Structural Safety

[Rodbuilder]

My wife & I live in a Colonial home that was built approx. 57 years ago. Like many others we experienced water problems in our basement after the 8 days of rain that we had about 2 months ago. We recently had a rep. from Basement Systems Inc. come into our home to explain to us what we can do to control our water problem and have a Dry Basement. One of our main concerns is that with the installation of the WaterGuard System, after using Jack Hammers and removing the concrete around the perimeter of my basement, do I now have to worry about sructural damage to my foundation? My walls are not cracked or buckled at this time in any way shape or form. Will the installation of this system do anything to the integrity of my walls? I do want a dry basement, but I also want to have them remain standing after the job is complete and for many years to come.

The competition guarantee's the walls after the job is complete, but Basement Systems Inc. does not. Why is this?

Finally, the competion guarantee's the entire basement floor after the work around the perimeter is complete. Basement Systems Inc. only guarantee's three feet from the wall. When this work is complete by BSI do I have to worry about water traveling under my foundation to find a new entrance into my home?

Thanks for the help,

Confused and Damp

[Master Waterproofer]

No need to be Confused or Damp. Basement Systems literally wrote the book on the subject. Dry Basement Science (What to Have Done ... and Why).

Your concerns are valid but not uncommon. The best way to answer your questions is to give you some facts.
In our industry there is a myth, a myth that your walls will cave in or they will some how lose their integrity. That is a myth used when there is nothing left to offer.
The floor is not a structural component of the foundation, rather it is a utility surface for working on.
Many homes have been built with no floor at all. Many crawlspaces have dirt floors. A crawlspace is the same foundation as a basement just not as deep. There are homes with a monolithic foundation, that is when the contactor will pour the footings and floor all at once, then the walls sit on top of the floor. If you have a monolithic floor Basement Systems would recommend a system specifically designed for that type of foundation.
The floor is independent of the foundation structure. Breaking a basement floor is done evey day by almost every waterproofer in the industry.

Basement Systems warranties that no water shall pass in front of the system. There is no limit as to how far, if it passes in front it's warranted.

Ron (Master Waterproofer)
Systems Design Specialist

[Aqualung]

Ron,

its a 'myth' that basement walls can cave in or lose integrity?

for 1 'real' example, what about some of these homeowners in Winnipeg? http://www.riverwatchonline.org/news/winnipeg_press/07_09_05.html

[Master Waterproofer]

Thank you for your reply but in that scenario the walls bowed in not from the floor / wall joint where the concern is. Walls can indeed bow and have detrimental structural damage. The foundation walls did not collapse due to removal of the floor.

Please continue to contribute to the forum, it is good to have dialogue on such matters.


Ron (Master Waterproofer)
Systems Design Specialist

[Rodbuilder]

Ron
Thank you for the informative response to my questions. It is reassuring to know that BSI stands behind their workmanship if any problems should arise, regardless of what I was told to the contrary by other competitors.

Again, thanks for the information and professionalism.
Less Confused and Drying Up

[Aqualung]

Point is.....

basement walls do indeed crack, bow inward and even collapse from hydrostatic & lateral pressure & tree roots that are against the 'outside' of bsmt walls.

there is 'no inside system' on this planet that can relieve this pressure from the inside of the basement.

there is 'no' inside system that will 'stop & prevent' Water from entering cracks and other openings on the outside of block walls.

so since they cant stop water entry, they will not stop-prevent mold.

since they dont go outside and seal/waterproof all cracks & direct openings in walls below ground, then they also cannot stop/prevent Radon gas from entering in through the cracks etc and into the home, and wont stop termites/insects from penetrating these same openings that are 'outside' and getting into hollow-block walls, gotta go ' outside' to correctly take care of 'All' these matters.

radon kills more people each year than drunk drivers, it is in the soil under basement floors and against-along the outside of basement walls. so any outside openings allow radon to enter the house! http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/physic.html please read all but especially 3. Characteristics & Sources


termites enter homes/buildings through outside openings as small as 1/32 of an inch http://www.mipca.org/Termites.htm

where is the real hydrostatic & lateral pressure that homeowners need to be concerned about....read 6th,7th para`s http://www.yodergroup.com/concrete.asp

http://www.al-home-inspections.com/news-articles/article-4.html

[Master Waterproofer]

We are basement and crawlspace specialists. We are experts in the field of keeping below grade space dry and usable.

If a homeowner has pest infiltration they need to address that issue with the experts in that field. If a homeowner has Radon they need to call those experts as well. Mold is in the public eye and there is concern for some people. Mold can be reduced by taking the neccessary steps to prevent the growth, and control the environment mold needs to thrive in.
There are certified mold specialists who can better give advice and explanations on the the ill health effects to people and homes.

I hope I've addressed your concerns, again it is good to have dialogue and information shared from different points of view.

Ron (Master Waterproofer)
Systems Design Specialist

[Aqualung]

hi ron,

i`m not saying you arent an expert

just stating that only way to stop water from entering through cracks `n other various Outside openings is from the....outside.

inside one can only hope to divert water that is still going to enter, under the floor or along the wall w/a baseboard system, again....it does not stop water from entering but when done correctly it should keep water off the basement floor. thus, this is defined as.....water-diverting, its impossible to refer to it as waterproofing. Waterproofing is stopping/keeping the water from entering.

with cracks,openings around gas lines etc on the outside, an inside system doesnt stop water from entering the wall, it will only divert that water once it enters on the inside of basement at cold joint, the water is still allowed to enter from the outside through the basement wall.

talk to any mold-radon expert ya like, best way to stop/prevent further mold is to stop...not dewater or control, stop the water from entering.

same with radon gas, it is IN the Soil, and it enters our homes from cracks & other openings on the outside basement walls, it enters up through the basement floor through sump-pumps,through floor cracks etc, because it is in the Soil underneath the floor.

Termites and insects should also be prevented from entering cracks & other openings on the outside of our homes, gotta go outside to accomplish these things.

Same with relieving lateral & hydrostatic pressure and tree roots, all / combination of these is what makes any kind of basement wall crack,bow and at times...collpase in. Only way to lessen/relieve this kind of pressure is to get the soil-the weight off the outside of the bsmt wall, seal the wall correctly and then backfill with gravel/peastone all the way up to within a few inches of grade. We`re talking tons of weight from expanding-contracting soil and it all needs to be hauled away.