Water is the most powerful force on the planet. Left unchecked, moisture intrusion may lead to mold, dry rot and more serious settlement issues.
The rainfall, topography and vintage architecture of the East Bay make homes in this area particularly vulnerable. The most effective waterproofing is a well-designed drainage system that takes into account all sources unwanted water, and redirects them away from the home.
MW Construction will assess the type of moisture intrusion and the areas of your home that are impacted, to devise a custom solution at the best possible price.
What Causes Foundation Leaking?
Imagine your home's foundation is like an inside out swimming pool. When a home is excavated to make room for the foundation walls, space is left between the outer edge of the foundation wall and the earth around it. This area is then backfilled with excavated soil, creating an area of loose, fluffed earth. This earth is more absorbent than the unexcavated soil around it will ever be, and because of this, a false water table is created around your home. In most yards, whenever it rains, more water collects in the area immediately around your foundation than anywhere else.
The water builds up like a dam, it exerts hydrostatic pressure on the foundation walls. This water will pass through the foundation walls in any way it possibly can- through cracks in the foundation walls, the basement or crawl space floor, or most often through the foundation wall floor joint. Additionally, water can be pushed through porous concrete and grout, entering the basement or crawl space in the form of dampness and humidity.
In our area this problem is often made worse by additional factors:
Downspouts and Gutters
If a gutter is clogged with leaves and debris, it won't be able to do its job for you. Make sure to do routine maintenance to be sure that it's working smoothly and properly at all times, and, if possible, they're screened to help prevent leaves from clogging the drainage. Once the gutters are working properly, however, you may notice a secondary problem; the water that runs through your downspouts is being ejected directly against your foundation. If this is the case, be sure to extend your downspouts as far away from your foundation as possible.
Foundation Soil Grading
Over the course of several years, the excavated soil around the foundation will begin to settle. As it does, it will create a faulty grade in the yard around the edge of the foundation that will collect water from rain and runoff. This encourages water to collect around your foundation and will make your problem even worse.
If your foundation soil is pitched towards your home, it's recommended that you add dirt to the area until the slope moves away from the house (this is known as "grading
The Best Solution Isn't Always
the Most Expensive One.
As you decide on a contractor, it is tempting to think that paying more ensures you will be getting a better product. The cost of french drains suggests that they are some perfect solution to all drainage woes. Many contractors bank on this misconception and fail to provide alternatives.
If a french drain is not properly installed, it can wind up creating a worse situation than what you started with--all the water collected in the trenches seeps through your foundation.
After many years of correcting the harm done by improperly installed french drains, MW Construction has found that an expensive exterior drainage system is not always the best way to go. In many cases there are more effective, less expensive approaches, especially with the type of moisture intrusion and architecture found in the East Bay.
If an exterior French Drain system turns out to be the best approach, you can have the confidence of knowing it will be professionally installed by an experienced contractor.
Consider an independent construction consulting company such as Anderberg Construction Consulting to provide unbiased recommendations.
MW Construction urges you to take the time to check references.
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