Basement
Basement Waterproofing in Kingsport
Basement waterproofing, for most Kingsport houses that have a basement, means an inside drain along the foot of the wall, a barrier on the wall and a sump pump. Call to talk with an independent local waterproofing company, or read on to see what you would be buying.
Call (423) 555-0114Your call goes to an independent local waterproofing company.
How an inside system works
An inside system does not try to hold water back. It accepts that water will reach the wall, catches it at the bottom, and moves it to a pump before it can spread across the floor. That is why it works on walls that paint and patching have failed on.
- Water in the ground builds up against the wall and the footing
- A drainage sheet on the wall carries seepage down behind the floor edge
- The slab is cut back along the wall, then patched with new concrete
- A perforated pipe bedded in washed stone runs beside the footing
- The pipe falls to a basin with a pump in it
- A discharge pipe with a check valve takes the water outdoors
What gets torn up
A strip of floor is broken out along each wall that takes in water. That means a jackhammer, concrete dust and wheelbarrows of rubble going out through the house or a window. Anything standing against those walls has to move. In a finished basement the bottom of the drywall and the flooring along the wall come out too, and putting them back is rarely part of the waterproofing price.
Why wall paint is not waterproofing
Sealing paints stop dampness on a wall that is only slightly moist. Against water under pressure they tend to blister and peel. If a company offers a coating on its own for a basement that takes in water at the floor, ask what happens to the water it holds back.
Questions to ask about a basement system
- Which walls get a drain, and why not the others?
- Where does the pump discharge, and where does that water go once it is outside?
- What happens in a power cut? Is a battery backup in the price?
- What is the wall covered with, and can I still see the wall if I need to?
- Who puts back the drywall, flooring and stairs that have to come out?
- What does the warranty cover, in writing: the pump, the drain, a dry floor?
When the answer is outside, not inside
Water that pours in on one side during storms often starts with a gutter or a slope, and fixing that first can shrink the job: see yard drainage. A single crack or pipe hole is leak repair, not a full system. And where the wall itself has to be kept dry, for example behind a room you cannot afford to open up, exterior waterproofing is the other route.
Will my basement be dry afterwards?
A drain and pump are meant to keep water off the floor. They do not dry the air. Many basements still need a dehumidifier in summer.
Does the whole floor have to come up?
No. Only a strip along the walls being drained, plus a pit for the pump.
Can I stay in the house while it is done?
Yes, though the cutting is loud and dusty. Ask how the rest of the house will be protected from dust.