The Problem

You find water in your basement or crawlspace. It seems like every time it rains the floor will be wet. Water can come into the basement several different ways. The primary reasons for a wet basement would be water infiltration of concrete block walls, fractures in a poured foundation wall, or a rising water table where there is no substantial drainage system. The type of foundation of your home will most often determine the source of water entry. For example: water will seep through the pores of block foundation wall, collect along the footing and come out where the floor and wall meet. On the other hand, a poured foundation wall may develop fractures from foundation settlement or from the natural concrete curing process. These fractures are easy access points for water to come into the basement. All foundations are vulnerable to water entering through the footing joints.

Water always moves along the path of least resistance. Water will drain into the soil and continue to drain down into deeper soil levels. However, if there is a high volume of water moving at the same time, it will be also forced to move laterally. In dry weather conditions, soils will contract and actually move away from the foundation walls, creating voids. A sudden heavy rainfall, insufficient surface runoff, or impervious soil conditions will allow water to find its way through these voids and collect along the foundation wall and footing. Of course, that same water will also add volume to the soil, causing it to expand and push back against the foundation wall. Running down the foundation wall, water will come in through both sides of the footing. It is then forced up through the joint where the wall and the slab meet.

In a block wall, water will slowly flow through the cavities, collect at the bottom and eventually force its way out through the floor joint. Signs of stagnant water collecting inside a block foundation include harmful mold and fungus growth, musty odors, and damp walls. The most obvious sign is of course standing water in the basement.

The Solution

There are many methods sold at hardware stores to attempt the fix of a water problem. This includes extending and/or trenching downspouts, moisture blocking paints, hydraulic cement, caulk, glue down interior trenching systems, etc. However, these methods usually don't stop the water at all, and can actually re-route the problem to a different location. Water coming up from the floor has generally been fixed by running 4" perforated drain tile around the outside (or inside) of the house to try and catch all the water before it comes into the basement. Drain tile has a lot of drawbacks as it can become clogged or crushed when the backfill of dirt occurs. Even if the water is being captured and channeled, it has to be drained somewhere - but usually ends up right back under the house. Since it is economically and structurally challenging to completely prevent water from gaining access to the entire foundation, professionals in the construction industry agree that an equally effective solution is to collect and channel the water into a proper drainage system.

Tri State Concrete offers the Hydraway Drain System; a combination of two superior SOLUTIA Hydraway Products. It creates the most effective and state-of-the- art waterproofing system offered!