WHY DOES MY BASEMENT LEAK?
Water collects much faster around looser soil around the foundation of the home, as opposed to undisturbed soil. The most common cause of basement water leaks is the pressure created by water in the soil surrounding the foundation.
As water accumulates around the foundation and as the house ages, it enters through the foundation walls. Also, the area water table might rise as a result of excess rain or melting snow, leading to water leaks in the basement.
HOW CAN I STOP WATER LEAKS INTO THE BASEMENT?
The only way to relieve this pressure is to install protective layers on the walls, and with a system of weeping tiles and sump pumps, so that this accumulation of water can be redirected away from the foundation and allow the surrounding soils to eventually dry and settle.
Our waterproofing contractors are up to the task. A foundation crack or a wet basement may seem intimidating to fix, but we have your back. We will be transparent through every step of the waterproofing process. We can assure you that with the right waterproofing system, unique to your home, your basement will stay bone dry.
That’s a guarantee that Canada Waterproofers Vaughan Region takes very seriously.
That waterproofing system will feature a combination of protective coatings and sealers, a sump pump and backwater valve, and a functioning weeping tile system that will carry water away from your home’s foundation.
Canada Waterproofers Vaughan offers both exterior and interior waterproofing solutions. We are the No. 1 waterproofing company in the Greater Toronto Area.
Window wells are one of the main causes of water leaks in to the basement. If your Toronto home has this issue you should contact a waterproofing professional
Window wells are a weak spot in the foundation, and are susceptible to cracking which can cause them to leak.
Older foundations are generally built with cinder blocks and this is fine until they age. As the wall ages then the mortar between the blocks tends to loosen or crack which allows water to enter the basement.
Sump pumps have many benefits when installed correctly, but they can also cause problems if they are not installed correctly, or they fail due to either age or just bad quality, there are many good Sump pump systems that will last the test of time, and also there are many backup and warning systems that can be installed.
A drain that is backing up is a big issue and should be addressed immediately, you could have a root issue or even a broken sewer pipe that could be letting raw sewage enter your basement.
If you are seeing water rise from any drain in the basement then is it time to call in the professionals.
A crack in a concrete slab could mean a few things, but the most common is hydrostatic pressure, which is a build up of water pressure under your slab trying to escape and eventually will push up and crack the slab, but also a crack may be less sinister, and it could just be shrinkage. Watch out for a white powder around the cracks which is the tell tale for hydrostatic pressure.
Weeping tiles are an important part of protecting your home from water entering your basement.
If a weeping tile becomes clogged or broken then water pressure will build up and enter into your basement either through the base of the wall or through cracks in the floor.
This is the most common issue when it comes to concrete foundations. Your concrete foundation is similar to a swimming pool in reverse.
If you have a crack and water hits it then it will leak.
Crack concrete foundations should be addressed ASAP.
This type of leak may be caused by a few things, one is that the weeping tile has failed, and another is that there is a crack in your cinder block foundation and water is entering into the hollow blocks and showing up at the base of the footer.
A professional will be able to find the cause of your leak.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO STOP WATER LEAKS?
There are both financial and health reasons. Moisture is terrible for concrete, bricks, timber and block structures. Serious damage will cost you a lot of money in repairs.
Then there are the health issues – mould spores can travel throughout your home and cause all kinds of health issues. Although a little leak may seem harmless, without the protection that proper waterproofing provides that leak could be detrimental to the health of you and your family, causing issues like nasal congestion, throat irritation, coughing, eye irritation, and skin irritation.
We always recommend exterior waterproofing, because it gets at the problem at its source, but there are often reasons why homeowners can’t take that route. Waterproofing from the inside of the home is an effective way of keeping your basement dry. It’s also a great option that many of our clients opt for.
Call us for a free, no-obligation assessment of your home.
Waterproofing from the inside will stop water from entering into your finished basement, allowing you to enjoy a dry living space. However there will always be a little bit of water trapped behind the membrane of the foundation, which will over a very long period of time deteriorate your walls.
The interior option is less expensive. You also might have reasons not to want crews digging up the exterior of your home. Another factor is the condition of the soil – if it’s too damp our crews won’t be able to excavate, again forcing us to do the job inside.
Talk to our technicians. Interior waterproofing is still a very effective way of keeping your basement dry.
Check your package, but if the adjuster discovers there was leaking or seepage prior to a flood, then you’re likely out of luck. See if your insurance provider provides an extra layer of coverage for the home when it comes to flooding.
Interior waterproofing has become popular in the last decade, as people are finishing basements more often in Toronto and the surrounding areas. Many Toronto homes have a very close proximity to each other and the only way to protect these homes is to install interior waterproofing prior to finishing the job.
Let’s say your basement is around 1,000 square feet of space. The cost to finish that basement can run you anywhere from $10,000 to $35,000, depending if you do the job yourself or hire a contractor. That includes things like framing, plumbing and electrical rough-ins, drywall and taping, primer and painting, perhaps installing a new bathroom. Maybe you are planning on setting up a separate basement apartment for rental income purposes.
That makes it more important to properly waterproof your basement prior to spending this kind of money.
If there is a flood, all the drywall, flooring and baseboards would have to be re-done, so that the mould could be removed. That could cost you another $20,000 to $30,000.
Interior waterproofing ranges from $65 to $125 per foot. The determining factors are concrete thickness, height of basement, amount of footage, commercial or residential, accessibility etc.
