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Water Problems Solved
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Do you have water leaking into your basement through the foundation walls?
You're not alone, and we understand your concern all too well.
The good news is that you just found the most reliable solution to this problem.
Before we jump to the fix, let’s take a moment to consider the root cause of the problem.
It isn't old concrete - concrete doesn’t simply crack as it ages, just as skyscrapers don’t simply crumble.
So, how exactly did the foundation walls get cracked in the first place?
Most cracks in foundation walls result from lateral pressure. This pressure comes from, of all things, ice.
During the seasonal freeze-thaw cycle, moisture in the earth expands and contracts by as much as 9%.
Though this may not sound like a very big number, a 9% expansion against your foundation is actually a tremendous force.
As it expands, ice can exert up to 114,000 pounds of pressure per square inch, if it has nowhere else to escape.
This video demonstrates the power of ice, using a cast iron metal pipe.
Now the water beside your house isn’t closed off like in this pipe, however once the ground starts freezing, water does get trapped.
It is this trapped groundwater, which turns to ice and pushes up against your foundation walls. In the Fall and in the Spring, this cycle may repeat many times, as the trapped groundwater freezes and melts with the daily temperature swings.
After enough cycles of this expansion and contraction, the concrete weakens and eventually gives way.
Once the walls are cracked, outside water starts leaking in and the real headaches begin.
Earth Tech delivers a sure solution to this problem.
We start by excavating around the foundation. We clean up the walls and apply a rubberized membrane (commonly called Blueskin). This provides an impermeable shield.
No more water inside — the problem you see.
While we have the excavation open, we upgrade your weeping tile, so that your sump system can capture as much water as possible and work to it’s full potential.
We then cover the new weeping tile with rock to keep the mud out and the water flowing.
Next, we backfill with sand, not the original clay.
This way, water can quickly seep down to the bottom of the excavation and make its way into the sump system.
And any water which does happen to freeze in the sand, simply expands in the sand, which gives way readily (unlike all the dense clay we removed).
This eliminates the lateral pressure against your walls — the problem you don’t see.
Finally, the surface can be topped off with whichever materials you prefer — earth, rock, paving stones, etc.
With our system in place, your foundation walls remain dry (inside and out), because they are protected by the membrane and because the water ends up where it should, in your sump system.
No more invisible icebergs pushing up against your walls!
Our system not only stops the water from coming in, it effectively extends the life of your foundation.
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