Before the widespread use of concrete, other materials were used to build houses. The most popular solution for creating a foundation was stone. This option boasts excellent durability, can stand for many years, and does not have a porous structure. The latter ensures that basements made of this material are less prone to waterlogging. But this does not mean the latter does not happen to such a basement. If you are facing the problem of waterlogging, you should read the following material.
The Purpose of a Stone Foundation
The stone foundation of a house serves one main purpose—to keep out moisture and protect the structure from the cold. If your home was built before World War I, stone was probably used to create the foundation. It is also worth noting that a home can have different types of foundations—a full basement underground or above and other options.
Types of Stone Foundation
Stone foundations can be created using different building materials. In general, they can be divided into three main types.
Rubble
Flat stones, which can be of different shapes and sizes, are used to construct the structure. Most often, no binding compound is used to create a foundation from rubble stone, which means that condensation can seep inside the foundation gradually over the years.
Fieldstone
In this situation, stones as similar in size as possible are used for construction. As in the previous variant, no binder is used here. During the laying process, the craftsmen are guided by the cut (shape) of the stones.
Dressed Stone
In this situation, cut (crushed) stones are used. It is the only variant of the house foundation where a binder is used. It can be concrete and other mortar options. Because of this, moisture may well be able to penetrate the basement.
Importance of Waterproofing The Foundation
It does not matter what stone the house’s foundation is made of. In any case, high-quality professional waterproofing must be carried out. Signs of waterlogging can occur gradually over time—the problem becomes more noticeable every year. Most often, the problem appears if the building is incorrectly erected or the site has the wrong slope. All this provokes the appearance of cracks in the base and deflection of the structure. It is in these defects that water will enter.
If you do not solve the issue of waterlogging, it leads to several unpleasant problems:
- Mold – constant high humidity leads to the fact that mold will grow in the basement and fungus will appear;
- Unpleasant musty odor – and the pungent smell may not only be in the basement but may gradually penetrate other rooms of the house;
- Waterlogging and dampness—after heavy rains, inside the basement, full-fledged puddles can appear, and water can seep from the cracks.
You should not delay solving the problem. If you ignore the leaks, they will only get bigger over time, and the foundation of the house will seriously deteriorate. If you notice cracks, standing water, blistering, peeling, or cracking paint and other decorative coatings, you should call a professional to fix the problem as soon as possible.
What Causes a Wet Basement?
A variety of reasons can cause moisture seepage:
- high hydrostatic pressure – wet soil around the house presses on the walls, thereby encouraging moisture to seep in through cracks;
- Improper landscaping—Water can always stand on the house’s foundation walls if the soil is improperly leveled.
In addition, if improper waterproofing has been done previously, moisture can begin to seep in over time. It is also worth remembering the waterproofing material’s life expectancy. After dozens of years, it may lose its properties, and the coating will need to be renewed.
Stone Foundation: Ways You Can Prevent Water Leaks
Most often, to solve the problem, masters use exterior concrete foundation waterproofing. The main feature of this method is that all works are carried out from the outside of the foundation, respectively; for their implementation, it is necessary to dig up the base of the house – the soil is excavated to get to the stone walls. In addition, to protect against moisture, special compositions are used – cement mortar, waterproofing membrane, and so on.
We have compiled a full step-by-step guide describing each step of quality external insulation of a stone foundation against moisture.
Step 1. Inspect the base of the house and look for major defects
All work starts with a detailed inspection of the building’s foundation. Check it for leaks and major defects. If you have full access to the basement, inspect it from the inside.
Step 2. Thoroughly clean the walls and prepare for further work
Many craftsmen recommend external waterproofing. It starts with bringing special equipment to excavate the entire perimeter. Masters need to get full access to the walls of the house’s base. Surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned from traces of soil. The bonding mortar, which has become loose and no longer fulfills its purpose, is removed.
Step 3. Filling cracks with special cement
The next step is to repair cracks and other defects. Hydraulic cement is most often used for this task. Its main advantage is that it hardens very quickly. It does not shrink but rather expands, thus filling the defects more thoroughly.
Step 4. Applying the first stage of waterproofing
To fully protect the house’s base from moisture, you need to apply a special solution in two layers to the entire surface. The first layer is applied first, and you must wait for some time (see the manufacturer’s instructions) for it to dry completely. Then, the second layer is applied (it is needed to create the optimum thickness of the coating).
Step 5: Surface treatment with sealant
After that, the craftsman applies a special sealant, all done with a roller. This protects the surface completely from moisture.
Step 6. Installing the drainage system
Next is the installation of the third and final layer of moisture protection. The Delta-MS Air Gap/Drainage Membrane System is designed to collect and direct water outwards so that it does not damage the house’s structure.
Step 7. Laying Weeping Tile
This step ensures that the water in the soil is always below the basement floor level, minimizing hydrostatic pressure. It is followed by partial backfilling with gravel.
Step 8. Backfill and leveling of the area with the correct slope
The final step is to fill the excavated ditch with the appropriate material. The area should also be leveled so water does not pool against the building’s base walls.
Conclusion
Summarizing all the above, the stone foundation is one of the most durable solutions in house construction. Such structures stand perfectly well today, but they also have disadvantages. Like any other type of house, they are vulnerable to water exposure. Therefore, you should worry about quality waterproofing. It is not worth ignoring this problem. It can lead to fungus, mold, and other problems.
CLOGGED OR BROKEN WEEPING TILE