Saturday, July 30, 2011

Locating Trends About Waterproofing And Basement Systems Nova Scotia

By Adriana Noton


The technique used to keep water from infiltrating a house or other building is waterproofing. If the structure is at ground level or below, then waterproofing is necessary so that ground water will not build up in the soil which will result in raising the water table. The basement systems Nova Scotia can help eliminate some of these problems.

When pressure collects underneath the floor and the walls of a lower level room, then cracks will begin to form. These small cracks will cause large openings which will expand and contract due to hydrostatic pressure. The openings will collect mold and decay which results in building materials becoming faulty and unstable. To seal these areas, some groups can apply epoxies that will be injected directly into the opening or crack.

Foundations that are considered masonry can be treated with an interior sealer that can prevent moisture from entering the below ground rooms when hydrostatic pressure begins. If the masonry foundation is not treated, then a condition called spalling occurs. This is when there is no sealer, so the humidity breaks down the foundation causing the building material to deteriorate and crack or even collapse.

Foundations made of concrete will be treated with a drainage system that is built into the concrete blocks. This is done by drilling weep holes into the concrete to allow for water flow to occur. An interior drain is inserted through the blocks so that the water can collect and be drained into a sump pump.

This sump pump will redirect the water flow out of the living space. If water enters through a crack in the basement or foundation, then a trench is dug to collect the water, route it to the drain that leads to the sump pump. The sump pump will pump all the moisture out from under the house immediately.

An exterior waterproofing can be applied to building materials to prevent the deterioration and molding of building supplies. This application will prevent water from coming through the wall to begin with. The IBC or International Building Code will recognize this method as the only treatment that is guaranteed to prevent structural damage caused by water. Asphalt was the coating of choice before the 1980's when it was deemed a health hazard.

Today, many new substances are being used as a coating. The polymer-based waterproofing material is more user friendly and better for the health of the environment and the occupants of the structure. It prevents water entrance into the foundation much like asphalt did, but it is easily applied by spray and it is not affected by the changing soil pH. It also is flexible enough to move around so that it conforms to the cracks and openings that appear over time.

Many different basement foundations are constructed from wood, concrete, block, and brick which means proper waterproofing must be done to the particular substance used. The correct method can save time and future Leaky Basement Repair Halifax if addressed early in the construction process.




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