Hydrostatic Pressure Resolutions Help Please!!!!
12/1/2013 at 2:27:53 PM
Hi there. I have been researching basement waterproofing. I have nothing to lose in asking and seeing what you might know or how you may be able to direct me. I am at a loss.!!!
I am a home owner of a 1955 block wall house. I had the foundation dug up and new weepers installed, as well as an external sump pit to be an extra help, yes I know strange for Canada. but I still had issues with dampness in the blocks and flooring around the 2 walls by the ex. sump pit but not enough water that one could wipe up. I had discovered the outside pit was never really working proper. then I ended up with water pouring in thru my well line(yes I am in the country). I took the foundation contractor to court and it was settled that the work would be redone.
In doing so we found:
1) the aquablock was not used on the wall for a waterproof layer not sure what was under the plastic wrap
2) the old weeper system was still there
3) the new weepers were on top of the footing
4) not much gravel 5) the external pit was improperly done.
The contractor returned and for the most part did the work properly, but the pit. During the repair it rained and water came in my finished basements utility room, as I ended up with a moat around an L shape of my house, water came in my only unfinished area as my floors all have the plastic on the floor under the laminate thankfully.
Since then water will come in constant since the trench has been back filled with 2 ft gravel and the old clay, now hydrostatic pressure has been created. the external pump has now been done correctly but the water is endless, I am on a water shed but it is never this bad. I have an indoor sump also, it seems the new weepers are not sending any water to that sump, water gets to it from the floor drain tile which runs on a diagonal across from the front north corner to the middle of the east wall(stops at the footing).
When I took out the external sump pit the internal one ran more often but it did not ever come in the weeper pipe or stop the water coming in the house.
I am looking for any help on how to stop this hydrostatic pressure on my house, it has been 6 weeks non stop now cleaning up water in my basement. With no understanding as to why. I can not see where it is coming in, best conclusion is the covered floor as the outside walls have been coated in a waterproofing membrane and the plastic wrap.
12/2/2013 at 6:48:50 PM
An exterior waterproof membrane on your home's foundation is literally an extra layer of protection. There are two types: damp-proof and waterproof, and they do different jobs.
A damp-proof membrane is usually a black tar or asphalt compound that gets painted or rolled onto a typical concrete foundation. Then over top of that goes a mastic coating (like a waterproof paste), a mesh coating and then more mastic.
This system is meant to stop vapour penetrating through the concrete that's water vapour and even radon gas. But it's not waterproof. I like a two-coat liquid rubberized membrane that's sprayed on, by certified contractors. It sets into a 100% waterproof rubbery coating.
No matter which coating a foundation has, it must be protected by dimpled membrane. It stops groundwater from coming into contact with the foundation wall, but the dimples also create a drainage space that lets the wall breathe.
According to the building code, all you need is the dimpled membrane. But adding that extra waterproof membrane creates a better waterproofing system.
Further more the clay is probably restricting the water from entering the weeping tile.
12/3/2013 at 4:53:33 AM
It sounds like your weeping system is the biggest possible cause of your problems. I would call in a plumber with a video scope and take a look at the weeping pipes. It doesn't cost a lot but will answer a lot of questions. They should be able to tell where and if everything is hooked up properly. Also if the slope is correct. Even weeping tiles need to be sloped or at least level. If not the water won't reach your sump pit.
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