How to do Basement Waterproofing in Palatine, IL 60067
Palatine IL is one of the largest municipalities in the Chicago area with a population of more than 68,000. It could be called a global village, too, because 22% of Palatine residents were born outside the United State, coming from countries around the world, including Mexico, India, Poland, the Philippines, Pakistan, China and South Korea.
After its incorporation in 1866, Palatine grew slowly and had only 1300 homes at the start of the 1950s. The postwar housing boom across the U.S. kicked Palatine into gear and the construction of new homes doubled each decade until peaking in the 1970s, at the end of which there 16,000 homes in Palatine. Growth has slowed since then as the village matured and became fully developed and today there 26,000 homes there.
Because nearly two-thirds of the houses in Palatine are at least 30 years old, homeowners have begun to experience the maintenance and repair issues that are pretty standard as houses age. New roofs, siding and windows have given new life to old structures and basement waterproofing has kept them dry and their foundations secure.
Basement Waterproofing in Palatine
Of course, each Palatine home, like those in neighboring Arlington Heights and Park Ridge, is unique but there are 3 commonly used methods of basement waterproofing that are effective there.
Interior Drain Tile – One of the most common sources of a wet basement is ground water that is forced by hydrostatic pressure under the foundation through cracks in the basement floor and through the cove joint. Installing interior drain tile, perforated pipe buried in a bed of washed stone under the basement floor, will alleviate this pressure and move the water to a sump pump for disposal. Properly installed, interior drain tile should never require maintenance.
Crack Repair – Another common source of water in a poured concrete foundation is a non-structural crack in the basement wall. These cracks can be repaired permanently by injecting them with expanding polyurethane that will fill the crack all the way to the soil outside. The polyurethane will remain flexible once it has cured to prevent re-cracking caused by minor foundation movement.
If the basement is finished or the crack is otherwise inaccessible, it can be repaired from the exterior with sodium bentonite clay. A small hole is dug next to the foundation at the site of the crack and filled with sodium bentonite. The clay forms a pliable and impermeable barrier against further water intrusion through the crack.
Exterior Waterproofing – It is common for poured concrete foundations to leak over the top of the foundation wall or through patches of porous concrete; masonry foundations can leak through bad mortar joints or porous masonry. Either can be repaired by installing an exterior waterproofing membrane, a thick coating of asphalt-modified polyurethane that is troweled onto the foundation wall to create an impermeable “positive side” barrier against water.
When extreme amounts of ground water are present, the membrane can be complemented with exterior drain tile and drainage board that protects the membrane and channels water downward.
No matter which method of basement waterproofing is best for a particular home, a Palatine homeowner will need the help of an experienced basement waterproofing contractor that knows the homes in the area. At U.S. Waterproofing we have been doing basement waterproofing around the Chicago area since 1957 and have already helped hundreds of Palatine homeowners keep their basements dry and their foundations safe. Why not ask for our free advice?
