The footing is a strip of concrete usually around 12" x 24" (this varies by local code and age of the home) that is poured around the perimeter of the house or building. Once dry the foundation wall is built on top of it. Most modern construction uses hollow "cinder" block or solid poured concrete walls.
After the foundation walls have been built the floor is poured last, this is typically 4 inches thick and poured as a solid unit.
Initially this building had a layer of asphalt and plastic sheeting applied on the exterior foundation wall and a drain tile system install on the interior underneath the floor.
Usually a coating of aspalt is sprayed or brushed over the unsealed block and, if the customer is lucky, the contractor will put a sheet of plastic over the surface for minimal water protection.
This wall has been coated with asphalt for minimal water protection.
- Metal tie-rods left in concrete rust through
- Structure settles creating cracks
- Damage from outside such as roots or bad drainage
- Water works it's way around the footing
- Wet concrete isn't vibrated to remove voids and air pockets
- High water table pushes water up through floor
- Contractor doesn't pour concrete in timely manner
- Walls are backfilled too soon when new, cracking mortar and blocks
- Man-made waterproofing materials live out their lifespan
- Improper slope of drain tile system does not allow water to reach pump
- Pump discharge is too close to house allowing water to recirculate back into walls
- Hollow foundation wall blocks fill with dirt and sand,not allowing water to properly drain into drain tile system
- Power outage causes pump failure
- High mineral content clogs pump and pipe system
- Pump does not have periodic maintanance
- Mortar and block is exposed to water for long periods of time
- Structure settles creating cracks
- Damage from outside such as roots or improper drainage
- Hollow block cores fill with water from improper drainage
- Water works it's way around the footing coming up through the floor
- Walls are backfilled too soon when new, cracking mortar and blocks
- High water table pushes water up through floor
- Wet ground freezes, over time the expansion and contraction of the ground cracks the wall
Asphalt is considered "dampproofing" meaning it will help with minimal amounts of water. It also doesn't have the ability to bridge cracks when they develop. With a lifespan around four years, asphalt develops cracks and crumbles off the wall
Once the water gets in, it's hard to stop it. We injected hydroclay around this area to keep the water away from the foundation.
Great Lakes Waterproofing serves the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota Great Lakes Waterproofing serves the cities of Saint Paul, Minneapolis, Plymouth, Richfield, Burnsville, Lakeville, Hudson, Saint Cloud, Duluth, Eau Claire, Stillwater, Bloomington, Rochester, Long Lake, Wayzata, Minnetonka, South Saint Paul, Woodbury, Highland Park, Savage, Faribault, Elko, Lake Elmo, Maple Grove, Mound, Moundsview, Roseville, Osseo, Cottage Grove, Afton, Falcon Heights, Green Bay, Hastings, Red Wing, Farmington, River Falls, Rosemont, Prior Lake, Chanhassen, Chaska, New Brighton, Hutchinson, Big Lake, Forest Lake, New Richmond, Sommerset, Rogers, Elk River, Blaine
