(1) How do I know if I need basement waterproofing?

Signs to look for include:

• water pooling on the floor or trickling down walls
• damp spots on the walls or floor
• cracks in the walls of floor
• peeling paint  or wallpaper that is “bubbling”
• a white chalky substance on the walls
• appliances or other metal objects that have rust on them
• warped paneling or wood
• a musty smell
• mold or mildew

(2)  What can I do to prevent my basement from leaking?

The simple answer is: keep water away from the exterior of your home’s foundation. To help with that, you can:

• clean eaves troughs and down spouts
• make sure down spouts drain away from  your house
• ensure that the grading of the soil outside your home slopes away from it
• clean outside window wells

But if you do all the items above and still have, or suspect you have, leaks in your basement, it may be that you already have cracks or holes on your foundation that are letting the water into your home.  Call The Waterproofer for a free, no-obligation in home consultation.  We will use our specialized infrared thermography technology to tell you for sure if you have moisture in your basement, and if so, to pinpoint where it is.

(3)  How can The Waterproofer stop my basement from leaking?

If it turns out that your foundation is letting water into your home, and you choose The Waterproofer to remedy the situation, we will excavate the foundation wall(s) of your home where the leaks are occurring, thoroughly clean them, locate all cracks or holes and fill those with hydraulic cement to stop existing leaks.  Then we will apply a liquid membrane to the foundation walls and cover that with a solid membrane for extra insurance against any future leaks.  Finally, we will fill in the excavation, compacting the soil as we go so that there is no undue settling in the future.

(4)  Can you waterproof from the inside of the house?

There are some technologies that can be used to stop water from inside the house, which may be required when it is not possible to excavate beside the exterior walls.  For example, cracks in poured concrete can be injected with an epoxy material. And an inside system to redirect water that is already in your house can be installed.  As a general rule though, it is best to stop water before it enters your home by waterproofing the exterior of your foundation.

(5)  I see a white chalky substance on my basement walls – should I be concerned?

Yes.  The substance is efflorescence, a deposit of minerals on the surface of walls that results from moisture coming through the walls.  Generally we see this with cinder block walls because they are more porous than other wall materials, but it can occur in other types of walls as well.

(6) What is weeping tile?

A weeping tile is a porous pipe used for underground drainage. The pipe is typically plastic with small slits cut lengthwise into it. It is buried and surrounded by aggregate larger than the slits. The aggregate rocks prevent excessive soil from falling through the slits into the weeping tile. With this arrangement, water in the surrounding soil above the weeping tile flows into the weeping tile. The weeping tile then drains into a storm sewer or a sump pump.