The Dos and DON’Ts of exterior waterproofing in Toronto

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From the moment a house is built, the system is stacked against it. When a home’s foundation walls are dug up to make way for them, space is left between the foundation wall’s outer edge and its soil.

This area is the backfill with excavated soil to create a loose, fluffed earth surface. Because this earth is more porous than the surrounding excavated soil would ever be, a false water table forms around your house. When it rains, the area directly around your foundation absorbs more water than anywhere else in most yards basement waterproofing Toronto .

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Challenges of exterior waterproofing in Toronto

If the water level rises, pressure is applied to the foundation walls. Water can move through the foundation walls in any direction it can, including through foundation wall gaps, the basement or crawl space floor, and, most commonly, the foundation wall-floor joint.

Furthermore, water may be forced into porous concrete and grout, causing dampness and humidity in the basement or crawl room. The weight of the water on the foundation walls increases as it absorbs.

This water can enter the foundation walls through any holes, the basement or crawl space board, or, most commonly, the foundation wall-floor joint. Water may also be pushed into the basement or crawl space by porous concrete and grout, causing dampness and humidity.

Water must remove away from the area around the base as far as possible to solve this issue. If that isn’t possible, the water must extract. Here we guide you on how exterior waterproofing services solve your problem.

  • Do foundation soil grading

The excavated soil around the base would begin to settle over many years. It will produce a “dip” in the yard along the foundation’s edge, which will collect water from rain and snow. This exterior waterproofing benefits water to pool around your base, aggravating the issue. If your foundation soil slopes towards your building, adding dirt to the area before the slope moves away from the house (this is known as “grading”) is recommended.

It’s also essential to ensure the dirt doesn’t extend up to the roofing. A four-in. gap between the soil line and the siding will prevent it from rotting or becoming a route for termites and carpenter ants looking to access your house.

  • Don’t use waterproof paint to cover cracks

It cannot be emphasized enough. Although waterproof paint can be a quick fix in a pinch, it only lasts around six months to two years, on average. Due to the porous nature of concrete, water begins to accumulate behind the paint.

The paint will continue to strip away, and you’ll be back where you started – in need of a plumber because water is seeping into your basement once more. We recommend that you take care of the issue right away to avoid more harm down the road.

  • Do drains for curtains

Curtain drains are commonly built somewhere along the edge of a steep incline if a home’s yard is positioned at the bottom of a steep hill or incline. Curtain drains are made by digging a trench in the yard far enough away from the base. After the trenches have been dug, a pipe is laid in them. The pipe is covered in stone, filling in the area and creating a stone stripe in the yard.

Although these drains effectively prevent water from pooling in the yard, they do not prevent water from entering the house from other directions, nor do they prevent water from entering the house from the sky or flowing through the ground underneath the drain.

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  • Don’t ignore dampness

The key here is to be cautious because of how minor you believe the issue is. If you find dampness in your basement, but there isn’t a visible leak, don’t overlook it. It’s easy to brush it off as a one-time occurrence, and you should still get it checked out further. The fungus will grow if there is moisture in your home, which is dangerous to your health.

You could have structural damage to your basement’s foundation in addition to mould. Simply hoping that the problem will go away will put you at risk of incurring major water damage costs in the future.

Conclusion
Large cracks and holes will permanently seal, and the house will be more structurally sound and safe from moisture absorption with the addition of sealing, membrane installation, and weeping tile. Simple do-it-yourself projects, such as gutter, downspout, and window well repairs, will help you save money and avoid flood damage in the future. Remember to keep an eye out for any new settling or grade changes once you’ve finished your home improvement project. Taking proactive measures to waterproof your basement will reap the benefits of a natural, dry basement.