How Are Foundation Waterproofing Methods Important For a Building?

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  • calendar-iconSep , 2022
  • Waterproofing
  • 5 min read

Introduction

Regular house waterproofing is applying sealant on the cracks to stop water from seeping inside. It’s effective on a smaller level – but if you want to drill down and stop the problem at its very root, you need to go for foundation waterproofing.

How is foundation waterproofing different from the other types? Let’s understand that and a lot more.

What Is Foundation Waterproofing?

Foundation waterproofing is a form of scientific waterproofing which means strengthening the very core of your home’s structure. As the name suggests, that involves adding protective layers to the foundation. 

Basement waterproofing, commonly referred to as foundation waterproofing, aids in shielding the home from groundwater as well as precipitation. By addressing issues like hydrostatic pressure—a condition where groundwater exerts pressure on foundation walls and causes leaks and cracks—this effectively offers targeted solutions.

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Types of Foundation Waterproofing

Interior Sealants

The internal surfaces of your home's foundation are shielded by interior sealants, a sort of foundation sealing. By giving the inside walls an additional layer of protection, their main function is to stop small leaks. 

Epoxy and polyurethane sealants are used to repair cracks in the basement. When this waterproofing sealer comes contact with moisture in the basement, it swells, sealing cracks and preventing water leakage.

Exterior Basement Waterproofing

The exterior counterpart of the previous type of foundation waterproofing is the exterior basement waterproofing. 

In this technique of basement waterproofing, bituminous coatings, or tar-like waterproofing materials, are applied to the exterior foundation walls. These materials are quite strong and capable of handling soil and water pressure.

Another technique of exterior basement waterproofing is with the help of membrane systems. This involves applying waterproof sheets or membranes to the exterior walls of your house. These sheets are made of rubber or plastic, naturally making them hyper-resistant to water leakage.

This is one of the best foundation waterproofing methods for stopping water from even reaching the foundation. 

For more information, refer to the Basement Waterproofing Guide.

Interior Water Drainage Systems

Suppose some water still manages to enter into the walls. Any good quality foundation waterproofing takes care of that possibility as well. That’s done with the help of interior water drainage systems the purpose of the basement waterproofing drainage systems is to catch and remove any water that manages to leak in, as opposed to the drainage systems inside your home that are meant to get rid of trash. 
By removing this water from your house, the systems successfully stop water buildup, which over time may cause structural damage.

Foundation Crack Injections

In some cases, you need targeted house waterproofing solutions. Your foundation is largely alright but has a few cracks here and there. Instead of going for a costlier, large-scale basement foundations waterproofing solution, you can go for the more localized option. The foundation crack injections are one such foundation waterproofing option.

As we saw above, you can go for epoxy and polyurethane sealants that are injected into the cracks specifically. They are very good at sealing the cracks and making sure they remain that way for a long time.

Benefits Of Foundation Waterproofing

When water leaks into your walls, it causes a myriad of problems. There are countless benefits to investing in foundation waterproofing services. Let’s look at a few main ones to understand just how important this waterproofing really is.

  1. Prevents Damage to the Core of Your Home: Humidity and moisture do not seem like powerful forces capable of destroying an entire foundation. However, years of water leakage have been observed to weaken a home’s foundation to such a degree that the entire foundation eventually crumbles.
    Basement waterproofing not only protects a foundation
  2. Prevents Fungal and Algal Growth: Water is the favourite food of harmful bacteria, fungi, and algae. These not only create ugly black areas on your walls but also weaken your home’s very structure. Sealants in the foundation and waterproofing help remove all water from your walls, putting a stop to their growth.
  3. Significantly Cuts Down the Maintenance Costs: In continuation to the previous point, house waterproofing is the best way to cut down on maintenance costs related to repainting the growth of fungus and algae on the walls. 

Methods And Materials For Foundation Waterproofing

Moisture Meter Measurements

Moisture meters are devices that can detect hidden moisture in your home’s walls and foundation. These meters are especially useful in catching those areas where the signs aren’t obvious, but the damage could be substantial. The best foundation waterproofing is done with precision targeting, and tools like these are great at increasing precision.

Wall Waterproofing and Treatments

Instead of the one-size-fits-all solutions we find everywhere, there are hyper-accurate foundation and waterproofing coatings and treatments that help you stop moisture build-up in a cost-effective manner.

Coatings and foundation waterproofing techniques include thick, cement-based foundation sealing materials, crystalline basement waterproofing substances, liquid waterproofing, and flexible elastomeric foundation sealing coatings. They’re all different in nature, with different methods and techniques, and can help in efficient foundation waterproofing.

Priming Foundation Walls

Priming is part of the preparation of foundation waterproofing. In this step, you need to clean and prepare the foundation walls to remove dust and previous paint or coatings. You then apply a primer that will increase the adhesion of your sealants and basement waterproofing layers.

If you fail to do this step properly or skip it entirely, your house waterproofing will need frequent touch-ups and redoing – making the whole process unnecessarily costlier and time-consuming.

Basement Waterproofing Solutions

Berger Paints has a whole range of basement waterproofing solutions that will provide excellent protection against all threats, from rain to groundwater.

Homeheild PU RoofKote is one of the polyurethane-based waterproofing solutions that are not only highly effective for basement foundations but also for your home’s roof.

Another foundation waterproofing material is Latex Shield 2K. A two-component, acrylic-modified waterproofing system, it can be used on both new and old foundations.

Specifically formulated for basement walls and floors, Dampshield Elasto is an elastomeric basement waterproofing solution. It forms a thick, elastic coating that covers cracks and provides protection against high levels of hydrostatic pressure.

Conclusion

Protect Your Home with Berger Foundation Waterproofing:

Berger offers cutting-edge waterproofing solutions that can guarantee the strength and dryness of your home's foundation. Our products offer complete protection against moisture and water damage, ranging from exterior treatments to interior sealants. For dependable, long-lasting results, trust Berger. To safeguard the future of your home's foundation, get in touch with us immediately for a free consultation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Foundation waterproofing means strengthening the core of your home’s structure with the help of special materials and practices.

Foundation waterproofing goes to the root of the problem and prevents all future problems. Without it, water enters the walls of your house and corrodes it from within – making any surface-level repainting and waterproofing futile. Inevitably, most houses need complete reconstruction due to such extreme damage. 

Interior sealants, exterior basement waterproofing, interior water drainage systems, and foundation crack injections are common techniques for waterproofing foundations.

Unattractive dark patches, flaking paint or wallpaper, and obvious fissures are all indicators that your foundation needs to be waterproofed.

When done correctly, foundation waterproofing lowers the expense of maintenance by shielding your house from fungus and algae growth as well as structural damage.

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