Vulcan Basement Waterproofing In Garden City Park, NY
French Drain Systems
Another commonly known method is diverting surface water away from the foundation by the creation of a French drain. This essentially is a trench, often containing perforated pipe covered with gravel or rock that redirects surface water away from an area. It involves the laying of pipe and utilizes gravity to drain water from a high point to a low point some distance away. It can involve chopping up and replacing established landscaping and concrete. A French drain can last for some time without maintenance, but it can become clogged with sediment and cause a backup into the basement.
A More Detailed Inspection for Basement Water Damage
Even if none of the above problems seem to exist, continue with a more detailed inspection of your basement walls.
- Poured concrete walls
efflorescence (a whitish powder) could indicate seepage and porosity that tend to worsen. - Wall surfaces
Search for vertical or horizontal cracks. Some may have fully penetrated the wall, opening routes for water entry – depending on local water table and soil conditions. - Construction joints
Explore for openings where basement walls and floors meet. Such gaps can admit water and insects, as well as lead to cracked floors. - Mortar joints
Inspect mortar joints especially around below-grade piping and conduits when leakage appears, your floor space could be rendered unsafe for storage, carpeting or laundering use. - Structural points
Examine corners where frames butt against foundation walls. These junctures are often uneven, resulting in gaps. - Efflorescence
The appearance of efflorescence warns that basement water seepage is threatening your foundations and that cracks will endanger your basement floors. - Water pipes
Check your pipes for excessive condensation. - Masonry block walls
Look for signs of staining in the block closest to the basement floor. This could mean water is building up inside the wall and deteriorating the block’s integrity.