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Wet Basement

Basement and foundation water infiltration cause unpleasant issues for a home and its owners. Wet basements increase humidity and produce condensation, mildew and mold, and odors. Exposure to moldy and damp environments are known to harm people and pets in many ways.

Wet basements compromise structural support members, subfloors, insulation, drywall, and finishes. Prolonged water infiltration under the foundation may even erode supporting soil. It’s important to address wet basements promptly before they worsen.

Wallace Underpinning will help you find the cause and implement a solution.  

Exterior Waterproofing

 

Exterior foundation waterproofing involves excavating and exposing the foundation wall. We clean the foundation, inspect it for defects, then seal the walls with multiple layers of various waterproofing membranes and products. If necessary, we install or replace new drainage lines at the bottom of the foundation, next to the footing. Lastly, we inspect the drain connection to the sump, to ensure proper functioning.


Interior Waterproofing

 

Interior basement waterproofing is ideal if you are concerned about disturbing your home’s exterior appearance, because this method keeps landscaping intact.  It is the lowest cost choice, especially for unfinished basements.

We first install a foundation wall vapor barrier membrane to collect water coming in from wall cracks, porous concrete, and other foundation wall defects. We then install a drainage system that directs water to a sump.

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Polyurethane Crack Injection

 

Interior foundation injections are the most popular repair method for foundation leaks, due to their low cost. Pressurized injections have a high success rate in ending foundation leaks.

Polyurethane injections use an expansive resin that fills cavities and creates a flexible seal. Most injection applications use polyurethane—including cracks, tie-rod holes, honeycombing, and service penetration leaks. 

Most vertical foundation cracks are not a structural threat. They only pose a potential water seepage problem. But if your foundation has horizontal cracks, large cracks, growing cracks, or twin cracks, then call Wallace Underpinning at once.

Drain Tile

 

Drain tiles pull excess water away from your foundation from the outside. Wet basements sometimes need a two-fold strategy. No amount of waterproofing or repair will keep water out of your basement if the perimeter drain tile system is damaged, clogged, or nonexistent. Conversely, we frequently get referrals from plumbers brought in to repair drain tile, who’ve discovered foundation issues beyond their scope.

If the perimeter drainage can’t be repaired, it must be replaced—either fully, or only to affected sections of the system. Often trenchless drain tile cannot be installed or may end up costing more than the conventional drain tile replacement method. The remaining solution would then be to dig around the house, replace the drain tile, apply new waterproofing, and cover with clean, compacted gravel, and backfill with soil. This is the tried-and-true perimeter drain tile system replacement method guaranteed to succeed every time.

Call Wallace Underpinning today, to discuss solutions for your wet basement. 

See the latest work from Wallace Underpinning

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