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SPRING HOME IMPROVEMENT Wednesday March 28 1M0 Page Spring rains bring wet basements for many homeowners Wn H0W HOW WATER ENTERS BASEMENTS POURED BLOCK CONCRETE MORTAR FOUNDATION FOUNDATION AAAAAAAA WATER PRESSURE Mm SYSTEM concrete block brick and stone Poured concrete walls especially those in newer homes are the most resistant to leakage however tbey sometimes develop cracks or air pockets that allow water to get through in addition to joint leakage Concrete blocks and bricks are them selves quite porous so that water may seep directly through foundation walls when the ground is or the wa- table rises Water also can soak through the porous mortar joints between bricks stones or concrete Mocks In ad dition the hollow cores of concrete blocks may eventually bold water thus when the water level within the blocks is higher than the basement floor water seepage occurs Basement leakage that is caused by a high water table or saturated ground can be corrected according to Sys tem Inc These situations require pro fessional attention since this source of water leakage cannot be eliminated and if left untreated will eventually damage the homes foundation and market value Home owners must be cautious how ever when selecting a waterproofing company since some commonly prac ticed methods are ineffective and not provide a permanent The best waterproofing firms win do a site inspec tion before estimating the cost of the job and will offer a warranty on their work Anderson said The most effective method for water proofing a basement that leaks Ander son maintains is an haemal drainage system that is constructed In side perimeter of the basement below the floor This type of system will effec tively drain water that enters a basement through cracks in the floor or walls or that seeps directly through the walls re gardless of what material they are made of It also helps to relieve pressure against these walls Many people have found that laying drains in trenches is not effec tive BDry System Inc is the leading na tionally franchised basement waterproof ing company and offers a full nationally supported warranty on waterproofing services for the lifetime of the house The company is headquartered in Akron Ohio and has waterproofed more than homes nationwide since it was founded more than thirty years ago For further information about base ment waterproofing home owners may call or the nearest local BDry System Inc licensee listed in most phone directories SH905664 March is Red Month A United Way Agency through to or floor the joint where floor and meet and from water against the foundation get water out Internal drainage system Installed along the inside perimeter of the beneath the floor are the only way to effectively relieve underground wa ter Theae as the one developed by BDry System Inc must be installed and should be warranted for the lifetime of the bouse Each spring thousands of homeown ers are faced with an unpleasant side ef fect of seasonal rainfall Wet basements After the past years aboveaverage pre cipitation in many areas this spring could well be worse than most Chronic basement leakage is a serious problem that can destroy personal property fur nishings and appliances and sometimes even cause permanent structural damage to a homes foundation Excessive mois ture also can create a breeding ground for insects mold and mildew Despite the pervasiveness of the prob lem few home owners are aware of the causes of water leakage According to Bill Anderson of BDry System Inc The first step in selecting effective treatment options is to discover the of basement leakage which vary from one basement to the next Common causes One common cause of basement leakage is improper surface drainage such as when a house is built against a hill In many cases this can be alleviated simply by regrading the yard to slope slightly away from the homes founda tion or diverting the waterflow to bypass the home Other common culprits include poorly positioned downspouts and miss ing leaky or plugged gutters Down spouts should direct water runoff from the roof to a discharge point several feet sway from the house A downspout that is improperly positioned to drain against the side of the house allows water to build up along the foundation wall until the backedup reservoir finds a weak spot to enter the basement Gutters should be cleared of leaves and debris at least once a year Basement leakage from either of these usually is re stricted to one spot and disappears when the external problem is fixed There are a number of less avoid able temporary sources of basement leakage including plumbing leaks storm- sewer backups outdoor flooding above ground level and condensation caused by simple sweating of walls in humid weather Normal condensation usually can be corrected with the use of a good Pervasive problems A high water table is the most perva sive and serious cause of basement leak age and is also the most difficult to correct A high water table can affect a home in several ways As the water table rises to or above the level of the basement floor water be comes trapped underneath and leaks into the basement through cracks in the floor points where drains enter or at the joint between the walls and floor This joint or cove is seldom watertight since the walls and floor are poured or placed at different times during the construction of the house walls are first floors gener ally last Water also can seep laterally through the foundation walls either because of a rising water table or because the ground itself is saturated after heavy rains Foundations in different parts of the country are constructed from a variety of materials including poured concrete 3035 0FF To April 16 Toko advantage of our FREE SERVICE Decorating VIDEOS NOW AVAILABLE FREE I 800 NUMBER guarantees direct personal assistance from should you have a spill I J Centre HOURS 900 am 400 FLOORING SPECIALIST 126 Main St N ACTON 8531190 Beckermann Dreams Really Can Come True All it takes is 8534577 8534655 RR 4 ACTON 2 Mi South of Hwy 7 on 25 A Touch Hours Fri 95 Evenings and Saturdays by appointment KITCHEN SHOWROOM INC