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Questions that we are sometimes asked here at NoVa (Northern Virginia) Barrier Waterproofing Systems

May 13, 2009

Q – When the power goes out (typically during heavy storms), my sump pump will not work. That is when I get about 1 inch of water in my basement. What can I do?

A – Well, sump pumps installed in homes today run off of electric power sources. When the power is off, the sump pump is not working. There are battery back-up kits that can be purchased to create power when the actual power is out. If you don’t want to worry about all of that, have a NoVa Barrier Dual-drainage system installed. This will keep water out of your walls, floors, and from under your slab eliminating the need for a sump pump altogether.

Q – I am soon building a new home. It will have a basement and of course I do not want it to leak. What do I need to ensure happens as it is built? Can you use your waterproofing system on new homes?

A – First, congratulations on the opportunity to have a home built. We do have products for new construction and they come in a sort of Good, Better, and Best category. Let me warn you against the “old way” of doing things. For many, many years people have been applying tar to their walls to waterproof them. It does seem to work just fine at first but, unfortunately, it is only damp-proofing at the best and is a temporary fix. Tar dries out and cracks underground. If there is any shifting of the structure and/or if cracks appear in the wall, they could easily be compromised by water because the old, dried out tar can’t stop the water. We offer an application for new construction that allows the builder to offer a lifetime warranty against leaks.

Q – I have a house with a crawl space that is ALWAYS wet. If I get under the house for any reason, I am crawling or crouching in puddles of water. Is there a solution?

A – Absolutely. The Barrier Dual-drainage system can be applied to crawlspaces and basements. It will guarantee a dry crawlspace for you.

Q – My home basement wall leaks water through some of the places where the metal wall form braces were left in the wall. I guess over time they rusted through and they are now letting water through. What can I do about that?

A – This is somewhat common. I have seen at least 4 or 5 poured walls with this issue already this year. A simple solution one homeowner suggested was to plug the holes with a caulking or epoxy type compound. This would eliminate the water for them and there would be no problems. WRONG! All this will do is stop the water partially through the wall and then it would be able to saturate the interior of the wall. Over time, water would still work its way past any caulking or epoxy and find its way through. Water in the wall could lead to structural decay which is breakdown of the building materials. Stopping the water on the outside of the structure, before it ever enters the walls, is the only correct way to solve this problem. A Barrier Dual-drainage system would stop the water, guaranteed.

If you have a leaky, wet, musty smelling basement, don’t hesitate to contact us for a free, no hassle inspection. Call Jon at 540-974-2755 or 703-866-0535 or 804-859-2544 or you can visit our website at NoVa Barrier Waterproofing Systems.

Tags: Basement Waterproofing, drainage, Foundation Waterproofing, french drain, leaking basement, Northern Virginia, Northern Virginia waterproofing, NoVa Barrier Waterproofing Systems, sump pumps, waterproofing contractors, wet basements, wet foundation

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Questions that we are sometimes asked here at NoVa (Northern Virginia) Barrier Waterproofing Systems