How do you Waterproof Different Foundation Types?

| 17/08/2022

Many Homes are built with different types of Foundation Walls

Whatever material the walls of your foundation are built of, waterproofing has probably never been done. In Ontario, waterproofing has never been required when constructing a home. Damp proofing was only developed in the last 60 years. However, that isn’t waterproofing. Your home’s foundation is not protected unless it was custom built and the builder or owner made the decision to waterproof and protect it.

The foundation has a limited lifespan without waterproofing. Consequently, an exposed foundation will eventually just crumble. This explains why some homes have drooping floors or are built at an angle. Because Ontario homes were generally not very old, this was seldom a concern in the past. But now is the moment when there are many homes that are over 60 years old, and unless they are safeguarded, they will soon reach the end of their useful lives. The foundation type of your home is determined by its age; more information about foundation types is provided below.

There are numerous techniques to construct foundation walls. These basement foundations frequently develop leaky basements because outdated waterproofing systems were either improperly built during new construction or were not replaced or upgraded over time. We’ll examine the four main kinds of foundation walls that can be found in your house and explain how our Waterproofing Toronto teams will use our waterproofing solutions for your particular basement foundation repair. To stop any potential basement leaks, it’s critical to determine what kind of basement foundation your house has.

Poured Concrete Foundations

Most newly constructed homes and moderately older homes up to 50 years old have foundation walls made of poured concrete. very typical in areas with new subdivisions, such as Mississauga, Vaughan, Markham, etc. Poured concrete foundations are simpler to repair because there are no mortar joints to worry about, and after the locations of water leaks have been located, it is simple to open up the foundation cracks and apply hydraulic cement. Poured concrete foundations are frequently more structurally solid and less likely to experience basement leak problems as a house moves or settles.

By excavating down to the footing, our waterproofing specialists will expose the foundation wall and find the foundation fractures that are the source of the leak. After being chiseled out to expose the fractures, they are subsequently sealed with hydraulic cement to keep off further water infiltration. After that, the wall is covered with the first layer of Hydro Guard rubberized membrane, and the reinforcement mesh is added on top of the waterproofing material. Following the application of the second coat of Hydro Guard, an air gap drainage membrane is rolled over the wall and fastened with concrete nails and washers. Additionally, we advise homeowners to set up a good drainage system that includes window wells to cover any basement windows, 3/4 inch gravel, and drainage tiles.

Cinder Block Foundations

In older homes, cinder block foundation walls are the most typical type of foundation. Rebar was utilized to reinforce the foundation walls of many residences built on cinder block foundations. The likelihood that your home was constructed is higher if you live in an older neighbourhood in Southern Ontario, such as those in Toronto or Hamilton. Due to house movement and improperly sealed mortar joints, cinder block walls are also most vulnerable to foundation cracks.

With the exception of our personnel paying closer care to the mortar joints when parging them, the waterproofing process is fairly comparable to that of poured concrete foundations. 
The layer of dimpled drainage membrane is nailed on top of the two coats of Hydro Guard that have been applied, as well as a layer of reinforcing mesh, to glue them together. 
These waterproofing options require a functional drainage system to function, and there’s a good probability that the drainage tiles beneath your foundation walls are outdated clay pipes. 
The drainage around your basement foundation is no longer adequate thanks to this system, which is also prone to clogging, which exacerbates the problem of a leaky basement.

Cobble Stone Foundations

Homes that are 100 years old or older frequently have stone foundation walls or cobblestone foundations because the stone was the most popular material utilized to construct home foundations in that period. These homes typically have basement leaks as a result of flaws in the mortar joints built between the stones, and as a result, your home begins to move with the ground beneath it.
In contrast to other basement foundation renovations, waterproofing is more difficult since stone foundation walls are invariably constructed unevenly. To cover up the areas where water is seeping into your basement, a coating of parging cement is placed on the existing mortar joints where the wall is leaking. The foundation wall can then be covered with Hydro Guard membrane, which will be applied by our team with care to ensure that the water is evenly covered with adequate rubberized waterproofing material. Our waterproofing team takes special care to fix the drainage membrane onto the uneven stone foundation wall before wrapping the wall with the membrane. It is a given that the drainage tile at the footings will need to be erected or replaced unless it has recently been waterproofed. The outdated clay tile technique is ineffective for effectively diverting water away from your property nowadays. To assist stop future water leaks, it’s a good idea to install new drainage tiles while waterproofing specialists are repairing the foundation fracture.

ICF Foundations

ICF foundations, often known as “Insulated Concrete Form” foundations, are a relatively new method of constructing contemporary homes. In our line of waterproofing work, ICF foundation leaks are rare because they are typically waterproofed at the time the home is being built. Waterproofing Toronto teams have applied our waterproofing services to construction sites for home building businesses and have worked on waterproofing ICF foundation projects.
These kinds of walls are relatively simple to waterproof, and the procedure is quite similar to that used to waterproof a foundation made of poured concrete. To establish a waterproof barrier between the wall and the outside world, you apply two layers of Hydro Guard waterproofing membrane to the walls. So that moisture may be captured and correctly directed away from the foundation walls, the dimpled waterproofing membrane is next quickly applied. The Waterproofing Toronto team finds it much simpler to install a drainage system in new construction because the ground has already been excavated to the foundation footings and the area is open and easily accessible.

We hope that after learning more about the various foundation wall kinds, you will be able to take the required precautions to ensure that your home is water-leak-free. If you think your home needs waterproofing services, the Waterproofing Toronto crew is available to answer any questions you may have and will offer a free assessment and price. The secret to avoiding needing to fix a leaky basement is proper drainage.
Share

To learn more, contact The Roof Whisperer at 647-276-9910 or Contact The Roof Whisperer for an Appointment