Water problems in your basement?
Behind each leaking basement is a source of water. We cannot always control the source of the water, but we can always stop the water before it enters your basement. The variables are the source of the water, the footing configuration and foundation of the home and the entry point for the water. The most common water entry points are through the joints between the footings and foundation, over the foundation or through cracks in the foundation walls. All can result in a musty basement as well as moldy walls, insulation and carpet and a flood potential.

Basement Waterproofing Systems

There are two types of waterproofing techniques:

positive side or exterior waterproofing

negative side or interior waterproofing

Positive side waterproofing is a fancy term for common sense building practices -they are already in place in your home and include caulking, roof gutters and downspout extension, foundation sealers, certain landscaping techniques and perimeter trench drains (or French drains) are commonly installed when the home is built. 

Negative side waterproofing applications include interior sealants, interior water drainage systems, sump pumps dehumidification units and ventilation techniques. Generally speaking, if you have a water infiltration problem, most likely one or more of the exterior waterproofing applications is either overcome or otherwise ineffective to the volume of ground water present. While it is always imperative to correct and improve any exterior problems, like adding gutter extensions, 95% of the time the best way to attack a basement water problem is from the inside. Whatever your problem Advanced Basement Technologies analyzes your problem and recommends the best solution available.   

French Drains
French drains (also called trench drains or perimeter drains) is a system of perforated pipes covered with gravel or rock. They rely on gravity to channel ground water down and away from your foundation or basement (See fig. A below).

Figure A. French drain system            Figure B. Clogged French drain

French drains have been very common during new construction for years. Unfortunately, French drains do not last for the lifetime of your home. They may last for 20 years or as little as one year before they clog with silt and mineral deposits rendering them ineffective (fig. B). Because they are buried,

French drains are impossible to clean or maintain without excavation and extremely expensive to install post-construction making them a one time only waterproofing application.
 

The Water Trek Aqua Route® is a patented internal perimeter footing drain system leading to a sump pump. It can be installed pre or post-construction and in finished or unfinished basements for far less than the cost of French drains. Water Trek Aqua Route is tailored  to each basement water problem and footing configuration encountered.

What is unique about the Water Trek is that unlike other perimeter systems, it addresses water from multiple directions. That is important since water can infiltrate from in from three problem areas: 1.) between the footing and foundation wall joint; 2.) underneath the footing and up between the foundation wall and slab floor; and 3.) through cracks in the foundation wall or cracks in the floor.
The Water Trek Aqua Route® has slots on both sides to accommodate both problem areas. The patented system is virtually clog-free. Should it clog for for any reason, it can easily be cleaned through access ports.

If you have a leaking basement, have experienced basement or crawl space flooding or have foundation cracks, call us at 303-798-2WET / 303-798-2938 for a free estimate.