Foundation waterproofing is a topic about which most people are uninformed and many are misinformed. The reason that foundations need waterproofing is that without it, water gets under houses and causes very expensive problems for the structure itself and health problems for the occupants.

 

In a nutshell, a good waterproofing package should consist of three components, all of which are very important.

 

• Waterproofing: Coatings of some type need to be applied to the portion of foundation walls that are below ground to prevent the penetration of water from within the ground. The types of coatings vary greatly depending upon the particular needs of a structure or the occupants.

• Foundation Drainage: Simply blocking water from entry through a wall isn’t enough. We can’t just ‘wish’ the groundwater away—we have to make it go away. First we have to collect the water. This is done by installing foundation drainage. Foundation drainage is some type of French drainage system along the base of a foundation that’s designed to intercept & collect sub-surface water.

• Tail Lines: the water that’s blocked by the waterproofing, intercepted & collected by the foundation drain now has to be directed away from the building. In most situations this can be accomplished by installing a downhill pipe from the foundation drain out to a lower part of the property. These downhill pipes are called tail lines. (In some circumstances there is not a low enough destination on the property for a downhill pipe so a pump has to be used).

 

Information about Exterior Waterproofing for Basements

 

Information about Exterior Waterproofing for Crawlspaces

 

The type of materials used, the system design, and workmanship all play a very important role in how successful a waterproofing & drainage system will be. Local codes simply aren’t clear enough to ensure that systems installed for new houses will be sufficient. (See Buying or Building a New Home or FAQ) In an effort to continually increase the knowledge of our clients or potential clients, Lindsley Waterproofing provides an educational series of materials. Contact us for more information on this series.