Things to consider before selecting Waterproofing Membranes

Whether it’s a new build or an existing structure, all waterproofing applications should be installed by experienced, licensed waterproofing contractors. Our objective in this article is to make some useful recommendations for the things you may be unaware of on the subject of waterproofing.

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1.         Evaluate the perimeter of your house: Make sure that the ground next to your foundation slopes is away from the foundation, and not towards it. Dirt which is installed as ‘Backfill’ around the foundation, typically at retaining walls, tends to compact over time and settle lower than the surrounding dirt, which is already packed and established. This causes the overall falls to slope towards the house, as opposed to away from it. If necessary/practical, add more dirt up against the foundation to create at least a 150mm per meter slope against the foundation. The top of the dirt should be at least 150mm below the sill plate so that there is no ground contact which can cause certain building materials to rot over time.

2.       Treat your walls with products such as Drylok or Xypex if you have minor leaks: Drylok is waterproofing compound, not a water sealer. It expands as it cures effectively to become part of the wall. Xypex is more akin to applying a waterproof concrete on the surface that bonds with it. Because Xypex relies on the presence of moisture to form its waterproof crystalline structure, if a Xypex application does have small areas of water penetration it would seal itself as it cycles through moisture. You should expect to pay up to 4 times as much for Xypex as you would for the Drylok system. The major limitation with these types of solutions is that groundwater which is underneath the basement floor or at the wall/floor junction will generally be built up with a significant amount of negative pressure, due to the weight of groundwater above it.

3.       Repair defects in walls such as cracks: If you notice a crack in a concrete wall, it may continue right through the wall to the outer surface and is a potential source of water penetration. Any cracks that are not subject to thermal or structural movement can be treated with DRYLOK Fast Plug, which is very effective in sealing cracks in masonry.

4.        Consider installing a sump: Simply put, this is a hole in your basement floor which contains a pump. When the water level in the sump rises too high, a pump kicks in and draws the water out of the sump, discharging it approximately 3m away from the residence.