I’ve recently spent a considerable amount of time reading other websites and blogs about waterproofing and always find so many different perspectives. It’s funny to me how some “professionals” can get into arguing matches about which method is the best. Some of these folks write their piece and use such an authoritative tone and spout off all these credentials, yet they are still dead wrong. I’m going to discuss some of the points brought up in these blogs and explain what I know about waterproofing that might dispel some of the myths.
One thing I hear most often is (and it is great advice)… to keep water from leaking into your basement you need to clean your gutters, make sure they are draining away from the house, and make sure your soil is graded properly so that water doesn’t puddle up near the house. All of that is true; it’s a good idea to check these things regularly. However, these acts alone are not what will keep your basement from leaking. One excerpt I read stated, “I have cleaned my gutters, repaired any leaks in them and built my soil up so that it was sloping more away from my house. I can honestly say it’s been 2 weeks and my walls are currently not seeping and it has been raining. Great tips!” I am so glad for this guy that he’s not seeing the water come into his basement now. Unfortunately, if he had water leaking in before, that means there is a hole or crack in the basement wall that allowed the water to get inside in the first place. Chances are pretty good that it won’t be long before water finds its way back to that same area and starts leaking again. It’s just a matter of time.
Another approach I know of being used quite a bit is not even considered waterproofing. One company I know of (I’ll call them Mid-Pacific so as not to give any names away) is a firm believer in the interior methods. I recently arrived at a home In Richmond only to be greeted at the door by one of their salesmen who was leaving. Later, the lady that owned the home told me what this guy specifically said about his work, “What we’re doing is not waterproofing; it is what we call water management”. It brought joy to my heart to hear such a true statement from this representative. For years people have thought of the interior methods as waterproofing when, in fact, it is nothing at all like waterproofing. The homeowner then told me that she was really concerned because the salesman had said they would be cutting back 15 inches around the perimeter of the interior walls which included cutting back hardwood floors, carpet, and anything else in the way. When I spoke to her about the proper way to waterproof her house my description included digging down to the footer along a section of wall where their sunroom was. She told me that the salesman told her NOBODY would dig under it and for anyone to dig along that wall they would have to remove the sunroom from the house. I couldn’t believe my ears. The sunroom is about 2 feet off of the ground and the depth of the dirt down to the footer is less than 6 feet on the top end and around 4 feet at the low end. The sunroom is probably about 12 feet wide. It can be done easily. I digress… interior methods simply hide the water and channel the water away after it has entered your home; they manage the water instead of stopping it.
Another highly mentioned approach was the use of sump pumps. Many homes have them these days and most new homes are built with sump pumps in them. I can agree that there is a purpose and need for sump pumps. However, what I can’t agree on is how some folks recommend sump pumps to solve every type of water intrusion issue. The main problem I have with sump pumps is that they can fail. They are mechanical and they rely on electricity to work properly. If the pump fails or the power goes out you have a hole in your floor where the pump sits and nothing to stop the water from coming in this hole. Sump pumps are used when the interior methods are installed so the water can be pumped outside after it has entered your home. Like I said earlier, sump pumps can be used sometimes but generally will not solve your water intrusion issues… only cover them up.
I’m going to read through some other site’s information over the next few days and try to see what other conflicts they might be putting into people’s minds. I’ll do my best to offer a logical explanation as to why any given treatment will or will not work and why. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at Jon@NVBWS.com or check out our website at www.NVBWS.com . Thanks and have a dry day!
