Basement Waterproofing: Is Your Dimple Mat Up for the Job?
You choose a dimple mat based on decent specs, and it appears to be of good quality – but how can you know if the product you’ve chosen is truly up for the job?
Category: Below Grade
Can Homeowners Sue Homebuilders for Foundation Problems?
If a homeowner’s new construction home is showing moisture-related issues in the basement, it’s a costly mistake to repair. Naturally, it’ll lead back to the builder as the owners will want some form of remediation or coverage.
How to Properly Manage Moisture in a Basement
Managing moisture in a basement is difficult. We break down and detail the fundamentals of a water-managed basement foundation done right.
How to Build a Dry Basement with Membrane Capillary Breaks
Only proper capillary breaks on footings, created with the use of a membrane, can stop groundwater from damaging basement foundations.
DELTA®-MS Receives Declare Red List Free Status
Finally, a below-grade dimpled membrane that contributes to high-performance building compliance. Demonstrating market leadership in the growing movement towards product transparency and health in the built environment, DELTA®-MS is the first, and only, below-grade dimpled membrane to obtain a Red List Free Declare label with the Living Building Challenge (LBC) International Living Future […]
Building a Dry Basement: 3 Key Construction Considerations
Building above grade is tough enough, but below grade? It is the most difficult space to get right. Not only does a basement hold the building up; it must keep groundwater, soil gas, and water vapor out, while keeping heat in during the winter and out during the summer.
Commercial Foundation Waterproofing
The major cause of many common foundation problems is water. Waterproofing systems are a critical component for keeping foundations dry. Like air control above grade, it is important to consider water control below grade as a system solution, not as a single component.
The Best Basement Wall Waterproofing Solution for Cold Climates
When it comes to below-grade moisture protection, cold weather and snow limit the use of any fluid-applied application. This can be avoided by selecting a better below-grade wall waterproofing solution that is designed specifically with cold climates in mind.
Meet Dörken’s Technical Service Manager
Krzysztof Apriasz, Dörken’s Technical Service Manager, solves everyday challenges for every type of project Skilled in engineering, AutoCAD, Revit, strategic planning, building codes, and on-site training, Krzysztof Apriasz, Dörken’s Technical Service Manager, is the go-to individual when it comes to knowing the ins and outs of DELTA® products. In this role, he is responsible for providing […]
Cary Grant Does Foundations*
The fundamental principles of groundwater control are to keep rainwater away from the foundation wall perimeter and to drain groundwater with sub-grade drainage and perimeter drains before it gets to the foundation wall. Nothing has changed in several millennia. Let’s look at the groundwater part. For groundwater, there are two things that need to happen […]
Foundation Protection Solutions. Step 1: Ditch the Sprays
When it comes to foundation protection and wall waterproofing, some builders only factor in code compliance. They simply spray a tar/asphalt coating on the concrete foundation and proceed with backfilling. Problem is, this approach is short-sighted, leading to spray-on foundation protection issues. Easily damaged spray-on coatings may create vulnerabilities on numerous levels, including moisture leading to mold […]
Five factors that contribute to moisture-related issues in basements
Today, people think about basements a little bit differently than in the past. While the idea of turning a basement into a livable and comfortable space seems like a necessity, it used to be the opposite. In the past, basements were merely used for storage purposes or were simply left unfinished. Now, the expectation among […]
Managing leaky basements without digging yourself into a hole
If you haven’t experienced the gross inconvenience and expense of a leaky basement, count yourself lucky. If you have, you know it is not something that can just be ignored in hopes it will go unnoticed or perhaps “fix itself.” Basement leaks can either be slow and steady, gradually seeping into a dwelling over days, […]
How Blower Door Testing Can Help Homebuilders
As more and more homeowners and homebuilders seek energy efficient structures, residential codes are responding. As we’ve seen from the standards set in the 2012 and 2015 versions of the International Energy Conservation Code, air tightness standards are significantly higher in order to address energy efficiency. Though currently only nine states have adopted the 2012 IECC and […]
