Toronto is a fantastic city with a lot to offer. It has a beauty that is unique to Toronto because of the old buildings. The issue is that now the infrastructure and houses are both aging, and as a result, a water leak is a year-round fight for Toronto homeowners. You can’t take it anymore whether you’ve reached the end of your (wet) rope; that’s understandable. The first step is to determine the cause of the problem and resolve it to perform a water leak detection exercise and recognize the differences between interior and exterior basement waterproofing.
Interior Waterproofing:
Interior basement waterproofing is usually used as a last resort after the water has already entered the house. Basement waterproofing on the outside is more of a preventative means to prevent basements dry. It usually includes drilling a trough to collect water, followed by the installation of a sump pump.
The sump pump keeps water out of your cellar and foundation, keeping it dry.
Types of interior waterproofing:
- Sump Pump System:
It is a drainage system that collects water that accumulates around the basement’s weeping tiles and pumps outside your home through a discharge pipe.
- Backwater Valve:
A device prevents sewage from storing in your home’s basement due to an overloaded main sewer line.
Benefits of Interior Waterproofing:
- Interior waterproofing benefits your home by giving you control water to flow more effectively by directing it away. It is a cost-effective water damage control solution that can protect your home and family from water damage and mold-related health problems.
- Interior waterproofing improves your home’s long-term integrity, but it does not provide the same protection level as exterior waterproofing.
- Interior waterproofing is a good choice for minor water damage problems like small damp patches and minor leaks because it is cost-effective, efficient, and preferred. Furthermore, in some homes, external excavation may be a problem, making proofing the best option.
Steps Involved in Exterior waterproofing your basement
- The weeping tile is put in place and connected to a drainage system like a sump pump or a floor drain.
- Then, on the interior exposed wall where the system is installed, a dimpled sheet of drainage membrane is installed.
- Then, on top of the weeping tile, lay a layer of 34 clear gravel to ensure optimum drainage.
- Once the membrane and gravel are in position, water from above or below grade would drain into the system.
- The exposed trench is then covered with a layer of concrete, which returns the floor to its original level.
Cost of Interior waterproofing
It is an excellent way to keep water away from the foundation and avoid flooding. The cost of installing a 50-foot French drain is about $80-$100 per linear foot.
Exterior waterproofing
Exterior waterproofing is a little more complicated than interior waterproofing. To uncover the foundation, must find the soil around the house. Then, to keep it sealed off from the ground and water trying to get in, durable waterproof coatings are applied. Exterior Basement Waterproofing Toronto is also a very efficient technique, although it is more widespread than internal systems.
Types of exterior waterproofing:
- Foundation Waterproofing:
To direct water flow away from cellar walls, build a fence around your home from the ground up. As time passes, these structures settle and can end up pushing water back toward your home.
- Downspouts:
These are always facing away from your house, not down into the ground, and certainly not near any basement windows. It is also a good idea to disconnect from the home’s sewer system to prevent water backups.
- Emulsions and Plastic Membranes:
It is an invisible sealant that applies to the foundation walls during the building process. It works to keep water out, and if there are any cracks in the foundation (even small ones), the seal is broken.
Exterior waterproofing benefits:
- Exterior foundation waterproofing will prevent mold from spreading before it has a chance to do so, ensuring your family’s happiness and health.
- Exterior foundation waterproofing prevents water from entering your home and promoting mould growth, ensuring your things’ safety.
- Waterproofing your exterior foundation prevents water from entering your home’s exterior, ensuring it can cause any damage.
- On the other hand, exterior foundation waterproofing is a far more long-term solution. It forms a rule that protects any moisture from protecting your home, helping you sit back and relax.
Challenges of Exterior Waterproofing:
The most effective method of exterior waterproofing is to waterproof your house from the outside. It’s also the most productive method of home waterproofing, especially during the invasive plant phase.
It’s not a DIY project which can finish in a day. There are several steps to this process. That’s why it’s essential to take the support of licensed practitioners.
Steps Involved in Exterior waterproofing your basement:
- Cover work areas with Tarps
- Uncover around to the foundation’s footing level or base, along the house’s entire perimeter, to reveal the waterproofing application’s footing and wall.
- Clean the wall, then repair cracks by grinding them out into a “v” and filling them with hydraulic cement and parging mix.
- Apply foundation aqua bloc to the repaired cracks in the cement foundation to create a rubberized asphalt membrane.
- Apply a fiber mesh layer (yellow jacket) for reinforcement, followed by a fourth coat of aqua block and polyurethane (four millimeters thick) for extra protection.
- Install the Delta MS drainage membrane with delta clips and tapcon screws along the top of the molding.
- Remove the old weeping tile and replace it with a new “Big O” weeper with a filter connected to the existing weeping tile pipe beneath the basement floor.
- Install the filter on top of the weeper (which sits on the soil) and carefully place it with 34″ clear gravel (one foot of gravel above the weeper) to separate the gravel from the soil.
- Backfill and compact every two feet until the ground is backfilled.
- Install a gravel finish, clean work areas, and transparent access debris from the site, replanting the garden around the house as needed.
Cost of exterior waterproofing
Water damage repair costs range from hundreds of dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, based on whether you need to repair or replace drywall, floors, hardwood, all electrical. Moisture will destroy it all in the house, including wood, block structures, floors, and bricks. The longer the water damage is left untreated, or if the homeowner is dealing with clean water instead of a sewer backup or polluted water, the higher the home repair costs will be. The cost of exterior waterproofing water damage totals $1.7 billion per year in Canada.
Conclusion:
Both interior and exterior waterproofing have advantages and disadvantages. Interior waterproofing is only used to remove water that has already accumulated in your basement; it will not prevent water from entering in the first place. Although exterior waterproofing is costly, it keeps water away from your foundation and from entering your house or basement. Whatever method you choose, the most important thing is that you make an effort to keep your home warm and dry.