HOW TO WATERPROOF CONCRETE?

A foundation issue is probably the worst thing that can happen to a residential building, apart from it burning down. The foundation is basically the foundation of the house; it is what holds the structure in place by moving dead and live loads into the earth.

The vast majority of foundation issues are caused by water. Wet soil beneath a foundation will expand and weaken.

That’s not even the most important reason to keep your foundation dry. There’s also the issue of cold, wet basements and crawl spaces, which can cultivate mold and make below-ground interior spaces uncomfortable in general. The issue is that ordinary concrete is not watertight.

Although uncracked concrete can usually keep liquid water out, water vapor will easily pass through. A good structure needs water to be drained away from concrete foundations and prevented from flowing through the concrete.

Depending on the geographic area, terrain, topography, soil/water table conditions, and foundation depth, achieving our task of draining some water and maintaining a dry interior space below grade can be relatively easy or reasonably involved. Any system built to keep water out has three components. From the bottom up, these are:

• Drains that direct water away from the foundation’s foundation.
• Water is routed down to the drains through a wall treatment that prevents moisture from passing through the wall.
• Treatment of the ground surface adjacent to the building to direct surface water away

Know that since this will be all underground when the construction is finished, doing it right the first time is important, as going back to repair it will be costly. A leaking foundation in a home can ruin the finishes and furnishings, as well as the structure itself. Water in a commercial building can destroy expensive machinery and cause major disruptions in operations. All of this adds up to money being lost, time is wasted, consumers are angry, and litigation is often necessary.

HOW TO MAKE A FOUNDATION WATERPROOF

Concrete Waterproofing Planning

Allow plenty of time to float for waterproofing. Recognize that good waterproofers will be in high demand during the busy season if you’re using a waterproofing subcontractor. Waterproofing work can also be delayed by rain.

Waterproofing should be planned ahead of time. The finish grade line on the foundation walls would most likely be seen on the design elevations, but these lines should be checked with the architect if possible. Above grade, you don’t want black, gooey waterproofing to show. Keep an eye out for changes in grade level. If the architect has chosen to tackle the transition with a retaining wall, a line of waterproofing descending at a diagonal from one level to another will not fit.

Take advantage of the warmer summer months to have us look at your basement and help you determine how best to address your basement leakage problems.  

Get the job done RIGHT – Hire a professional Waterproofing company!

Want to know more about our waterproofing process? Give us a call at 416-759-2995

Rely On our ACCL Wet Basement Waterproofing Experts

Don’t Drown in a wet basement!

Rely On Wet Basement Waterproofing Experts in Toronto

If you’ve noticed foundation cracks, spots, water, mold, and mildew, don’t ignore the signs or it could lead to more damage and possible health effects.

The basement waterproofing specialists at ACCL Waterproofing know how to repair your basement and foundation walls and keep moisture out of your basement. We would be pleased to develop a guaranteed solution to keep your basement dry!

Get the job done RIGHT – Hire a professional Waterproofing company!

Want to know more about our crack injection process? Give us a call at 416-759-2995

Rely On our ACCL Wet Basement Waterproofing Experts

If you’ve noticed foundation cracks, spots, water, mold, and mildew, don’t ignore the signs or it could lead to more damage and possible health effects.

The basement waterproofing specialists at ACCL Waterproofing know how to repair your basement and foundation walls and keep moisture out of your basement. We would be pleased to develop a guaranteed solution to keep your basement dry!

What are waterproofing membranes? 

A waterproofing membrane is a thin layer of water-tight material that is laid over a surface. This layer is continuous and does not allow water to pass through it. For example, on a flat terrace, a waterproofing membrane could be laid above the structural slab and below the finish tiles. This will ensure that water does not seep into the structural slab. The tiles and membrane must be laid over a filler material that is sloped to ensure that water flows into sumps and drains. Any water that remains as puddles over the tiles is likely to seep into the slab over time, so puddles are to be avoided at all costs.

Why is it important?

Many commercial and residential buildings have poor quality waterproofing which can cause reporting annual water damage due to the builders inadequate methods. Water damage is a high number of building defects and needs to be dealt with immediately to save money and sometime even the property.

The benefits of waterproofing includes:

• Protection from leakage and damage

• Safety

• Strengthening the structure of the building

• Mold protection

• Reducing costs for maintenance and increasing value of the property

Waterproofing membranes are an essential component to protect a home as stated above with the numerous benefits it brings. Regardless of the scale, size, location or type of building, it is a must have repair for the health and safety of the home owners and the structure of the home.

Types of waterproofing membranes:

Foundation waterproofing

The foundation of the home is what keeps the building in place and is IMPORTANT to make sure it is securely waterproofed and secure. If anything impacts the foundation in a hazardous level it becomes unsafe to inhabit the property until the issue is properly solved. Water/moisture leakage and molding is the number one factor of foundation issues that deals with needing membranes. When the foundation begins to leak it wets the soil beneath the home and causes the ground to expand and lose strength, leading to cracks and more damage to the property. Liquid-applied and sheet membranes are the common use to deal with waterproofing the foundation.

Basement waterproofing

Basements tend to allow water to seep right into the foundation causing issues with molding. Exterior waterproofing is recommended for basements, particularly older ones, so the water can be halted at the source. If membrane is not properly installed some back-up methods include sump pumps or installing a dehumidifier. The best result though would be to waterproof using a PVC blend membrane on the external walls of the property.

