Wet Basement Solution Waterproofing To Avoid Moldy Insulation Finished Unfinished Basements New York
UBMI Publications
November 16, 2009
www.superiorwallsnypa.com
Mold and Mildew are two things you never want to have in your basement. Having wet concrete walls will encourage the growth of mold, which will damage your items and could cause very serious health issues. Here is what you need to know about New York basement waterproofing to make sure your basement stays dry for the long term.
How Basements Work
A traditional basement system requires a concrete footing that is typically poured directly on the soil, with the concrete being only 3500 psi. Then the basement wall is installed on top of the concrete footing. Masonry walls and poured concrete walls below 5,000 psi are like sponges – they can absorb or "Wick" water due to Capillarity. This is the main reason that exterior damp proofing is applied. Two ways to apply the exterior damp proofing are using the black tar-like coating or the plastic dimple wrap.
Water Proofing Methods
The black tar-like coating works by filling in the pores in the masonry wall and the concrete poured wall below 5,000 psi, which reduces ground water absorption but does not stop the water from being absorbed by the footer. The footer (3500 PSI concrete) would need to be covered as well, to reduce the "Wicking" of water into the footing which would then stop the absorption of water by the masonry or poured wall through the direct contact with the footer. Waterproofing your finished basement will need to be done with precision to keep the water from absorbing into your walls, then insulation, then drywall.
Why Basements Fail
In new construction a Capillary Break should be installed on the top of the footing, between the footing and the Masonry or concrete wall (which will be below 5,000 psi concrete). This can be done by damp proofing the top of the footing or by installing a membrane between the footing and the basement wall.
Failure to have a Capillary Break will result in your footing absorbing ground water. Thus allowing your masonry wall or below 5,000 psi concrete poured wall to absorb or "wick" moisture resulting in a damp foundation that could promote the growth of mold and mildew on and around your basement insulation. If you have Moldy Insulation, you may have to tear the insulation down and replace it.
The Solution To Keeping Your Basement Dry
To insure you have a dry basement, whether you have a finished basement or unfinished basement, you need to make sure your builder is installing a Capillary Break between your footing and foundation wall, OR you could just request a Superior Wall. Superior Walls is made with a minimum 5,000 psi concrete that is ANSI certified to be naturally water impermeable. Superior Walls are installed on a stone sub footing, which will drain and keep the wall from needing a Capillary Break. The "Wicking" of ground water will not occur in this type of basement wall. With this system you can have a beautiful finished or unfinished basement and not have to worry about "Wicking", Mildew or Mold.
For more information on Superior Walls, please visit there website, www.superiorwallsnypa.com
Mold and Mildew are two things you never want to have in your basement. Having wet concrete walls will encourage the growth of mold, which will damage your items and could cause very serious health issues. Here is what you need to know about New York basement waterproofing to make sure your basement stays dry for the long term.
How Basements Work
A traditional basement system requires a concrete footing that is typically poured directly on the soil, with the concrete being only 3500 psi. Then the basement wall is installed on top of the concrete footing. Masonry walls and poured concrete walls below 5,000 psi are like sponges – they can absorb or "Wick" water due to Capillarity. This is the main reason that exterior damp proofing is applied. Two ways to apply the exterior damp proofing are using the black tar-like coating or the plastic dimple wrap.
Water Proofing Methods
The black tar-like coating works by filling in the pores in the masonry wall and the concrete poured wall below 5,000 psi, which reduces ground water absorption but does not stop the water from being absorbed by the footer. The footer (3500 PSI concrete) would need to be covered as well, to reduce the "Wicking" of water into the footing which would then stop the absorption of water by the masonry or poured wall through the direct contact with the footer. Waterproofing your finished basement will need to be done with precision to keep the water from absorbing into your walls, then insulation, then drywall.
Why Basements Fail
In new construction a Capillary Break should be installed on the top of the footing, between the footing and the Masonry or concrete wall (which will be below 5,000 psi concrete). This can be done by damp proofing the top of the footing or by installing a membrane between the footing and the basement wall.
Failure to have a Capillary Break will result in your footing absorbing ground water. Thus allowing your masonry wall or below 5,000 psi concrete poured wall to absorb or "wick" moisture resulting in a damp foundation that could promote the growth of mold and mildew on and around your basement insulation. If you have Moldy Insulation, you may have to tear the insulation down and replace it.
The Solution To Keeping Your Basement Dry
To insure you have a dry basement, whether you have a finished basement or unfinished basement, you need to make sure your builder is installing a Capillary Break between your footing and foundation wall, OR you could just request a Superior Wall. Superior Walls is made with a minimum 5,000 psi concrete that is ANSI certified to be naturally water impermeable. Superior Walls are installed on a stone sub footing, which will drain and keep the wall from needing a Capillary Break. The "Wicking" of ground water will not occur in this type of basement wall. With this system you can have a beautiful finished or unfinished basement and not have to worry about "Wicking", Mildew or Mold.
For more information on Superior Walls, please visit there website, www.superiorwallsnypa.com
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