Repair Options for Cracked CMU Foundations
By Clark Ricks In the last issue of this magazine, we addressed fixing failing poured wall foundations. Part II, printed below, offers solutions for fixing bowed, cracked, or leaking foundations made from concrete block.–The Editor In many parts of the...
Dealing with Drainage Avoid Penny-Pinching, Avoid Foundation Drainage Problems
By Dan Calabrese Drain sheets like this dimple membrane relieve hydrostatic pressure and increase the reliability of waterproofing. In foundation waterproofing, as with most things, prevention is far more effective than correction. So if your objective is...
Midwestern Floods Impact Waterproofing Industry
By Melissa Morton Flooding in Iowa turned 83 of 99 counties into disaster areas. Waterproofers report that the repair work and clean up will keep them busy for months. Heavy rain fell across parts of the Midwest during the first two weeks of June, creating...
Summer 2008 News
The current housing downturn is shaping up to be the worst in 50 years, and has not yet run its full course, according to a newly released Harvard University Study.Despite product cuts “rivaling those in the 1978-1982 downturn, the number of homes on the market did...
Foundation Crack Repair with Low-Pressure Injection Systems
by Jay Schmid Today’s homeowners are demanding more useable living space, which increases expectations on their basements. These spaces are increasingly being relied on for home offices, storage, and recreation, and nothing can ruin the enjoyment of that...
Built Up Roofing
By Dan Calabrese The key to long-lasting water-resistance is to install a roof that limits movement and maintains its elasticity. You know what it’s like when you’re old and reliable. People are always trying to find something better, even while they take...
Sump Pumps Under the Stage
By Clark Ricks A significant portion of concert hall at Sonoma State University sits below grade and below the water table. An innovative dewatering system had to be developed to keep the building dry. Here, Christopher Dinno explains foundation construction to a...
Fixing Failing Poured Wall Foundations
By Melissa Morton Resistance or push pier systems use the weight of the building to push the piles into the ground until they reach bedrock. Whether they break from soil settling, roots, hydrostatic pressure, or plain old deterioration, concrete...
Spring 2008 News
CertainTeed, maker of the popular Form-A-Drain footing drain, has reached an agreement with Armtec of Canada to be the exclusive U.S supplier of their Platon air gap membrane.Used as both a flooring underlayment and foundation water-proofing, Platon can be used in a...
The Basics of Integral Crystalline Waterproofing
Over the past three decades, an innovative technology known as Integral Crystalline Waterproofing (ICW) has been changing the way concrete structures are waterproofed and repaired worldwide. Unlike conventional waterproofing methods that apply a membrane or coating to...
