Basement waterproofing systems:

Keeping the water out of your basement will limit the amount of mold and mildew that can occur in your basement area. The mold and mildew due to improperly waterproofed basement walls can cause illness and sickness in you and your family.If you own a home and have a subsoil basement then you need to be concerned about basement waterproofing. Basement waterproofing is defined as preventing water from penetrating into your basement area.However if like most this method wasn't followed to the complete letter of the suppliers instructions you are going to need to continue reading. The second basement waterproofing method that is utilized is called a “Cavity Drainage System”. When your basement is constructed you will have a thin plastic honeycomb membrane installed on the walls and floors. The floors will be sloped toward the sump pump so that any water that ingresses into your basement structure can be promptly removed.

The construction industry is full of basement waterproofing products that are designed to keep your basement dry. However through proper research you will find that there are only three separate types of waterproofing available to you.

The first type is called “Tanking” or bonding a substance or membrane to the outside of your basement that will prevent water ingress into your basement walls. This method is predominantly used during the initial construction phase of your home. If your builder built the structure properly this should be all of the basement waterproofing that you will need.

If your house experiences only mild rains year round this system may be all that you need for proper water removal. The downsides to the cavity system is one of system failure. During power outages the sump pump may not work allowing your basement to be filled by water. The honeycomb over time also could become a harbinger for mold and mildew spores. Thereby disallowing the reason that you have the basement waterproofing product in your home in the first place.

If you live in parts of the country that occasionally receive heavy downpours then you will most assuredly be in need of the third and final type of basement waterproofing product. This product is an “Exterior Foundation Drain”, also called a “French Drain” by many in the construction industry. The drain is a system that is built on the outside wall of your foundation and diverts water through a ground drainage system away from the basement walls.

Utilizing the Tanking method and the Exterior Foundation Drain is the best methodology for preventing basement waterproofing problems. Many companies will sponsor seminars and instructional videos on how to handle any basement waterproofing problems that you may have.