Here a proper sized, below floor drainage system also called a Hydrostatic Pressure Relief System is shown just prior to cementing the system back up. A 12” deep trench lined with crushed stone with a perforated ADS pipe laid in the center of the trench is topped with more crushed stone and then a dimpled drain board. The drain board is folded up the wall and serves as a vapor barrier to prevent moisture in the drain system from wicking up through the cement as well as a way for water to reach the system in the event there is any penetration from the wall above. This system is connected to an automatically operating sump pump which removes the water to the outside of the home.
Every drainage system requires a method of removing the water. Typically Basement Waterproofing Nationwide utilizes a mechanical method or Sump Pump. The Sump Pump is installed in a liner set below the floor. The typical sump liner or catch basin is 30” in diameter and 24” deep making it the lowest point in the drain system. Sometimes, as pictured here, it is more appropriate to install a smaller sump basin due to space constraints.
Here we have located a compact 12” square PVC box liner that is 24” deep. The installation is compact enabling a solid 12” cover (not shown) to be fitted flush with the floor. In this case, we were able to remove and reinstall the bookshelves over the pump location and the homeowner did not lose an inch of floor space as a result. Neatly plumbing the discharge behind the paneling hides everything from plain sight yet the pump is accessible for testing or maintenance simply by folding a small flap of carpet back revealing the cover. An elegant solution. Also shown is a 4” channel grate which catches any water that possibly pushes in around the basement door eliminating the need to remove and replace the exterior door.
Roof water can aggravate a wet basement problem. Oftentimes diverting the roof water away from the home is a good place to start. Typical solutions usually involve unsightly and clumsy downspout extensions that lay on the surface of the yard extending 10 feet or more into the grass or landscaping. While appropriate in some situations these pipes must be moved each time the grass is mowed and, often, not placed back correctly so they do not function when you need them the most or the next time it rains. There are also so-called “Roll up” extensions that claim to unroll with water and roll back up when it stops raining and the gutters are not directing water to the downspouts. In our experience, these are ineffective and frustrating giving an illusion of help without delivering solid performance and should be avoided.
Basement Waterproofing Nationwide has identified and employed thousands of effective, permanent solutions utilizing a “bubbler pot” product. This hearty, solid PVC basin is set flush with the ground. Water is hard-piped from the downspout to the pot and water ‘bubbles up’ flowing passively onto the grass at the termination point. Each drain is custom designed for the elevation, pitch and landscape details of your yard. Multiple downspouts can be routed to one pot including the discharge of your basement.
This cement block home in Newark, DE was waterproofed using a Below Floor Drainage System including a sump pump as well as a high performance, vinyl wall board to control moisture and seepage through the walls. The combination of these two effective waterproofing systems by Basement Waterproofing Nationwide are guaranteed for the life of the structure regardless of ownership. (See warranty for details.)
This commercial building rests at grade and presented with a complaint of water penetrating the exterior wall at unknown points along its 250 feet in length. A trained waterproofing specialist identified the source of the problem as a seam at grade which had separated from the floor slab over the years. Further investigation revealed severe degradation to a course of block just below the level of backfill. Repair of the wall structurally along with the application of a Bentonite waterproofing membrane and exterior curtain drain were specified and installed.
A basement finished with the Owens Corning Basement finishing System in 2001 complained about a black stain he discovered on the wall upon removing a panel to gain access to a water meter. The inspection revealed no water penetration and, as there was an existing below floor system, Basement Waterproofing Nationwide specified the installation of its high-performance vinyl wall board as a vapor barrier. This vapor barrier was tucked behind the dimpled drain board and secured to the cement block walls.
Often the source of water seepage in a Wilmington, Delaware basement can be the stairway that leads to the outside from the basement. A builder will typically install a small, circular drain in the floor, at the bottom of a set of basement stairs. This drain may lead to a storm drain, sump pump, drywell or, in the experience of Basement Waterproofing Nationwide, too often to nowhere at all. Even when plumbed directly to a sump pump these small drains are easily overwhelmed by quick moving storms and, furthermore, readily blocked by one or more large leaves much like your sink drain is by food and debris.
Basement Waterproofing Nationwide uses high capacity box drains in these applications to yield permanent results. In this case size definitely matters and a 12” box drain is the right size for nearly any stairway drain problem. The grated cover is anti-clog providing enough surface area to catch even the largest volume of water Mother Nature can throw at it. The drain is hard-plumbed into the sump pit for removal outside. Very often it is appropriate to install a channel drain on the interior of the door both as a backup system as well as to avoid replacing the basement door should there be a sealing problem around the door and it is not convenient to replace the door at this time.
Crawl Spaces are unique environments. As the name implies they are areas of less-than-standard height, usually 5’ and below of headroom where access is limited to a “crawl.” There are a variety of reasons builders or designers will use a crawlspace as a foundation to build upon rather than a full basement.
In any event, most crawlspace foundations are substantially different in environments posing unique challenges.
Often Crawlspace encapsulation is a good solution. Here we encapsulate the floors and wall of the crawlspace with a durable and permanent barrier preventing moisture and other contaminants easy access into the crawlspace itself. Once encapsulation is performed correctly we can add a dehumidifier to this space thereby lowering the moisture level and effectively limiting the growth of microorganisms.
Other benefits of Crawlspace Encapsulation include:
There are situations that indicate a building will require more than waterproofing.
When there is a source of surface water runoff that threatens the viability of a building’s use or is simply a nuisance, De-watering systems of various complexities can be employed. The purpose of these systems is to attract, direct and remove the water in question to a more suitable location. Often a Complex De-watering system is used in conjunction with a waterproofing membrane to achieve a measurable result because of the layering of multiple waterproofing approaches.
BWN has been repairing wet basement problems and broken foundations since 1987. We can fix yours as well.
Schedule a free inspection today and we’ll find the solutions that’s right for you.
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