FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I live on a hill. Why do I still have a problem?
Believe it or not, the surrounding grade is only one of the problems that might create water seepage. It could just as easily be from cracks in the outside wall, a high water table, malfunctioning or non-existent drain tiles, an underground spring, or a host of other causes. Don't get me wrong, living high on a hill is nice; but it doesn't mean that you won't ever have a water problem in your basement or crawl space.
Why do basements leak?
Wow, what a question. There's a number of possibilities, but here's a few: malfunctioning footer tiles; no footer tiles; cracks in the walls or floor; hydrostatic pressure building up under the floor or upon the walls; underground springs; high humidity; poor sealant on the outside walls; no sealant on the outside walls; improperly installed waterproofing; leaks from sweating pipes in the basement; leaks through basement windows; leaks through siding that run down through the wall and just look like a basement leak.
A waterproofer told us that outside work isn't really necessary. Is that true?
Probably not. Some contractors might tell you that, because all they do is interior work, and they want you to believe that sealing cracks on the outside of the wall is unnecessary. But does that sound reasonable? Look at the picture to the right. This house has open cores all around, and no interior system would completely resolve this problem. You might not see any water, but you would still have water, dirt, air and bugs coming into the walls.
Your best bet? Find an experienced, full service waterproofing contractor who can diagnose your particular situation and provide you with the solution that will work for your home.
I have mold on the walls. Should this concern me?
Absolutely! This could indicate either moisture problems, or water problems. At the very least, mold is a potential health hazard that is growing in importance these days, as scientists find out more and more about its effects on humans. For more information on these effects, click on the following links:
I have a crawlspace. I'm safe from leaks, right?
Sorry. You may have better odds, because the crawl space isn't as deep as a basement is. But crawlspaces leak, get moldy, and have problems just like basements. And since they hold up the house, just like a basement does, you need to resolve those problems if they arise.
It only leaks in one area. Can I just fix that?
Sure, you could, and it rare circumstances it might even work. But think about it this way: water follows the path of least resistance. If there's water pushing in, and you fix that one spot, where do you think the water (it's still there!) will go next? Right, to the next most convenient place to enter. We've seen homeowners spend massive amounts of money, repeatedly trying to chase a small leak around the foundation, and never addressing the real issue – that it's time for waterproofing repairs. It's usually more cost efficient to find out what's wrong, and fix the source of the problem, right from the get-go.
Why is it leaking? Is it just a downspout, dropping water next to the foundation? Or did the original waterproofing fail for some reason?
It only leaks after a heavy rain. Can I use a waterproofing paint to fix it?
No! Waterproofing paints are designed to seal walls, to prevent moisture from passing through. Moisture is totally different than water seepage. Look at it this way: if you had a leak in your roof, and you used waterproofing paint on the ceiling to stop the leak, would the roof be fixed, even if it stopped leaking? The answer, of course, is no. You'd still have to have the roof fixed properly, even though the water may be stopped for a while.
It's the same with waterproofing basements. You might be able to find a paint that will stop it temporarily, but the water is still there, pushing on the wall or floor. It won't go away all by itself. You need to find a way to remove the water, because its not supposed to be there.
My house is 20 years old. Why is it starting to leak now?
As homes age, they need maintenance and repairs. You re-do your roof after 15 – 20 years, and consider it normal. You paint, and replace appliances, because they wear out over time. The same goes for foundations. The original tiles fail, or become clogged, or the sealant that was put on the wears out and begins to crack. Or, conditions in the ground may have changed the way water is flowing under there, and the original system is not equipped to deal with that.
How should I choose a contractor?
Choose a contractor that will analyze your problem at no charge and design a solution for it. A full service waterproofer has multiple options at his disposal, and can use the one that fits your situation.
Like any other industry, contractors are only as good as their ability to 1). Get the work done correctly, and 2.) service you in the future. Choose one who has a track record, or he may not be there when you need him.
Be wary of contractors who have a low price guarantee. They might be more interested in just getting the work than finding the proper solution for your situation.
Choose one who is involved in the community. Although this is no guarantee they'll perform properly, belonging to trade associations is one indication that they're in it for the long haul.
