How to Seal your Basement in Whiting, IN 46394
Whiting, IN is one of the smaller towns in northwest Indiana with a population of around 5,000 but it is known widely around the region for an event that takes place there each July. Pierogi Fest, a three-day celebration centered around the traditional eastern European dumpling, draws crowds to Whiting every summer that dwarf the population, sometimes as many as 200,000 over the long weekend.
The other 362 days of the year, Whiting residents enjoy life in their historic community that dates back to 1895 and traces its beginnings to the steel and railroad industries. Whiting is full of historic homes, with 70% of the houses in the city having been built before 1940. Historic and vintage homes have lots of appeal, in Whiting and elsewhere, including neighboring East Chicago and Calumet City, but they do bring their share of headaches for homeowners.
It’s not uncommon for local homeowners to experience basement water problems and find themselves wondering how they can seal their basements in Whiting.
3 Ways to Seal a Basement in Whiting
Decisions on sealing a basement in Whiting should be made on a case-by-case basis after a thorough inspection but there are three methods commonly used by basement waterproofing contractors in the area that will cover almost any situation:
Exterior Waterproofing Membrane with Drain Tile – As is common in northwest Indiana, many of the homes in Whiting are built on concrete block or other masonry foundations. One particularly effective method of sealing these basements is to apply exterior waterproofing membrane in conjunction with exterior drain tile. Exterior waterproofing membrane is a thick coating of asphalt-modified polyurethane that is troweled on to the outside of foundation walls to permanently seal out water. The membrane works best when covered with drainage board that protects it and channels water down to drain tile.
Exterior drain tile is perforated plastic pipe buried next to foundation footings in a bed of washed stone. Following the exterior perimeter of the foundation, the drain tile collects ground water and carries it off to a sump pump where it is ejected from the house. This seals the basement against water infiltration though cracks in walls, deteriorated mortar joints and porous masonry.
Interior Drain Tile – Many basement water problems are caused by hydrostatic pressure under the foundation, which can cause ground water to seep into the basement through cracks in the floor or through the cove joint. Installing drain tile along the interior perimeter of the footings, below the basement floor, will alleviate hydrostatic pressure and prevent these types of seepage.
Crack Repair – Newer homes in Whiting are likely to have foundations constructed of poured concrete, which can be prone to cracking caused by lateral pressure from saturated soil. These cracks can allow water to seep into the basement. The best way to permanently repair these cracks and seal the basement is to inject them from the interior with expanding polyurethane. The polyurethane material expands to fill and seal the cracks all the way to the outside soil; it remains flexible when cured to prevent minor foundation movement from causing the crack to re-open.
If the crack cannot be accessed from the interior, the basement can be sealed by filling a small excavation at the site of the crack with sodium bentonite clay, which will set up to permanently pliable state and form an impermeable barrier against water.
Regardless of the appropriate repair method, a Whiting homeowner needs the services of a professional basement waterproofing contractor to permanently seal his or her basement. At U.S. Waterproofing, we’ve been helping homeowners in Whiting and all over northwest Indiana to seal their basements for more than 50 years, so why not ask for our advice? It’s always free.
