How Does Home Waterproofing Work?
Water is everywhere. It covers roughly 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, and the human body is around 70 percent water by weight. Life couldn’t exist without liquid water, and the UN considers fresh, clean water to be a basic human right.
However, water is also one of the most destructive forces out there. Chemists call water the universal solvent since the majority of all compounds and minerals can dissolve in it. Water carves out massive river valleys, wears down mountains, and ruins pavement. Anyone who has survived a flood or seen its aftermath can tell you how much just a few inches of rushing water can change permanently change the landscape.
As such, water has to be carefully managed when it comes to people’s homes. The pipes can’t be anything less than metal, and the tubs and basins we keep water in are always metal, porcelain, or plastic. It also means that rainwater and groundwater have to be directed away from your home’s foundation or basement, or else water could seep in, wear the concrete down, or create cracks.
Here are some of the ways that construction workers and basement contractors like AA Action Waterproofing keep water out of your home:
- Backfill. By surrounding the base and sides of a basement with rocks and gravel instead of dirt and clay, water can easily move past the concrete walls and drain away.
- Perforated drain pipes. The water that drains through the gravel collects in these pipes and moves into the local storm drain system instead of sticking around and raising the local water level.
- Gutters. You may not think gutters have anything to do with your foundation, but that’s exactly what they’re there to protect. Gutters move rainwater that falls on your roof away from your home’s foundation instead of letting it drip directly down onto it.
- Landscaping. Even the shape of your lawn can affect your foundation. If the ground slopes slightly towards your house, rain will tend to collect right up against your foundation and seep in.
- Sump pump. When the groundwater has the tendency to rise past the depth of a basement, a sump pump can drain the rising water and keep it from getting in.
- Crack repair and prevention. If water is getting in and can’t be redirected for some reason, a basement waterproofing company can use epoxy or waterproof membranes to keep water from getting through. It works better on the exterior, before construction workers add the backfill, but you can apply them to the interior as well.
- Dehumidifier. Summer humidity is much less of a danger to basements and foundations than runoff or flooding, but it can still lead to mold issues.
As you might guess from this list, basement waterproofing is more about prevention than it is about repair. That’s why AA Action Waterproofing works with Maryland construction companies as well as homeowners to make sure every house and building in the state and beyond is prepared to deal with rain, tropical storms, floods, and groundwater. If you live in this area, and if you have a problem with water or mold in your basement, crawlspace, or foundation, contact us right away for a free initial estimate.