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waterproofing your home
basement waterproofing materials
There are many different types of materials you can use when
waterproofing your basement. The area that you live in affects the
amount of moisture that you will be expecting. Some waterproofing
materials are better suited for some areas than others.
One of the most important things to remember when waterproofing a
basement is to have the land graded properly so that water can
channel away from the house. For approximately ten feet from the
house the land should be graded so that the ground level reduces by
one inch per foot. This should be sufficient in most cases to invite
water to drain away from the home.
When it comes to basement waterproofing materials, you need to
decide what type of waterproofing system you're going to use. French
drains, also known as land drains, can be used to drive water away
from the home. French drains include a system made of gravel,
ditches, and pipe that invite groundwater into the pipe and away
from the basement or foundation of the home. Dirt and routes can
clog this type of drainage system.
Drainage systems, including having a main floor drain in the
basement, are effective in routing water out of the basement. These
systems should be put in place when the basement is first built.
Piping can be placed along the basement walls and under the basement
flooring before the concrete floor is poured. This type of system
can use a sump pump to continually remove water from the basement.
Water is then routed away from the home to an area that is no longer
going to cause a problem.
Sump pumps can be ran on electricity and some have a battery back up
in case of power failure. Routine maintenance should be done on sump
pumps annually, more often if you live in an area that is prone to
water problems. Maintaining the drainage system pipes to prevent
clogging is also important. Gutters and downspouts should also be
checked to make sure there are free of debris.
Other waterproofing materials you'll need for your basement include sealants. Painted
on sealants is one way of waterproofing a basement. This shouldn’t
be your only method of waterproofing. Sealing the concrete so that
water doesn’t push through works best in areas that don’t get as
much moisture. The sealant is painted on to the interior of the
basement. This means that water can get all the way up to that point
but not seep the rest of the way into your basement. Having your
concrete have to deal with that much hydrostatic pressure
continuously without any other system in place to assist with
waterproofing is asking for a problem.
Special channels can be installed along the interior walls of the
basement. Along the base of the wall, close to the floor, a series
of small holes invites the water into the channel. Inside these
channels small piping carries the water away by using a sump pump
type system. This type of channeling water out of the basement can
be hidden behind walls in finished basements.
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