exterior basement waterproofing Archives

November 7, 2017November 8, 2017 by Ron Lee

Basement Wall Membrane – An Important Aspect of Exterior Waterproofing

If you have researched exterior basement waterproofing, you may have learned that a basement wall membrane is an integral part of a typical exterior system. Depending on the specific water problem and where the water is coming from, exterior basement waterproofing may be the best bet to solve your water intrusion problem. All basements eventually need to have the exterior basement waterproofing re done. The original seal will break down allowing dampness to wick into the foundation and eventually lead to water seepage problems through the basement walls. If this is the case, a basement wall membrane can be utilized as part of the waterproofing system. Lets talk about what a basement wall membrane is exactly, what it does, and why it is beneficial for exterior waterproofing.

What is a Basement Wall Membrane?

It is a waterproof barrier that is applied to the outside of the basement wall below grade. The membrane serves the important purpose of blocking water from the foundation wall and preventing any kind of water or moisture intrusion. At Pioneer, we use DELTA-MS. The following information regarding DELTA-MS can be found on the manufacturer’s website:

The vacuum-formed dimpled pattern creates an air gap between the membrane and the foundation for an absolutely dry foundation. By keeping water away from the foundation wall, DELTA®-MS is able to keep basements permanently dry and protected. Unlike sprays, which crack when concrete walls crack, it bridges cracks so no water intrusions can occur.

Made from three layers there is a 60% recycled layer sandwiched between two 40% virgin layers. The co-extrusion process and offset dimples of DELTA®-MS create higher compressive strength and impact resistance than other dimpled membranes ensuring its performance and protection lasts. The non biodegradable membrane is superior compared to other membranes typically made from 100% recycled materials and sprays that will break down in the soil.

Benefits of Basement Wall Membrane in an Exterior Waterproofing System

Installing a membrane over top the waterproof coating (which is either sprayed, brushed or rolled onto the foundation first) protects your foundation from moisture and from the backfill process.
Unlike coatings which can biodegrade, corrode or peel with time, the DELTA-MS basement membrane is permanent and has no reactions to moisture.

How is it Installed?

We follow several basic steps:

Excavate around the outside of the foundation
Clean walls and repair any cracks.
Apply a sealant coating.
Hang dimpled membrane.
Install footer drains then cover with gravel.
Backfill to the top with fresh soil.

You can learn more details about the entire process of installing an exterior basement waterproofing system by clicking here. The following video shows the process of the membrane application.

At Pioneer, we understand each important step that goes into a waterproofing system. We want to do everything we can to make sure our customers understand the entire process. We do not cut corners or use inferior products. Quality products and detailed workmanship make all the difference in the world and it is our focus to always fulfill these goals. If you would like to learn more, please feel free to explore the rest of our website or contact us for more information.

Like us on Facebook to keep up with the latest updates!

Be sure to include an exterior waterproof basement wall membrane in your project!

exterior basement waterproofing or interior basement waterproofing?

March 21, 2017March 24, 2017 by Ron Lee

Wet Basement? What is the Cause and Best Solution?

Ever wonder what causes a wet basement or what the best solution is? Having a wet basement and trying to figure out the best solution can be quite stressful to a homeowner. First of all, lets discuss what causes a wet basement. To put it simply, there are two sources of basement seepage; ground water and surface water. How can you tell the difference between the two?

Some basements may have wet walls, which includes moisture on more than just the bottom row of block. This is an indication of water getting into the foundation from surface water activity. The best way to dry out the basement in this case is to restore the waterproofing seal on the outside of the basement walls by installing an exterior basement waterproofing system.

Exterior Basement Waterproofing

On the other hand, if your basement walls are dry but there is seepage where the floor and wall meet, it is most likely a ground water problem under the foundation. You may notice heaved floor cracks or discoloration in the cement. When ground water builds up under a basement floor, the best way to fix a wet basement in this case is with interior sub floor footer drains. This allows diversion of the water before it builds up to floor level.

Interior Basement Waterproofing

How Can You Find the Right Contractor?

Look for a basement waterproofing contractor that offers all methods of basement waterproofing. Beware of companies that tell you that there is only one way to fix a wet basement. They may claim to be a full service waterproofing company, yet they only offer their “patented system” and tell you that this is the best and only option. Many of these companies claim to be full service. They train their sales force to review the options they don’t actually install in a way that would cause you to say you do not want them, such as exaggerating the cost or minimizing the benefits.

There is no “one size fits all” solution that works for everyone. Each type of basement waterproofing system works differently so it is important to know what the cause of your issue is.

Call Pioneer Basement Solutions for a zero-obligation quote and basement evaluation. We can offer a no-nonsense solution to fix your wet basement. We do not use pushy sales techniques nor try to use scare tactics in order to intimidate homeowners. Contact us today and learn more about fixing your wet basement permanently and correctly!

