| There are many different types of materials you | | | | from the home to an area that is no longer going |
| can use when waterproofing your basement. The | | | | to cause a problem. |
| area that you live in affects the amount of | | | | Sump pumps can be ran on electricity and some |
| moisture that you will be expecting. Some | | | | have a battery back up in case of power failure. |
| waterproofing materials are better suited for | | | | Routine maintenance should be done on sump |
| some areas than others. | | | | pumps annually, more often if you live in an area |
| One of the most important things to remember | | | | that is prone to water problems. Maintaining the |
| when waterproofing a basement is to have the | | | | drainage system pipes to prevent clogging is also |
| land graded properly so that water can channel | | | | important. Gutters and downspouts should also be |
| away from the house. For approximately ten feet | | | | checked to make sure there are free of debris. |
| from the house the land should be graded so that | | | | Other basement waterproofing materials include |
| the ground level reduces by one inch per foot. | | | | on sealants. Painted on sealants is one way of |
| This should be sufficient in most cases to invite | | | | waterproofing a basement. This shouldn't be your |
| water to drain away from the home. | | | | only method of waterproofing. Sealing the |
| When it comes to basement waterproofing | | | | concrete so that water doesn't push through |
| materials, you need to decide what type of | | | | works best in areas that don't get as much |
| waterproofing system you're going to use. French | | | | moisture. The sealant is painted on to the interior |
| drains, also known as land drains, can be used to | | | | of the basement. This means that water can get |
| drive water away from the home. French drains | | | | all the way up to that point but not seep the rest |
| include a system made of gravel, ditches, and | | | | of the way into your basement. Having your |
| pipe that invite groundwater into the pipe and | | | | concrete have to deal with that much hydrostatic |
| away from the basement or foundation of the | | | | pressure continuously without any other system |
| home. Dirt and routes can clog this type of | | | | in place to assist with waterproofing is asking for |
| drainage system. | | | | a problem. |
| Drainage systems, including having a main floor | | | | Special channels can be installed along the interior |
| drain in the basement, are effective in routing | | | | walls of the basement. Along the base of the wall, |
| water out of the basement. These systems | | | | close to the floor, a series of small holes invites |
| should be put in place when the basement is first | | | | the water into the channel. Inside these channels |
| built. Piping can be placed along the basement walls | | | | small piping carries the water away by using a |
| and under the basement flooring before the | | | | sump pump type system. This type of channeling |
| concrete floor is poured. This type of system can | | | | water out of the basement can be hidden behind |
| use a sump pump to continually remove water | | | | walls in finished basements. |
| from the basement. Water is then routed away | | | | |