5 Ways to Make Sure a Basement is a Comfortable Living Space When Building a New Home
Homeowners who have a basement would like to be able to use it without it being damp and cold. Homeowners may want to use their basement as a second entertainment room or even a small studio apartment, instead of reserving it as a catch-all storage space. To make a basement a comfortable living area requires […]
Interior Foundation and Basement Retrofits
How to fix a leaky basement without digging a hole, adding an exterior drain, or re-landscaping One of the most difficult issues to deal with as a landlord or a homeowner is a leaking foundation or basement wall. You go through a whole bunch of stages, much like grief counseling. First is denial that it […]
New DELTA®-PROTEC Subfloor System Introduced at Surfaces Show
Dörken introduced their new DELTA®-PROTEC Subfloor System for Concrete Floors at The International Surface Event in Las Vegas. The show features the most extensive display of floor covering, natural & engineered stone, tile products and educational offerings in the world. Flooring Dealers Were Impressed Flooring dealers frequently have customers who install laminate flooring over concrete only […]
Top four ways that mold is eating into your profit and your reputation
Experienced home builders understand how much work goes into building a good reputation, getting referrals, and growing their business. They also know just how quickly a bad experience for the homeowner can undo all of that hard work. One particularly bad experience that has many homeowners seeking retribution is the discovery of mold in […]
5 Reasons Why Basements Can Be Uncomfortable
Basements are known to have particular problems: they are often found to be damp, humid, and even occasionally flooded. Once moisture has intruded, it can be difficult to treat the problem. Moreover, these conditions make basements vulnerable to mold. Even common solutions, such as using a dehumidifier, can increase foundation issues and prolong the problem […]
Keeping Basements Dry: Why spray-on applications aren’t up for the job
Wet basements aren’t only bad for homeowners, they’re bad for business. From occupant discomfort and health risks due to mould and mildew to expensive material damage, foundation moisture has become one of the biggest headaches in homebuilding. When moisture makes an unwanted appearance in a foundation, people automatically look to their contractors to correct it […]
The Art of Proper Moisture Protection
The multi-award-winning Audain Art Museum is quintessentially Canadian – from the eclectic art housed inside to the unassuming yet masterfully planned and executed hockey-stick-shaped building itself. Yet, despite all the beauty on display for visitors, it’s the unseen elements that make this building truly amazing. The 56,000 sq. ft. private museum sits nestled amidst the […]
How To Avoid Problems When Installing Wood Flooring Over Concrete
Improper planning and other factors can lead to major damage in floors. What many people don’t realize is that a high-quality and durable floor doesn’t start with the flooring material itself, but instead with the foundation. Using techniques to seal moisture out of the foundation is the first step to building up a home or […]
Attention Builders: Home Buyers Want Dry Basements
High Performance Drainboards Provide Reliable Waterproofing Protection If you offer basements with your homes, you realize what a problem moisture can be. When a downpour causes a flooded basement, you get blamed. Flooded basements can also come from grading problems, unforeseen underground water issues, or something as simple as gutter placement. Whatever the cause, as […]
Cold Joints are Prone to Moisture Damage
Cold Joints Should Not Be Ignored Cold joints can cause serious foundation problems if not dealt with properly. A cold joint occurs where two separate pours of concrete meet; one pour is cured and one pour is not. The hardening of the two are inconsistent, leaving a potential gap between the two layers. A serious […]
World’s Longest Tunnel Relies on DELTA®
The dream of constructing a tunnel 1.4 miles beneath Switzerland’s Gotthard mountain range arose shortly after World War II. Now, that dream has become a reality. On June 29, 2016 the inauguration of the Gotthard Base Tunnel invoked thoughts of Hannibal crossing the Swiss Alps 2,200 years ago. Of course, this route runs under, not over, the […]
