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Basement Waterproofing

Author: Archi Biz
by Archi Biz
Posted: Feb 08, 2016

Basement Waterproofing is the technique to prevent water to penetrate from any side of the basement. Basements are built lower than the ground level and come with an added horizontal pressure on the walls which is managed via structural methods. The foundation, walls, floor and ceiling all must be made leak proof. Dampness must be avoided at any cost, due to the possibility of structural damage, which if not treated may result in collapsing of building.

Waterproofing is done by means of materials and sealants installed in plumbing and drainage system. These can be done in both passive constructional stage as well as post constructional stage. The concept is to install a sump pump which collects, removes and redirects water away from the foundation. This debars the water to come up level of the basement floor slab and maintains the decorum. Following are the methods that carry out the waterproofing in a standard basement:

SLOPE CHECK: First, the slope is checked, it must be away from the ground where the foundation stands. There must be no direct ground contact between the foundation and soil; otherwise water will enter the surface eventually. Atleast 2 feet of gravel filling must be done in order to create a layer which will be base for the floor slab to be casted. This also acts as buffer between the ground and the slab.

GROUND CHECK: The gutters or canals nearby must be cleaned and there must be no trash in or above the surface or any small scale plantations near the 12" radius of the foundation. This is crucial because over the course of the time this flora will grow and the roots will expand. These roots may interrupt the structure and result into cracks which will lead to waterproofing failure.

WALL WATERPROOFING: Drylok is a waterproofing product which expands as it dries and merges in the wall surface. Xypex is a similar product but is used in a paste form and strengthens in the presence of moisture. Water resistant paints can also be applied along with these products which can act as an additional protective layer. Proper skirting and tiling must be done so there is zero chance left for water to reach up the walls.

REPAIRING OF WALL: Fill any cracks or gaps in the wall with cement and plaster the surface with all the finishing. This would help avoiding any thermal disturbance or structural instability.

SUMP PUMP: This is a pump installed beneath the foundation and is the integral part of the process. When it is overloaded with water, the pump throws the excess water away from the foundation eradicating any possibility of leaks and dampness. Installation must be done by only professionals, as the failure can lead to severe damage.

HYDROCLAY: The Hydro clay is type of Bentonite Clay used for waterproofing. This is installed outside and pumps the soil along the pipelines running beneath the basement, sealing the gaps between the pipes and making them gaps-free.

About the Author:

The writer is an expert in the field of Water Proofing with focus on Construction Agreement and Electrical Consultant.

About the Author

Landscape designing is a raging trend & being pursued by wide ranging applications as per requirements. Spaces like residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, mixed-use etc. can all be implicated to accommodate stunning landscapes that serve

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Author: Archi Biz

Archi Biz

Member since: Dec 30, 2015
Published articles: 7

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