April 11, 2016April 11, 2016 by Ron Lee

Exterior basement waterproofing or interior basement waterproofing?

So many people want to know if they should choose exterior basement waterproofing or interior basement waterproofing to stop their basement water seepage. Some people want to know what solution will truly fix their problem where others just want the cheapest solution that will give them dry space. And of course there are those who fall anywhere in between. Let’s review the differences and what each solution accomplishes to help answer the question: Exterior basement waterproofing or interior basement waterproofing?

water entering basement walls through the soil=seal failure

If you have wet basement walls, or just damp basement walls that you have to scrape and paint more often than every five years to keep it looking decent then obviously water is getting into your basement foundation walls. The best “fix” to solve the problem is to stop the water from getting into the foundation walls with exterior basement waterproofing.

The process of exterior basement waterproofing involves excavating down to the bottom of the foundation. Then the walls are cleaned of debris etc… to prepare for application of a waterproof coating. All cracks and gaps are filled in and a waterproof coating is brushed, rolled or sprayed on to the foundation sealing up the porous surface. Then a waterproof membrane is applied to completely waterproof the foundation. At Pioneer we apply a dimpled membrane which gives added benefits of air gap technology and a bit of cushion against the soil pressure.

New foundation drainage is installed. This step is as critical as the sealing of the foundation. The new foundation drainage should be 4″ PVC perforated pipe and it should have a pitch, or downhill slope, towards the evacuation point. The evacuation point is either a sump pump system or a gravity drain that either exits the surface somewhere away from the foundation, or ties to a city drainage system. Many contractors do not ensure proper flow of the drains away from the foundation because most municipalities do not require it. I know that sounds crazy and it is. This problem of drains not flowing properly is very prevalent in new construction.

After drainage is installed properly a back fill of gravel is installed over the foundation drains. Top soil is then installed over the gravel with a positive slope away from the foundation.

If your basement walls are in good shape other than the bottom and you are getting seepage coming from the wall floor seam under heavy rain events an interior basement waterproofing system will give you a dry basement. But the question is what will actually fix the problem, exterior basement waterproofing or interior basement waterproofing? If the seepage is due to your exterior foundation drains failing, then replacing them on the outside will put you back to like new. However, if you see signs of water under your basement floor, like floor cracks that are discolored or white powder on the floor in areas…or even actual water seepage from weak points in the floor itself, an interior basement waterproofing system is the only way to truly fix your problem. We see people who have this problem and have hired other contractors to excavate their basement and waterproof from the outside only to continue leaking. The reason is ground water build up under a foundation will get trapped under your floor and not make it to the outside drainage.

white powder build up around floor cracks = water under the floor

Ground water problems usually show only after sustained periods of rain or fast heavy downpours. The leaking appears at the wall – floor seams after these sustained conditions occur and may even continue to seep even after the rains stop. This is because the ground water is building up around your foundation from below and has nowhere to go other than in to your basement until the water subsides to below your floor level. In this scenario an interior basement waterproofing system will catch the water from below the floor level and prevent the buildup, relieving the hydrostatic pressure that pushes the water in. Ok, so to call it “waterproofing” is not the best definition since it is actually a ground water control system also called a hydrostatic pressure relief system. The term interior basement waterproofing has become the generic label for these systems although technically it does not consist of a waterproof membrane. Nonetheless, you will have a guaranteed dry basement with an interior drainage system if you have a ground water problem.

Beware that not all interior basement waterproofing systems are equal. Some systems are channels that are installed level under the floor or on top of the footer. Level is the operative word here, level means water lays in there and creepy bugs love water. Look for systems that consist of a true footer drain installed below the floor and is pitched to run downhill to the evacuation point. Furthermore, any water that is building up under the floor has to push up into the drain on top of the footer to get to the drain maintaining the water level at a very high point.

So do you think you are figuring out whether you need exterior basement waterproofing or interior basement waterproofing? Give Pioneer a call for a free no obligation inspection and estimate. All options are reviewed with pros and cons for your specific foundation. No sales games, no pressure, just straightforward conversation.

Exterior basement waterproofing or interior basement waterproofing?

in Basement Waterproofing / Exterior Basement Waterproofing / Interior Basement Waterproofing 0 comments

January 26, 2016February 15, 2018 by Ron Lee

Exterior Basement Waterproofing

Exterior Basement Waterproofing Membrane

An exterior basement waterproofing membrane or an interior basement waterproofing system? That is the question! Many people I visit tell me in so many words, “I want to know what will fix my problem”. I hear from potential customers they have had a couple basement waterproofing contractors in to look at their basement and they get different opinions from each one. That is very frustrating to the consumer and to me quite frankly. Almost all basement waterproofing companies have a “system” they prefer and they sell it to everyone they meet. There is no one solution that solves all basement water seepage problems. Let’s take a look at what type of problem exterior basement waterproofing solves.

