BASEMENT WATERPROOFING SOLUTIONS - Exterior or Interior

TCM Waterproofing offers many basement waterproofing solutions and each project is designed and installed to meet the unique interests of the homeowner. We start with an on-site inspection in order to provide a professional assessment of the water issue. We use methods that have been proven to work over time. In the end, whether the homeowner decides to remedy the problem from the inside or the outside, both offer a transferable lifetime warranty because both are permanent solutions!

If you have water in your basement, the first question to address is whether or not an exterior waterproofing job is an option. If your home is in a low lying area, if there are obstructions around the perimeter of your homes such as a deck, patio, or swimming pool, and if there isn’t sufficient area between your home and your neighbor’s property to allow for excavating equipment, then approaching the issue from the outside isn’t an option. But if possible, homeowners often prefer an exterior solution because that’s where the problem originated. This consists of excavating to the footer, replacing the footer tiles, pressure washing the foundation walls, sealing cracks with hydraulic cement, spraying the walls with a sealant, sealing the walls with a waterproof membrane, and backfilling with gravel.

To tackle the problem from the inside, the perimeter of the basement floor is opened and a drain tile is installed. This tile collects any water that is below the foundation level, acting as a funnel to direct the water into the drain. A synthetic wrapping is placed on the walls, allowing the water from the wall to shed down into the drain tile. The drain is surrounded with gravel to keep it clean and connected to a sump pump which discharges the water into the yard or downspout discharge line. This creates a safe and dry environment in your basement.

An exterior job is usually about twice the cost of water control for the interior of your basement, but both are effective and the one you choose depends on your specific situation. The first step to any wet basement solution is to contact TCM Waterproofing for a free assessment and inspection. Precautionary actions are the key to keeping your basement healthy and dry. We know you’ve got questions and we’ve got answers, so feel free to ask and we will be glad to help. We look forward to earning your business.

Dangers of Hydrostatic Pressure

As forces of nature, such as moisture and frost interact with the soil around and under your home, the soil expands. That expansion results in constant inward pressure on your foundation walls and concrete slab floor until it can no longer support the pressure. This in turn causes cracking and bowing of the walls or subsurface drainage issues.