How to Have a Dry and Stable Foundation

There are several steps that a homeowner or their contractor can take for Waterproofing Pittsburgh, PA basements. Several of these start on the outside of the home to keep as much water as possible away from the basement. The homeowner should walk around the exterior of the house and make sure that all of the land slopes away from the foundation. For each foot of land it should slope downward 2 inches. That will ensure that the natural drainage patterns are away from the house.

The gutter system collects a lot of water off of the roof. The homeowner should make sure that the downspout exit is at least five feet from the edge of the house. There should also be no leaks in the gutter that can allow sheets of water to fall down the side of the house and then seep into the foundation wall. If the owner has made sure that the land slopes away from the house, then the water that comes out of the downspout will continue moving away from the home.

Plants and shrubs should be at least 12 inches away from the house. If a plant’s root ages and rots, it creates a hollow channel in the soil. Water easily finds this path and goes deep into the soil and the basement. If a homeowner can easily walk between their home and garden, this is just the right amount of space. It also ensures that the sun can dry out the home exterior. This extends the life of the shingles or clapboards and prevents mold.

Once the exterior has been designed to keep as much water away as possible, then the homeowner can use a Waterproofing Pittsburgh PA sealant on the interior of the basement. These look like paint, but they expand as they dry and become part of the wall. The only problem with using this on the basement floor is that groundwater can be pushed up through the floor at a rate that goes through the sealants. This can make Foundation Stabilization attempts very difficult. Usually a professional contractor will have to put a concrete pad under the house that is supported with steel shafts that reach into stable bedrock. There are several techniques that allow this to be done easily with minimal disruptions. After it is completed the landscaping should be double checked to ensure it doesn’t lead to a leaky basement. Click here for more information!