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When the soil surrounding a building becomes saturated with water, the weight of that water exerts immense lateral force against the foundation walls. This is known as hydrostatic pressure.

If your basement relies solely on dense concrete, it is only a matter of time before hydrostatic pressure pushes water through microscopic pores and cold joints, resulting in flooded substructures.

The Multi-Layer Defense Approach

Sichern Engineering recommends a comprehensive defense strategy:

1. Positive Side Waterproofing: Applying a robust bituminous or highly elastomeric PU membrane on the exterior of the foundation wall before backfilling.
2. Dimple Drain Boards: Installing drainage boards to relieve the physical water pressure and channel water down to the French drain system.
3. Negative Side Crystalline Slurry: Applying crystalline waterproofing on the interior walls to block internal dampness and provide a secondary defense layer.

Consult with our structural engineers to design an impenetrable basement waterproofing system today.