Dealing with Water Penetration

When considering the most appropriate form of prevention and/or management, several factors need to be considered.

• Identifying the source of the water or moisture (90% of the time it is surface water)
• Severity of the problem
• Frequency of water penetration
• Budgetary concerns
• Foundation type (basement or crawlspace)
• Foundation material (poured concrete, concrete block, stone, etc.)
• Determining need and feasibility for prevention or management or both.

Methods for Controlling Surface Water

The easiest method to prevent surface water from entering the home is to direct the water away from the home.  The simplest method to properly divert water away from the property is to use a gutter and downspout system in conjunction with proper surface grading around the home.

If gutters, downspouts and grading cannot prevent the surface water from entering the basement (or crawlspace), an exterior perimeter drain is the last method for preventing water penetration.  The exterior drain collects the water that accumulates next to the foundation and redirects the water away from the foundation.

In basements and crawlspaces where water penetration cannot be prevented, water management systems such as trenches and sump pumps are used to collect the water that enters the home and redirects the water out and away from the home.

Methods for Controlling Groundwater

Groundwater that enters the basement is best controlled with a sump pump and/or an interior perimeter drain.  The sump pump and interior perimeter drain collect the groundwater that rises to the basement slab (or crawlspace floor) and redirects the water away from the foundation.

Method for Controlling Excessive Moisture Vapor

All foundation materials (such as dirt floor, concrete slab and walls, or block walls) are porous and allows some moisture vapor to pass through from the exterior.  In addition, the cooler temperatures in crawlspaces and basements create a condition that actually draws in the moisture through condensation.  In homes where excessive moisture vapor is present, some control method should be used to prevent problems with wood destroying insects and fungus.   In basements, when moisture penetration is slow, the most common method for controlling moisture vapor is with a dehumidifier.  In crawlspaces, moisture vapor penetration usually comes through the soil floor and is usually controlled with a vapor barrier and crawlspace vents.