The foundation to any home or building is waterproofed to protect the structure. The principles of compression and expansion always exist. Water initially moves into a space through holes created by the force of compression. As water expands, it creates a hole. This is why soil compaction is often the cause of leaking basements and structural foundation cracks.
In the southern United States, the sun’s strong rays that heat many homes and buildings often expand soil. During the summer, as water heats up, the concrete, stone and clay such materials expand and contract. When heated water cools, it contracts. This recipe for disaster in your basement begins in late March of every year.
The melted snow is brought down to the foundation andays down the ground until it’s met with the pressure of the ground pushing on the house. Over time this is called settlement and can weaken the structural integrity of your home.
With water comes Radon, mold, mildew, insects, rodents, and other unwanted home invaders. Make sure your house is sealed and protected against liquid infiltration before any of these organisms arrive at your location.
Leaks in this case simply bring another problem into the home. Leaks from inside the home are contractors a large amount of money and if the contractor is large, they will spend even more money to correct the problem.
Is There a Difference Between Basement Leaks and Foundation Leaks?
First, the most causing factor for leaks in a building foundation is the home’s construction. It’s possible that a contractor’s sand or gravel they use to fill the spaces between stones or slabs is not compact enough to properly support the structure.
Many contractors use 2-inch or 3-inch aggregate into backyard drainage lines in the backyard and combine that with a footer. This practices bolster the foundation’s structural integrity. A minor surplus of water running down the driveway unnoticed or disguising itself as a puddle on the ground may easily do damage to a foundation.
A contractor can sell you several products including the epoxy injection that includes pockets of air to deflect the water away from the house. A contractor may install a sump pump that will quickly evacuate excess water away from the foundation before it sets in and causes damage.
A contractor can add non-sink anchor holes where they can reach the footer and solidify the foundation. This simple fix can help prevent water from coming into a basement.
A contractor will also establish the water table and ensure that the footing does not become too close to the soil. It is possible to have water move up through the concrete foundation by using soil and highlight the wall integrity.
Other contractors install a sump pump to help dismantle the flow through the foundation. These pumps may be manual or automatic and can be connected to a collection tank where the water is automatically pumped outside.
Summary
The conditions above can easily cause basement or foundation to leak. Begin your project early in the spring for maintenance from the beginning of the season.
knowledgeable contractors can work with you to help prevent your home from becoming a victim of water related damage.
