can be a huge headache. Basement leaks can
be due to many types of structural problems. In order to stop a basement
leak, it is first important to find where the leaks are coming from. There
are some leaks that are obvious such as flooding, however many leaks occur
through either the floor or walls.
When water leaks into the basement through the floor it is usually called a
hydrostatic leak. A hydrostatic leak can occur when the rising and falling
water table under the floor of the basement exerts its force, pushing water
through the floor of the concrete. When water seeps through the basement
foundation it is called capillary leaks and is due to the porous nature of
concrete. Capillary leaks usually form by the seam of the foundation where
the wall and floor meet. There are two major ways to stop hydrostatic and
capillary leaks, one by using a concrete water sealer and the other way by
constructing a drain tile.
Concrete water sealers are an excellent way to stopping basement leaks.
However, keep in mind that concrete water sealer products are temporary and
do not fix the root of your basement leak problem. Concrete waterproofing
products must be used properly to work and maintained each year or at a
schedule determined by the manufacturer.
The long term solution for stopping basement leaks is to install a drain
tile. Drain tiles are usually the permanent solution to drastically reducing
the risk that water seepage will occur in your basement. Installing a drain
tile can be done either externally outside of the house or internally, from
the inside of the basement out. Most people usually install a drain tile
internally due to cost and the relatively low disturbance to the property.
A drain tile is a device that captures water and removes it either through
gravity or a sump pump. Drain tiles require about 12 to 24 inches of
concrete to be removed in the basement and a trench to be dug. A drain tile
is then run to either a sump pump or gravity flow. Surrounding the drain
tile is filter rock, which helps capture water and a mira drain which is
another water reduction product that also helps capture water. Once these
materials are laid, concrete covers up the trench and floor.
With the help of a drain tile, when hydrostatic water tries to force its way
into the foundation, the drain tile reduces the pressure and drains any
excess water away from the basement. If you are looking to stop leaks in
your basement, take into consideration sealing your basement with concrete
water sealers or installing a drain tile. A little prevention can go along
way in reducing headaches and damage from a leaky basement.
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