According to recent studies, up to 33% of all batements in Ontario leak at one time or another, and the average new basement has two leaks within the first two years. Also, results of a 1992 survey con- ducted by the Ontario New Home Warranty Program (ONHWP), the City of Hamilton and the Hamilton-Halton Home Builders' Association, show that basement leaks are by far the worst problem plaguing today's new homes, accounting for 20% of warranty claims in the Hamilton region. Overall, base- Studies find a third of all basements leak eventually These statistics are staggering. To combat this problem, ONHWP formal- ly requested a change to the Ontario Building code to make the installation of a drainage layer on the outside of the basement wall mandatory. Our technical people forecast that this change, which will be in place this summer. will "drastically reduce" the problem of basement leaks. ment leak claims have cost ONHWP $5,371,400 during the past five years. While adding drama} obviously an expense to age layers IS :0 a builder - . CALL CAROLYN LOFQUIST 842-7000 ; ....6....q.66qo...e....6...e.e.oe. cost that may well be passed on to con- sumers - over the long term such mea- sures will save homebuyers consider- able money and headaches. Under the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act, as of June 1987, homes are protected for two years against water penetration into the base- ment through the foundation from out- side the home. For homes enrolled after December 31,1990, the entire building envelope is warranted against water penetration for two years. Basement cracks, often caused by shrinkage winte the r ment If you discover a leak in your new home and you report the problem in the first or second year of the warranty, then the builder is responsible for fix- ing the problem and warranting the repair for a full year. form If in future years a new leak is found and is determined to be separate (See 'Submit' page 12) kage of the concrete, typically and become visible during late :r or early spring, so April/May is ight time to inspect your base-