What To Know About Basement Flooding And Waterproofing
Do you have water that gets into your basement and you want to do something about it? If so, you're likely looking into waterproofing your home. Here are some things you need to know about why basements flood and what can be done to prevent it.
Why Basements Flood
When your home was first built, it was necessary to dig a large hole below ground level to install the concrete foundation and footings. When the concrete cures, the contractors will backfill the hole with dirt. Displacing all that dirt can cause the surrounding drainage to become disturbed. While the dirt remained untouched for many years before construction and was quite compacted, all that new, backfilled dirt is going to be loose and not nearly as compacted after construction is finished.
The loose soil around your home makes it easy for the soil to soak in rainwater and collect around your foundation. The poor drainage then causes water to become trapped with nowhere to go, so it travels through the path of least resistance. When combined with hydrostatic pressure, the water will get through the space between the foundation and the footings and get into your basement.
How Basements Are Waterproofed
The solution to this problem is to add a waterproofing system to your home. One way this can be done is with a French drain system that is installed around the perimeter of your foundation below ground level. As the water comes into the home, it will flow through that weak point in your foundation and into the drain where it will travel to a nearby sump pump. That pump then removes the water out of your home and routes it into the city drainage system, where it is safely brought far away from your home's basement. This prevents the water from getting into your basement so that you don't have to deal with water again.
If you do not want to perform construction on the inside of your home to install a basement waterproofing system, it is possible to do it all on the outside instead. This will prevent the water from coming into your home completely since it uses a similar technique to collect water and pump it away from your home. Many homeowners do not like this method because it will ruin a lot of the landscaping around their home, but it can be a more effective way of keeping the water out.
To learn more, contact a waterproofing contractor.