Interior

This is the most common water seepage problem in a basement. The cove joint is the natural gap/space between the foundation wall and the floor slab. Hydrostatic pressure build-up in the soil behind the foundation wall causes excessive water to push through this joint and onto the floor slab. If this condition is left untreated, it can damage the home’s foundation. Even though newer homes may have an exterior or interior perimeter drain, this drain may be clogged (due to poor installation) and a new interior perimeter drain (drain tile system) needs to be installed. Older homes may not even have a perimeter drain or sump pit at all. The good news is that our unique and proprietary drain tile system (perfected over the years) is designed to solve this problem and carries a lifetime guarantee.

Basement floor cracks can be concerning but they do not always indicate a major problem. They may be due to shrinkage as the concrete dries when it is poured. Cracks due to concrete settling are also common and can appear on virtually every basement floor. They occur as the soil beneath the floor compacts and adjusts or shrinks. These cracks can be filled and sealed if they are over 1/8”. More serious cracks occur in the presence of clay-expansive soil and a high-water table. Depending on the severity of these cracks and the water seepage conditions, these cracks can be sealed coupled with the installation of an interior perimeter drain to catch the water or the slab may have to be replaced entirely and a new slab designed to overcome these conditions may have to be installed (an interior perimeter drain is always recommended in these situations).

Most newer homes in Colorado have one or more sump pits/basins with sump pumps depending on the size of the house. This also indicates that there exists a foundation perimeter drainpipe which is installed at the footing level and surrounds the entire foundation of the house. This drainpipe should be connected to the sump basin/s in one or two connections per basin. It is possible that a sump basin is present but with no drainpipe connection/s. This may signal an incomplete system and the absence of a perimeter foundation drain. Sump pumps should be sized adequately and installed properly with a minimum number of elbows and as minimum a length as possible to avoid compromising the efficiency of the pump. It should also be discharging as far away from the foundation as possible to an area with a positive grade. The absence of a sump pit may indicate the absence of a foundation drain. It is possible however, that a sump basin and drainpipes are present yet water intrusion into the basement is occurring. In this case, the perimeter drain is either clogged or not installed properly or is inadequate. We inspect and evaluate each situation and design a solution using the best and most suitable equipment. Under normal/standard situations a high quality single primary pump is utilized. In more demanding situations, a sophisticated dual pump system with a primary electric pump and a secondary battery-operated pump is recommended together with a WiFi monitoring system to give the homeowner remote monitoring capabilities and peace of mind.

Many homeowners think that if their home is newer, that they do not need to worry about the crawlspace, or crawlspace waterproofing. New construction contractors rarely, if ever, completely seal off the crawlspace area when the home is being built. Older homes that have settled pose an even greater risk to crawlspace health as there is a large chance there are gaps or cracks where the crawlspace floor meets the wall.   After a short period of time, moisture can find its way into your crawlspace, and begin to eat away at your foundation and any materials inside your crawlspace. Exposed dirt also must be encapsulated to keep moisture out, and in Colorado, to reduce radon exposure. An unsealed dirt floor in a crawlspace can leak radon exposure into a home, posing numerous health risks.