Wet basement walls are a result of failed seal on exterior of foundation

If you have wet basement walls, wet higher that the bottom row or two of block, this means water is seeping into your foundation at ground level or at some point mid way. How water seeps into the foundation is through cracks and through failed foundation sealing. What causes this can be a variety of issues such as gutter and downspout issues, bad grading, sloping patios etc… However, fixing the cause usually doesn’t dry up the basement wall because the damage is done.

There are two ways to achieve a dry basement, with an interior solution or with an exterior solution. But for those who want actually fix the problem of water seeping into the foundation wall, you have to stop the water from getting into the wall in the first place with exterior basement waterproofing.

The process of exterior basement waterproofing involves excavating down to the bottom of the foundation. Then the walls are cleaned of debris etc… to prepare for application of a waterproof coating. All cracks and gaps are filled in and a waterproof coating is brushed, rolled or sprayed on to the foundation sealing up the porous surface. Then a waterproof membrane is applied to completely waterproof the foundation. At Pioneer we apply a dimpled membrane which gives added benefits of air gap technology and a bit of cushion against the soil pressure.

exterior basement waterproofing membrane

Exterior basement waterproofing with dimpled membrane

New foundation drainage is installed. This step is as critical as the sealing of the foundation. The new foundation drainage should be 4″ PVC perforated pipe and it should have a pitch, or downhill slope, towards the evacuation point. The evacuation point is either a sump pump system or a gravity drain that either exits the surface somewhere away from the foundation, or ties to a city drainage system. Many contractors do not ensure proper flow of the drains away from the foundation because most municipalities do not require it. I know that sounds crazy and it is. This problem of drains not flowing properly is very prevalent in new construction.

After drainage is installed properly a back fill of gravel is installed over the foundation drains. Top soil is then installed over the gravel with a positive slope away from the foundation.

Interior Full Wall Basement Waterproofing System

So how do you achieve a dry basement on the interior? Interior drainage can be installed below the floor along the footer to collect and direct ground water away from foundation. Interior waterproof panels can be applied to the basement walls giving you a waterproof, dry and maintenance free basement wall surface. This is a good solution for some people who may not want to dig up the exterior for what ever reason, or they simply do not want to invest in the exterior method. Weep holes are installed in the foundation to drain water that may get into it allowing the wall to drain, dry up as well as breathe. There may still be dampness in the foundation with this method like using waterproofing paint, but it is sealed off from the basement giving the homeowner a dry basement space and the foundation can drain and dry through the weep holes. Using waterproofing paint can dam up water inside the foundation. Water laying in the foundation will lead to paint failure and can also lead to decay.

If your basement walls are mostly dry but have a few areas of dampness, a combination of interior basement waterproofing and an exterior basement waterproofing membrane can be installed to give you a dry and healthy basement.

Call Pioneer Basement Solutions today for a free, no obligation review of your foundation. We will evaluate the overall condition structurally and review the condition of the foundation waterproofing and drainage system. Once issues are identified we will review causes and all potential solutions. We take the approach of educating and advising our potential customers so they can make the best possible decision about their basement concerns. No sales games, no sales pressure. Straightforward answers and straightforward pricing.

Get in touch today to explore an exterior basement waterproofing membrane and other options for your home.

in Basement Waterproofing / Exterior Basement Waterproofing 0 comments

September 25, 2014November 17, 2014 by Dev

Basement Waterproofing In Winter?

People often ask if basement waterproofing can be done in the winter and it depends on the basement systems being used. Exterior basement waterproofing is where the perimeter of the home is excavated to the bottom of the footer most always with an excavation machine. This type of work is messy and definitely fair weather work; however, exterior basement waterproofing can be performed during winter months as long as the weather is fairly dry. In fact dry and cold is better than warm and wet.

Other basement systems designed to waterproof basements from the interior are performed year round with very little to no exceptions. Interior basement waterproofing involves removing a small area of the perimeter of the floor to allow access to the footer from inside the foundation. Interior footer drains are then installed to collect and direct ground water to a pump system that keeps the foundation dry.

Other basement systems are some sort of combination of interior basement waterproofing and exterior basement waterproofing methods that are usually performed all year round. In fact winter months can be an ideal time to get your basement waterproof project completed based on availability of basement waterproofing contractors and dry weather conditions. This will also prepare your foundation to stay dry during wet spring rains.

To learn more about different basement systems and what basement waterproofing system is best for your foundation, call today at 1-877-321-4889.

in Basement Waterproofing / Basement Waterproofing Contractor / Basement Waterproofing Systems / Exterior Basement Waterproofing / Interior Basement Waterproofing 0 comments