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How To Repair Basement Leaks

You have several options when it comes to waterproofing your basement. While there are several schools of thought when it comes to waterproofing, you should always do your research before committing to a solution that will last for the long term.

How About Negative-Side Waterproofing?

This type of basement waterproofing involves painting over the cracks or using a hydraulic cement to seal the cracks where water's leaking through.

While this kind of waterproofing is initially cheaper, it ends up costing more in the long run. Negative-side waterproofing is not a permanent solution since it doesn't fix the cause: hydrostatic pressure. So water will find its way into your basement, creating new floor and wall cracks which you'll have to repair.

What About Exterior Waterproofing?

To install an exterior waterproofing system - a.k.a. footing drain - you need to remove the soil surrounding your foundation, down to the footing. Once the area is excavated, a footing drain is installed next to your foundation.

This method is messy, expensive and can damage your foundation. Plus it's not always a permanent solution to your wet basement problems. The footing drains easily clog and the only way to clean them is to re-excavate so that you can access them and clean the drain.

What About Interior Footing Drains?

Just like exterior waterproofing, the interior footing drain is prone to clogging. To install the drain a hole needs to be dug around the perimeter of your basement floor. The drain is then installed on a bed of rock and soil, new concrete's installed, and a gap is left between the floor and the wall for water to flow into the drain.

The gap not only allows water to flow into the drain but other debris to get into the drain. Plus the soil that's resting below the drain can flow up into the drain clogging it. And how do you clean a drain that has concrete poured over it?

DryTrak Waterproofing System

This is a form of interior waterproofing that doesn't involve cutting holes into your basement floor. Instead a baseboard system is installed which collects water from the blocks or leaking windows and directs the water to your sump pump.

DryTrak is one of the most effective and least invasive methods of basement waterproofing. It's designed as a basement waterproofing method for monolithic foundations. A monolithic foundation is a shallow foundation which was installed all in one-pour. This means that the footings and floor were all poured at the same time so your floor and footings are connected.

WaterGuard Waterproofing Solution

This is the most reliable and effective basement waterproofing system available. WaterGuard is an interior floor drain, but unlike the traditional footing drain it sits on top of the footing and prevents debris from entering the pipe - eliminating clogs.

WaterGuard is installed next to your basement wall, on top of the footing, and collects water seepage from the walls, floor-wall joint and even floor leaks. It works with your sump pump so any water that's collected is removed.

Don't be fooled into thinking that a DIY approach is the best option for waterproofing your basement. It's always best to consult with an expert before deciding on a solution.

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