Keep your home waterproofed:

Waterproofing is designed to prevent water damage and structural damage to a building or feature. Although many people tend to overlook the importance of waterproofing and assume it to be a costly affair when it comes to their homes, the prevention of water-based damage will reduce the need for future maintenance and keep the property safe from leakages and cracked foundations.

Get the job done RIGHT – Hire a professional Waterproofing company!

Want to know more about our crack injection process? Give us a call at 416-759-2995

Rely On our ACCL Wet Basement Waterproofing Experts

If you’ve noticed foundation cracks, spots, water, mold, and mildew, don’t ignore the signs or it could lead to more damage and possible health effects.

The basement waterproofing specialists at ACCL Waterproofing know how to repair your basement and foundation walls and keep moisture out of your basement. We would be pleased to develop a guaranteed solution to keep your basement dry!

What are Weeping Tiles?

Weeping tiles are 4-inch pipes used to discharge water from underground and redirect water away from the client’s home.

How do they work?

How weeping tiles work is that the pipes are placed with holes side up into a trench around the exterior perimeter of the home or in the interior under the basement floor. As water begins to rise it will insert itself within the holes and flow out of the pipes away from the client’s home. This can either be through a sump pump or to a drainage system away from the residence.

What type of weeping tiles are there?

There are two categories of weeping tiles: Exterior and Interior tiles. Exterior weeping tiles manage water at ground level before it can seep into the basement. It consists of a dug out trench, gravel, and a pipe. Water than soaks into the ground, through the gravel, and through the holes in the pipe to be swept away from the home. Interior weeping tiles is usually solely used when the exterior method has proven non-successful. This system is installed in the basement where water is directed to a sump pump. A deep trench is cut around the perimeter of the basement where a pipe is filled inside, filled with gravel, and covered with concrete to seal.

How do you tell if your weeping tile is clogged?

Weeping tiles can become clogged by roots or soil causing the water not being able to drain away and begins to press against the house’s foundation. This added pressure is the cause of various cracks and leaks within the foundation of the home.

How do you unclog a weeping tile?

The most simple way to unclog a weeping tile is merely getting it replaced. Trying to physically unclog it yourself will result in more damage to the drain and could take a serious amount of time. It is also usually cheaper to simply replace the tile, especially if you’re under warranty by a waterproofing professional. All exterior waterproofing work is quoted under a 30 year warranty through ACCL, so a clogged weeping tile can be easily managed by professional help.

What is a Sump Pump?

A sump pump is a method that reduces the risk of water damage in your home. It halts leakage in the underground part as it is installed in most cases the basement of the home. Sump Pump are usually 2 feet deep and 18 in diameter. When water reaches a certain level the switch within in the pump activates, preventing expelled water from flowing into the pit.

Types of Sump Pumps

Sump Pumps are either a primary method or a backup and most homes should have one of each. Primary sump pumps do most of the work while the backup is only there incase of a failure or if it cannot keep up to the water flow. There are two main sump pumps: submersible and pedestal. Either type can be the primary or backup. Submersible pumps are bulkier and sit right into the sump pump, functioning under water. Since being inside of the pit they are quieter than pedestal pumps but are more expensive. Also, they are harder to reach for maintenance.

Pedestal pumps are long and sit upright with the motor on top causing them to be nosier than the previous pump. They’re less expensive and easier to access for repairs, however, some experts consider them less reliable compared to submersible pumps.

Types of backup Sump Pumps

A common type of backup pump is a battery operated backup which does not replace the primary sump pump. Instead, they only begin working if the primary halts due to a power outage or any other reason. They’re usually connected to a large battery, such as a car or marine battery.

Water powered backups aren’t connected to an electrical current as they’re powered by water pressure. They have unlimited runtime but they need a strong flow of water like the high-pressure flow of a city’s water system. Also, they’re more difficult to install compared to their counterpart.

Finally, the duration of most sump pumps last for approximately 10 years, however, it’s all due to the upkeep and cleanliness of the pump which relates to it’s life expectancy.

What is waterproofing?

Waterproofing is treating a surface to protect it from the damages water could bring, be it a leak or cracks in the foundation. The process helps make sure certain objects are protected against flooding and become water-resistant to leaks.

What are the different types of waterproofing?

Cementitious Waterproofing

The easiest method of waterproofing as the materials are not difficult to locate. they are also easy to mix and apply making this type of waterproofing popular for interior sections that are used to being touched with water. Bathrooms and kitchens are the main source of this easier method.

Liquid Waterproofing Membrane

Liquid Membrane involves applying a thin coat of primer and a top coat above. This can be accomplished with a roller, spray, or a trowel. This method offers also more flexibility compared to the above more rigid method.

Bituminous Coating Waterproofing

Also known as asphalt coating, the bituminous coating method is ideal for concrete foundations as it is an excellent waterproofing and protective coating agent.

Extensive exposure to sunlight makes it brittle if it is not treated with flexible materials such as polyurethane.

Bituminous Membrane Waterproofing

This method is popularly used for low-sloped roofs because of its tried-and-tested track record. There are two types of this particular method: the torch-on-membrane and the self-adhesive-membrane.

These membranes have a thickness of 2mm to 4mm of waterproof materials and have an elongation of 150% to seal any and all cracks.

Polyurethane Liquid Membrane Waterproofing

This is the most expensive option. This type of waterproofing is used for decks of roofs that are left exposed to the seasons. Because of this exposure, this material is a higher quality membrane.

Whatever the waterproofing method you choose, you will not regret making the decision to protect your investment from the damages that water and moisture can bring.