Waterproof foundation helps building to last long
by Larry Taggart Article writerFoundation is undoubtedly the most important part of a structure
because on it the house is built. The foundation withstands the dead
loads and love loads and its major foe is water. While developing the
foundation it therefore becomes necessary to waterproof it. Waterproof
foundation gives strength to the building and helps it to last for a
very long time.
When the foundation is properly waterproofed wet
soil beneath it cannot damage it. The soil swells up after absorbing
water that develops pressure on the building. Excess water enters the
structure and may damage the basement and also the crawl space. Wet and
damp basements can breed mold making the surrounding smelly, unhealthy
and unpleasant. To avoid this situation, the concrete has to be
waterproofed. Even if the concrete has no cracks, water and water vapor
can still penetrate it quite easily. So, if the foundation is not
waterproofed at the time of construction, you need to have some system
to keep the water drained away from it.
Factors like geographic
location, topography, climate, soil structure, depth and location of
water table and also the depth of the foundation have influence on the
quality of the structure. The first aim should be to drain away water
from the bottom of the foundation. Engineers also suggest wall treatment
for preventing moisture from entering the structure through the wall.
They prepare channels and link that to an effective drainage system.
Also, to waterproof the basement from outside, they suggest ground
surface treatment around the building. This entire job has to be done
correctly the first time because fixing the problems at a later stage
will be critical and expensive as well. Any investment to waterproof
foundation is definitely a wise move.
If the foundation of a
residential property is leaky then it will damage not only the structure
but also the finishes and furnishings. For commercial structures, water
may damage expensive equipments and make the place unsuitable for
running operations. Just like exterior waterproof, interior waterproof
can also keep your structure and basement free of water. Interior drain
tiles are placed in the basement floor and in the joints between the
wall and floor. These are known as covet joints. Such interior drain
tiles can also be used to manage seepage coming through a porous
concrete wall or even a masonry wall that has developed cracks or the
mortar joints have deteriorated.
Sometime, cracks can also be
repaired by injecting expanding polyurethane from the interior. After
curing the polymer remains flexible and does not crack again and thereby
sealing the gaps. Applying exterior waterproofing membrane can also
prove to be effective in repairing leaking foundation. This may happen
in specific locations if the concrete was not thoroughly mixed. By
clearing the areas around the foundation, such membranes can be applied
and protected in the long run.
Asking the engineer for the best
method to waterproof will be a great way to start. They have worked on
hundreds of such project and are sure of the success of the procedure
they are going to apply to waterproof foundation. When you have
experienced local agency to take up the entire job, you should remain
free of worries.
Waterproof foundation makes the structure last long. To waterproof basement or crawl space you may contact reliable service providers.
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Created on Nov 12th 2017 10:21. Viewed 192 times.