Waterproofing Experts In Greater Toronto

The waterproofing program is likely to include the following measures:

• Exterior water control. It’s important to direct roof runoff and surface water away from the building foundation. A waterproofing specialist will assess the effectiveness of your home’s gutter and downspout system at directing roof runoff away from the house. The specialist may also suggest grading and exterior drainage improvements that move water away from the foundation.
• Foundation repair. A foundation that is badly cracked, or has settled or shifted, is certain to be susceptible to water problems. A full-service foundation repair contractor has the training, technical support and specialized products to make structural repairs to damaged foundations, and to provide complete waterproofing services as well. It’s more cost-effective and more convenient to let a single qualified contractor do all the work, instead of hiring separate contractors for foundation repair and waterproofing.
• Interior drainage system. The most-effective waterproofing technique for existing basements (and crawl spaces) is to have a perimeter drain installed where the foundation walls meet the floor. This drainage system collects water that wants to leak into the basement because of hydrostatic pressure, and directs it to a sump pit where it can be pumped out away from the house (see “Sump pump,” below).
• Interior sump pump. A sump pump is designed to pump water out and away from the house after the water has been collected by a drainage system and brought by gravity to a sump pit located inside the foundation. The pump turns on automatically when the water in the sump pit reaches a preset level. Better-quality sump pumps have battery backup power so that they can continue working even when electricity from the electric utility isn’t available.
• Dehumidification. A basement is likely to have high humidity levels –even when it has been properly waterproofed because masonry naturally absorbs and releases water. Having a dehumidifier installed in the basement is an effective way to remove this excess humidity. To avoid the hassle of manually emptying the dehumidifier’s reservoir when it fills up, a basement dehumidifier can drain into an existing perimeter drain or sump pit. Many standard dehumidifiers available from appliance dealers don’t have the heavy-duty features to handle basement and crawl space humidity conditions. It’s smart to ask a basement waterproofing specialist about dehumidifiers that will perform well in basement applications.