Waterproofing & De-Watering

Waterproofing is the method of absolutely preventing water from entering a basement or crawlspace, and must be done from the exterior of the structure. Interior drainage systems should not be confused with waterproofing.

Sealing a wall on the inside alone traps water within the wall and actually speeds up the deterioration of the wall. Exterior waterproofing entails digging to the footer, replacing footer tiles and downspout lines, and applying a multi-layer waterproof seal on the foundation.

The important difference is in the materials used to waterproof the walls. Most companies are using the same sealant that was being used twenty years ago, tar. Tar is not waterproofing, it is dampproofing. Tar can not expand and bridge future cracking. Very quickly tar loses it's elasticity and cracks. With the seal compromised, the whole process of dampness leading to water penetration and structural deterioration begins a new.

Waterproofing must also be accompanied by proper pressure relief foundation drainage or it is destined to fail, and not all foundation drainage systems are equal, especially interior systems. Below is explained the drastic differences in the systems available today and hope to leave you with a clear understanding that there is undoubtedly bad, good, better, and best interior drainage systems.

You surely get what you pay for concerning interior pressure relief drainage, a penny will purchase you a low quality materials, improperly installed, deteriorative drainage system that will need to be replaced withing a couple of years. A dollar will purchase you a permanent, non-deteriorative system that will last the life of the structure without fail, and in some cases you may even pay a dollar for a penny system when choosing the wrong company.

De-Watering

De-Watering or interior/exterior drainage does not prevent water from penetrating the structure as with waterproofing. De-Watering, instead, contains and then redirects the water away from the structure.

It is not always the case that both exterior waterproofing and interior de-watering need to be done for the same walls, waterproofing can be applied on some wall sections and de-watering for others. Often, however, a combination of both techniques used on the same walls is best.

With many basement "waterproofing" companies today, when the original foundation protection against water intrusion has failed, a stand-alone interior water control system is often the method of choice as it is usually a less expensive process, but not always the solution to the particular problem.

Request service on-line and save 15%, or phone us, or email us at info@sugarbearplumbing.com Thank You