I Want to Finish My Basement, but I Have Seepage! What Should I Do?
Getting seepage in your basement after a rain or snow melt is a depressing situation. The hours of cleanup make you wonder if it’s even worth finishing your basement. There are many ways that seepage can enter a home and unfortunately, you may have more than one of those issues!
How Seepage Can Get Into Your Basement
The most common issue causing seepage in basements are cracks in the foundation walls.
Foundation cracks are caused from either soil expanding due to too much rain, or from freeze and thaw cycles, where the ground expands as it freezes and shrinks when it thaws. Droughts can also be a major cause of foundation cracks and structural problems as the ground shrinks as it loses moisture content causing the foundation to move. Another common way seepage can enter is through the cove joint (where the floor and wall meet). These issues can all be repaired individually, or you be proactive and do your best to prevent future damage in your basement with a comprehensive solution.
Best Comprehensive Solutions for Basement Seepage
U.S. Waterproofing’s Fast Track Subfloor Drainage System could be the key to solving your seepage problems. Our Fast Track system is designed to capture water seeping through the cove joint or through cracks in the foundation walls. The process for installing Fast Track is to create a small trench (approximately 8” wide) in the basement floor along the foundation wall. Fast Track is placed on top of the footing (the widened concrete base the foundation walls rest on), then stone is placed next to the Fast Track to act as a natural filter to keep debris out of the slit openings through which the seepage is collected. Concrete is poured over the trench and is smoothed to meet the existing concrete floor. The trench extends to a sump basin where all collected water is directed to. Once in the sump basin the water is discharged out of the home.
Alternatively, our Forever Flow Drain Tile system is similar in operation, but requires a wider, deeper trench with the drain tile placed next to the foundation footing. Traditional Drain tile is the correct solution when there is water coming up through cracks in the floor, when there is an unusually high volume of seepage, with brick or stone foundations as well as some less common issues.
Is Fast Track the Proper Solution for Your Basement?
Seepage in a finished basement can ruin drywall, flooring, furniture, and cause mold growth. Therefore, if you want peace of mind, a finished basement should have a comprehensive solution that can handle a number of seepage problems. Fast Track is a more economical, less intrusive, comprehensive solution for most seepage problems when compared to a Drain Tile system. Having an expert assess and explain the specific issues in your basement will help you make an informed decision. U.S. Waterproofing has been diagnosing and repairing basements for over 65 years and will help you turn your wet basement into a dry living space to enjoy. With over 500,000 happy customers, you can rest assured that you are in the best hands. Schedule your free estimate online today!
Ready to get started?
Schedule your FREE Consultation now.
just enter your zip code:
