A damp or wet basement is more than just a nuisance. It can be caused by a number of problems including poor foundation drainage. If your basement includes finished living space, small leaks or drainage problems can ruin carpeting, drywall and framing. Even if your basement is unfinished or is a crawlspace and used only for storage, a small amount of moisture can buckle hardwood flooring on the level above and spawn harmful mould.

EBS offers solutions to everything from small leaks and cracks to your most serious waterproofing and drainage problems. Our professional staff consisting of professional engineers and certified engineering technologists will identify the root cause of your waterproofing problem and recommend reliable, cost-effective solutions. All of our waterproofing systems are backed by comprehensive ten year warranty and over 50 years of industry experience!

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Free water on the basement floor is not the only indication of a wet basement. High humidity has many negative effects such as wood rot, damaged structural, mechanical, and electrical components, mold, mildew, bad odours, and health problems. Concrete, by itself, does not prevent the passage of water vapours. Older homes, with

concrete, stone, or masonry walls or floors typically have no functional vapour barrier. To complicate matters further, they may also have inadequate drainage to keep free water from the outer surface of walls and floors. Temperature differentials inside and outside the concrete will increase the movement of moisture. White efflorescence which is salts deposited on the surface when water evaporates is a good indication of moisture passage.

Unfortunately this condition is also experienced in some newer homes, although its occurrence in the first year is usually the result of the normal drying process. Waterproofing or damp proofing systems designed and installed by a specialist can alleviate most basement moisture problems and greatly enhance usability.

Most basement water problems result from surface water. Less frequent and generally more serious are cases where a high ground water table exists.

Good surface drainage, positive exterior foundation waterproofing, a functional foundation drainage system, and a correctly detailed floor system will eliminate most problems.

Unfortunately, it is often difficult to determine whether these systems are installed and functioning as designed. In many cases, basement walls and floors are hidden by finished surfaces. Exterior areas may be hidden by patios or other structures.

When finishing a basement, it is advisable to obtain expert assistance on waterproofing prior to construction.

A lot of experience and detective work may be required to locate the source of water coming from under a carpet or behind a wall. Some things to look for are:

1. Foundation construction (concrete,block, or stone)
2. Foundation cracks
3. Leaking form-tie holes in the foundation
4. Undrained or poorly detailed window wells
5. Poor surface drainage
6. Downspouts improperly located
7. Flashing and weep hole detail at top of foundations
8. Inoperative weeping tile system
9. Foundation waterproofing
10. Under floor drainage system and barrier
11. Sump pump operation
12. Internal moisture generation such as dryer vent or bathroom

Often water is from more than one source and a progressive repair may be necessary. Beware of miracle cures which are seldom effective. Competent, experienced advice is always a good investment.

Malfunctioning weeping tile or foundation drainage systems are a common cause of serious basement water problems. A normal drainage system consists of a perforated pipe approximately four inches in diameter surrounded by granular filter material situated around the perimeter of the foundation below the basement floor level. The outlet of this pipe leads to a sump pump or gravity drain. The purpose of foundation drainage is to eliminate water pressure build-up above the floor level and prevents free water from entering the basement. This free water may come directly from the surface or may be due to a high ground water table.

An older or poorly installed drain may become plugged with silt, rendering it not functional. Water then freely enters up through the floor or floor-wall joint which is not designed as a water barrier.

Simply flushing out a plugged drain is generally not an acceptable repair since the filter material and perforations are usually plugged and free ground water can no longer enter the system.

Repair requires digging up and replacing the drainage system. At this time, the wall waterproofing system should also be upgraded.

Interior systems, if properly designed, are now available which can effectively replace a malfunctioning exterior system. Extreme care must be taken in the design and construction of an interior collection system since a poorly designed and installed system could lead to more serious problems. Cost and access is quite often a factor in the choice of a system.