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Understanding Basement Waterproofing in New Brunswick NJ 08901

Posted by Jerome Fokas on

Basements are usually more disposed to water infiltration than any other part of the building for the mere fact that these areas are underground. Surface run offs and rising damp cause the most problems for basements that have no waterproof measures installed. Basement waterproofing in New Brunswick NJ 08901 prevents water and moisture from seeping into basements where it does a lot of damage to the structure and the fixtures inside. Moisture causes dampness which is a perfect catalyst for the growth of mold, bacteria and fungi, and we all know the trouble these can cause to people’s health and property.

Techniques of basement waterproofing are aimed at preventing water from entering a basement and they include sealers and drainage systems. The build-up of ground water tends to raise the water table which causes an exertion of hydrostatic pressure against basement walls and floors. This pressure forces water into the basement through cracks and other openings. Waterproofing of basements should be looked at as a means of prolonging the life of any building.

Types of Basement Waterproofing in New Brunswick NJ 08901

Advancement of technology has come up with effective means of waterproofing basements. There are two basic ways through which waterproofing of basements can be done. Below are highlights of these two methods.

  • Interior Waterproofing

With interior basement waterproofing, the work is generally done on the inside of your basement. Typically, this involves techniques that employ the use of special cements or sheet membranes to create a water shield or barrier on the inside. At times, some concrete breakout work is necessary for the waterproofing work to be done properly.

This method is relatively easy and consumes less time as compared to the other method. Since it is an intrusive method, it would certainly see things being moved about and out of the basement. A sump pump is normally installed to remove water that accumulates in the perimeter drains of certain interior waterproofing systems.

  • Exterior Waterproofing

As the name suggests, this method of waterproofing a basement is done on the outside part of the basement. That’s right; you will have to do some excavation for this method. It involves a lot of work and is quite time consuming. For effective waterproofing, suitable water barriers are placed on the external part of the basement walls.

The good thing with the exterior basement waterproofing method, even though it is a load of work, nothing inside the basement is disturbed. Also, sump pumps may not be necessary with this method even though they are sometimes recommended.

foundation-repair

Little Known Foundation Repair Challenges Associated with Leakages

Posted by Jerome Fokas on

A leaky foundation is a threat to not only the building structure, but also the property inside. When a home is built, its foundation walls are clean and easily accessible. However, with time the structure may experience problems such as cracking, gaps, and holes. Water begins to take its toll on your home, and if nothing is done to stop it, soon you start counting losses. Leakages in a building are a matter of emergency and should be handled as soon as possible. A foundation repair, if conducted at the right time using effective restoration procedures, can save a homeowner from water damage.

Water seepage shouldn’t be confused with moisture infiltration

There is a difference between water entering the interior of a building and moisture infiltrating a foundation. Some repair procedures are meant to restore problems related with moisture infiltration and not water seepage.

For example, a waterproofing technique helps tackle issues of liquid water entering a basement through cracks, gaps, and holes, but moisture can infiltrate porous cement through pores. The right treatment for moisture infiltration, or migration, is through damp proofing and not waterproofing. These two procedures can offer different remedies in protecting a home. Damp proofing is meant to keep moisture away and may not address the problem of liquid water.

Foundation repair techniques

A number of techniques are applied when repairing foundations. Depending on the nature of the problem, a contractor may decide to use one or more repair techniques. Foundations tend to experience cracking. It is normal for foundations to crack because cement shrinks as it cures.

Shrinkage induces stress on concrete, and that way, cracks form to relieve the stress. This is okay because foundations are designed to handle cracks.

However, if there are external forces such as settlement of the ground acting on foundation walls, it makes cracks widen and grow deeper. Common areas where cracks occur are corners of windows or in the middle of an elongated wall.

Most cracks are vertical and can be corrected using urethane foam technique. In the event that cracks run horizontally, or the wall structure has deflected, cracks may be perceived as structural. In this case, the ergo, epoxy technique is deemed appropriate.

Concisely, before any foundation repair is undertaken, the cause of the problem should be identified. Foundation cracks develop because of shifting ground, improper compaction, too much moisture, and too little moisture. Other cracks may be caused by tree roots growing in close proximity to a building.