Foundation Waterproofing: Why Does It Leak Near West Milford, Sparta, Vernon
Understanding Foundation Flooding And How To Fix It -- Permanently!
Flooding in basements and crawl spaces is common in homes new and old, and they're rarely a one-time occurrence. Once water has flooded through your foundation, you can be certain that it will happen again.
There are two important factors that contribute to basement leaking -- the clay bowl effect and hydrostatic pressure.
We offer free waterproofing quotes in Sparta, Vernon, West Milford and many areas nearby. Call or e-mail us today to schedule an appointment!
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Before
AfterHere is a before and after of a WaterGuard system we did in Blairstown NJ. In the before picture if you look at the floor joint you can see dampness and a water stain, after we get done the homeowner won't have to worry about that anymore!
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Before
AfterThis project was for a previous customer. We worked with them on two of their other homes, needless to say...we liked them and I guess they liked us too!
The garage here was being pushed in, as you can see in the pictures, approximately 3 1/2" at one point. It was also taking in water. After discussing a plan of attack, we started this project. First, we excavated the foundation and then manipulated the wall back as far as possible. We had to prevent the sheering from reoccurring and stabilize the foundation. While we were at it, we waterproofed the foundation and blocked in a couple of windows.
Our homeowner now has a functioning foundation/garage that can be used as a shop for storage or to park cars.
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Before
AfterThis homeowner in Sparta contacted us after having issues with water leaking into their basement. After a brief survey of the situation, our crew installed our incredibly efficient WaterGuard system.
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Before
AfterThis home was experiencing flooding during rains. To correct the problem we installed our patented WaterGuard waterproofing system. This system sits on top of their footing and removes the water from your home with the help of a SuperSump or a TripleSafe sump.
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Before
AfterAs you can see here our team got into tight spaces and were careful to avoid existing pipes when installing this WaterGaurd system to make the homowners went basement nightmare into a dream basement!
The "Clay Bowl Effect" And Your Foundation
Imagine your home as it was being built. The contractors begin by digging a hole in the ground to make room for your basement and foundation. To do so, the contractor must dig a hole that is a little larger than the space your home will need. The foundation will be built inside this space, and the concrete floor will be poured.
Once the foundation has been built, some of the excavated soil is used to fill in the gap around the outer edge of your foundation. This soil, known as "backfill", will be loose and fluffed from the excavation. Meanwhile, the untouched soil around it, known as "virgin soil", may have been settling for hundreds, even thousands of years.
What does this mean for you? The backfilled soil surrounding your foundation will always be looser and more absorbent of water than the dense, hard-packed soil around it.
This forms a sort of "clay bowl" around your house -- one that creates an artificial water table around your home. Water collects the most right around your foundation -- exactly where you don't want it to be.
Hydrostatic Pressure and Wet Foundation Soils
Water is heavy! As the soil around your home becomes soaked with moisture, the soil will expand, and the weight of the water will press on your foundation. This is known as hydrostatic pressure.
As hydrostatic pressure builds against your foundation, water will work its way into your basement or crawl space in any way possible. Water can make its way through concrete cracks in the walls or floors, through openings around pipes, through basement windows, or even directly through the porous concrete. If you have block walls, water may pass through the block and begin to fill the open cavities inside your walls.
However, the most common way that water enters a home is through the foundation wall-floor joint. We find that most flooded basements start with a leak here, where the floor and wall meet.
Waterproofing a Foundation in New Jersey and Pennsylvania
Protecting your home means more than just stopping groundwater. It's also important to keep an eye on your home plumbing, including the water heater and washing machine.
How do you dry a wet basement? By stopping water at the point where it enters the structure.
Since most basements flood from the wall-floor joint, one of the most common ways to stop the flooding is to install a perimeter drainage system along the edge of the basement floor. This would collect the water and direct it to a sump pump, which would then discharge it out of your home.
However, at Century Masonry and Waterproofing, we have an approach to solving water problems of all types. Our solutions cover all surfaces of the basement, including the foundation walls, basement floors, and even wet crawl spaces.
We offer free basement waterproofing estimates in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Arlington Heights, Franklin, Stillwater, Lackawaxen, Mine Hill and many areas nearby. Contact us today to get started!
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