ASHWORTH DRAINAGE BLOG
Do you ever wonder about what types of sewer pipes and materials go into basement waterproofing? It can be more complex than you think! Not just all concrete and earth, the drainage systems that divert water away from homes and protect them from flooding can be made from very different materials.
Your sump pump is the unsung hero of your dry basement, doing a thankless job so well you might forget that it’s there. If that’s the case, you should probably go down to your basement and give it some kudos – and a safety check!
The sump pump has become a fairly common fixture in homes, especially if they’re new and/or built-in low-lying areas where snowmelt comes on rapidly. Sounds a little bit like much of London, doesn’t it? If you have a sump pump or are thinking of installing one in an older home, this is how it works and what you can do keep it working.
Anywhere there’s local problems with geography, builders have to take them into account. Florida’s notorious sinkholes and hurricanes have to always be factored in. In places like B.C., where it’s very damp, mould is a very big issue. Warm places like Australia, basements aren’t even needed at all because there’s no freezing and thawing cycle that makes a deep foundation necessary! Ontario’s deep frost line and always-changing temperature cycle make deep foundations a necessity. Without one, the freezing and thawing would leave your home a mess!
Regardless of how deep your foundation is, freezing and thawing still cause their own set of problems.
Basement Bugs and Moisture
Even to the untrained eye, many signs of a leaky foundation can be pretty obvious: dampness, pooling water, and cracks in the walls are all indicators that something is amiss. But did you know that the presence of bugs in your home is also a bad sign?
Whenever the seasons change, many homeowners wince and think about their foundation. Moving from winter to spring means snowmelt that could make its way into your basement; autumn to winter means hydrostatic pressure pushing moisture onto your warm(er) basement walls as they thaw the soil surrounding them. Why can’t the weather be the same all year round in Canada?
The move from summer to autumn brings its own set of challenges and concerns. Two things falling from above mean trouble for your basement if it’s not properly protected: rain and leaves.
Basement waterproofing can be a topic of broad conversation because the solutions run between simple, small crack repair, and major, costly flooding. Because of this, many people want to simply forget that their basement walls are a lot different than the rest of the house!
Here are some frequently asked questions about basement leakage and what you can do to fix it!
Foundations need care and attention year-round, but fall might be the most important season in which to take action: it’s your best chance to catch problems that might need a lot of work, problems that will be made much harder by metres of snow, frozen ground, and meltwater. Winter can wreak havoc on your foundation, as the falling temperatures, ice, and expanding and contracting soil can exert a lot of pressure and make any problems much worse.
So grab a pad of paper and a pencil, take an hour or two, and see if your basement and foundation has anything noteworthy. Noticing it now will save you a lot of time, money, and headaches!
With summer almost over and fall on the horizon, now is the perfect time to examine your home and get it ready for winter. There are certain things that can save you money on bills and repairs in the future. If you’re looking to get started, here are ten tips for fall to ensure your home will be ready for whatever winter throws at it!
(more…)
So much work goes into the business of purchasing a new home – the financial arrangements, scoping out the neighbourhood, inspecting the kitchen and bathrooms – that you might forget to do something very, very important: looking at the state of the basement! Before making such a massive commitment, you should know the condition of the basement, foundation, and surrounding property. You don’t want to be caught off-guard and move into a flood-prone basement.
If you’re new to all this, follow these instructions. You should always know what you’re getting into, from the attic to the foundation!
Waterproofing can be easy when you’re in a great area. In a place with the right soil, the right gradient, and the right landscaping, waterproofing can be a breeze, because you don’t need more than the basics!
But not everyone lives in a home in an optimal area. (more…)