What is the Right Procedure for Foundation Waterproofing?

THE FOUNDATION EXPERTS INC. What is the Right Procedure for Foundation Waterproofing?

Building your property could take years to complete but if not maintained, it could get ruined in no time. The foundation, especially needs to be taken proper care of as it is the roots of your property. You must be wondering what you can do to protect it; the answer is “waterproofing.� When you opt for

foundation waterproofing, you save your property from the negative impacts of water absorptions.

Water seepages are contagious to the life of the structure and to the people residing in the property. Water can lead to the hollowness of the entire structure and in turn, affects the life of

the

building

in

question.

That

is

why

implementing

waterproofing techniques, becomes an essential. Read on, to get a fair idea of the waterproofing process.

 Excavation- The Act of Digging Up The first step towards foundation waterproofing starts with excavating the surroundings. One needs to dig up deep enough to get to the basement wall footings. The process is conducted both manually and by deploying the appropriate equipment to ensure there are no loopholes left.

The process starts with getting rid of stones so that the ground is clear for excavation. In case the soil is loose, an effective shoring process is executed to help the soil stay together. Once the excavation process is completed, the walls that were covered up before are cleared using brushing or washing so that the damaged areas come to light. This is the basic step that is undergone for structural repairs whenever and wherever required.

A summary of the excavation process: ďƒź Clearing the area around the site

 Laying out excavation lines and corner benchmarks  Excavation to the desired depth  Shoring for repairing loose soil

 Repairing- Fixing the Basement Walls Once the waterproofing team has got to the base of the basement wall after the excavation, the basement walls are analyzed effectively. In case, any gaps, holes, or cracks are

visible;

they

are

repaired.

Moving

ahead

systematically is essential so that the underlying issues get resolved efficiently.

The gaps and the cracks are filled in with the hydraulic cement, which, in turn, expands to cover the outer surface of the area it is applied on. This way the cracks will be sealed and protected from water seepage or further dampness around the basement. Another step

would be to make the basement walls even and smooth so that the membrane application is undergone without any hassles.

A summary of the basement repair process:  Brushing and washing the wall  Filling in cracks and gaps  Apply parging coat for damp proofing the walls  Making the foundation wall even and smooth

 Waterproofing

Membrane-Application

for

Protection The next step that follows is to apply a waterproofing membrane. The foundation specialist would move forward with applying a strong waterproofing membrane to make it waterproof. A heavy coat of the membrane is applied or sprayed on the foundation wall in order to restore your peace of mind.

Waterproofing membrane materials such as the asphalt containing polyurethane, or elastomeric membranes are the best membranes available in the market. However,

there are a number of membranes to choose from which, in turn, differ from property to property. One should know that the waterproofing membrane is the best way to protect the foundation in terms of costs savings and efficiency.

A summary of applying waterproofing membrane:  Surface smoothing and cleaning  Prime the surfaces before applying membrane  Applying the membrane in a symmetrical manner  Appropriate flashing for areas of the membrane visible above ground level  Protecting the membrane with an effective mesh

 Installing Drainage Membrane-Shielding the Waterproofing Membrane Next follows the installation of drainage membrane to the outer surface of the waterproofing membrane. This is one important step when it comes to effective foundation restoration. The drainage membrane acts as a protective layer to the waterproofing membrane. It is like a shield

that is dimpled to allow water to drain over to the weeping tiles.

The dimpled drainage membrane is sealed along the ridges after it is applied. A termination strip is applied next, to the drainage membrane so that it sticks appropriately to the foundation walls. Lastly, concrete anchors are applied so that the drainage membrane and the termination strip stay in place.

Summary of applying drainage membrane process:  Install drainage membrane  Sealing the dimpled membrane  Applying of termination strip  Applying concrete anchors

 Installing Weeping Tiles-Giving Water A Place to Flow

Drainage is one of the most essential tasks that every foundation service should incorporate. Installation of proper drainage solutions makes sure that the clogged water moves out from the boundaries of the property you seek to protect. When talking in terms of the best drainage solutions, weeping tiles is the first to come into the mind. A weeping tile is a kind of porous pipe that is capable of distracting underground water away from the property.

The drainage is also known as a French drain and is a grooved plastic pipe with embedded weep holes. Once the weeping tiles are installed around the foundation, it is supported by stones, which, in turn, are larger than the slits. These stones are installed to ensure that the

surrounding soil does not enter the weeping tile through the slits, but the moisture in the soil does.

Summary of installing weeping tiles:  Gravel the floor bed with stones less than an inch  Installing/replacing weeping tiles  Put stones and sand around the weeping tiles

 Backfilling-For Filling in The Hole This is the final step to effective waterproofing endeavors.

Post all the structural repairs and waterproofing techniques execution, putting the soil back into the pit is mandatory. However, it is important to undergo the backfilling process gracefully as the gas lines, and water pipes should not suffer in the process.

Backfilling should be done with clean soil and small stones that are devoid of both the dirt and debris. When you hire a skilled foundation service expert, they make sure what goes back into the ground is the right material. Whether it is the coarse-grained soil, fine graded soil, or the commercial by-products; what goes into the excavated land should be carefully chosen.

Summary of the backfilling process:  Elimination of dirt, debris, water, grass from the pit  Select a blend of selected stones, soil, rocks  Fill the area with the help of an excavator  Compress stone and soil with a compactor  Opt for filling the area in layering format

 Wrapping Up The above-listed process is the right way to go about foundation waterproofing. It may look like a never-ending job, but it is not! When you hire experienced professionals, they make sure the process is accurate and gets completed in a timely manner.