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Where does all
this water come
from?
Most of the water
that ends up in
your home is
caused by rainfall
or melting snow.
For every inch of
rain, a 1,500 sq.
ft. roof sheds
1,000 gallons of
water. Rain
gutters and
downspouts get
plugged up with
debris or do not
take the water far
enough from your
home. Footing
drains may break
or silt up. As the
run-off seeps
through the soft
topsoil around the
house, it pushes
against the walls
and stops at the
undisturbed ground
just beneath the
foundation.
New
homes have another
problem. Fill dirt
around the
foundation settles
and directs water
right to the
foundation. This
is called "reverse
grading" and
occurs about five
years after
construction.
If
you live in a
subdivision you
also can have
different issues.
As more houses are
built there can be
an issue with
rising groundwater
or even an
underground spring
that gets
diverted. As
houses settle,
underground water
flows change. A
new construction
down the street
may shift
groundwater flows
and cause basement
leaks in your
house.
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How
does all this
water get through
concrete?
The
answer is simple.
Concrete is 12% to
20% air. As it
cures this air
forms pores that
interconnect by
forming
capillaries in the
concrete. These
pores allow water,
water vapor, or
even radon to pass
many feet through
"solid" concrete.
As the concrete
ages and these
pores are open
they begin to get
larger and let
greater quantities
of water, water
vapor and radon to
pass through. You
might think a
simple coat of
paint will fix
your problems, but
paint is only a
temporary
solution. It does
not penetrate into
the concrete or
stop the transfer
of gases. These
gases soon cause
the paint to peel
and now water is a
problem again.
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Is
there anything I
can do to stop
water and gases
from getting into
my basement?
You
may have tried
many solutions to
fixing water
seepage, mold or
mildew problem or
just that damp
feeling that you
have in your
basement. You may
even be ready to
give up and say
"Basements are
just supposed to
be that way."
Before you give up
and lock that
basement door let
us solve your
problems.
Seal and protect
your basement or
home slab and
outdoor concrete:
- Poured Concrete
can be sealed with
a variety of
concrete sealers
- Concrete Blocks
or Cinder blocks
can be sealed with
hydro
block sealers
- Mortar, Stucco,
Shotcrete, Grout,
Porous Materials
containing cement
or lime can be
sealed with
concrete sealers
as a water
repellent.
- New or Old
concrete, even
when already
deteriorated or
seeping can use
concrete sealers
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