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Footing & Foundations

New Jersey’s Trusted Basement Waterproofing & Foundation Repair Company

Discovering signs of foundation settlement and damage can be concerning for homeowners. All houses shift and settle as they age. Too much movement, however, can lead to damage that’s permanent and ongoing unless the foundation is stabilized.

DryMaster Basement Waterproofing knows that a one-size-fits-all repair system doesn’t work for most New Jersey homeowners. That’s why we engineered a system that can be tailored for the soil conditions, location, type of house, and other factors at each unique property.

What Are Common Causes Of Wet Basements?

There are many reasons why homeowners have wet basements. In the New Jersey area, flooding due to heavy rains and improper drainage systems can contribute to basement leaks. If you don’t keep water away from your foundation, water can destroy walls, floors, carpet, and furniture. Some common sources of water entry include:

Accumulating Surface Water

Is the surface water draining next to your foundation? Look outside of your home for overflowing gutters filled with debris and leaves.

Overflowing Gutters

Maintain your gutters on a regular basis to avoid clogged gutters.

Improper Downspouts

Make sure you add downspouts to your gutters that are the correct size. Water should run away from the foundation and into a sloped yard. All downspouts need to be at least 10 feet from your home.

Improper Downspouts

Make sure you add downspouts to your gutters that are the correct size. Water should run away from the foundation and into a sloped yard. All downspouts need to be at least 10 feet from your home.

Irrigation

Limit the amount of water dispersed next to the foundation or avoid installing a lawn irrigation system close to your home. All irrigation systems need a rain gauge so it does not turn on when it rains.

Pavement Slope 

If the pavement settles, the direction of the water flow can change. The settled pavement should be replaced to allow water to flow away from the home.

Plumbing Leaks

Leaky pipes can lead to foundation issues and wet basements.

Improper Drainage System

Without proper waterproofing solutions, high moisture levels can cause erosion and expansive clay soil.

Accumulating Surface Water

Is the surface water draining next to your foundation? Look outside of your home for overflowing gutters filled with debris and leaves.

Overflowing Gutters

Maintain your gutters on a regular basis to avoid clogged gutters.

Improper Downspouts

Make sure you add downspouts to your gutters that are the correct size. Water should run away from the foundation and into a sloped yard. All downspouts need to be at least 10 feet from your home.

Improper Downspouts

Make sure you add downspouts to your gutters that are the correct size. Water should run away from the foundation and into a sloped yard. All downspouts need to be at least 10 feet from your home.

Irrigation

Limit the amount of water dispersed next to the foundation or avoid installing a lawn irrigation system close to your home. All irrigation systems need a rain gauge so it does not turn on when it rains.

Pavement Slope 

If the pavement settles, the direction of the water flow can change. The settled pavement should be replaced to allow water to flow away from the home.

Plumbing Leaks

Leaky pipes can lead to foundation issues and wet basements.

Improper Drainage System

Without proper waterproofing solutions, high moisture levels can cause erosion and expansive clay soil.

Damage Caused By Wet Basements

Step Cracks

Step cracks refer to cracks that follow the mortar joints in a block wall. The cracks travel up or down along the mortar. In many cases, this type of crack is caused by movement of the footing, shrinkage, or wall movement. Small narrow step cracks are not a major cause for concern; however, wide cracks or step cracks combined with other cracks and movement can be problematic.

Vertical Cracks

Vertical (up and down) cracks can be caused by the simple shrinkage of materials. These cracks often occur in the control joints of poured walls. They appear as hairline cracks in mortar joints and through blocks in a cement block wall. Cracks in block walls should be very narrow, without horizontal movement. Vertical cracks are an issue if they are wide, tapered from top to bottom, or found in combination with other cracks.

Horizontal Cracks

Horizontal cracks can appear at the mortar joints in block walls. They indicate that the wall has moved horizontally. As the wall is pushed in, the joint opens up inside the basement, and a similar crack will occur outside near the base of the wall. Horizontal cracks are caused by lateral pressure due to wet soils, poor maintenance of surface water, and frost.

Horizontal cracks in block walls always need to be taken seriously. A horizontal crack combined with a step or vertical cracks will most probably leak. When there is water in the soil, the soil may expand, common in clay soils. When the wet soil expands, the wall may be pushed in and the horizontal crack may open further. 

Floor Cracks

Basement floor cracks are common because concrete shrinks as it cures. Cracks from an inside corner or small spiderweb-like cracks are not of major concern. These often are shrinkage-related. Basement floors often have gaps between the floor and the wall or around the sump pump crock in a corner. 

There is evidence of a problem if the cracks are parallel to the wall and footings or if there is vertical movement associated with the cracks. Displacement at the cracks, or floor cracks that align with wall cracks, also indicate a problem. Floors that are tipped, heaved and cracked often leak. Heaving indicates hydrostatic pressure from a failed french drain.

How Wet Basements Are Fixed And Water Is Removed

At DryMaster Basement Waterproofing, we fix wet basements by keeping water from entering your basement. We offer reliable interior and exterior waterproofing systems. Our interior systems include heavy-duty carbon fiber solution, channel drains, vapor barriers, and effective water channels to remove water.

  • Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS)

Without damaging your landscaping, we will dig around the perimeter of your home and install Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS). Its many advantages included lightweight construction for easy handling, high resistance to corrosion and abrasion, and strength and durability to withstand severe loading conditions. 

  • Drain Core Board

Drain Core Board is a dimpled plastic sheet that provides effective drainage and waterproof membrane protection on foundation walls and other underground structures. Drain Core Board assists your home’s foundation with its dimple structure to effectively capture and transport high water volumes. It also resists high loads from earth and formwork.

  • Epoxy

Wall cracks can also cause wet basements. We can eliminate wall cracks by applying wall crack injections to waterproof your wet basements. Over time, cracks can widen allowing unwanted pests and moisture into your basement. They can also cause mold growth affecting your family’s health. Our specialized team offers different options for wall crack injections. We offer epoxy injection and a urethane injection system. Epoxy is used for bonding crack and restoring the strength of the concrete. Urethane stops water leaks in the foundation wall cracks. 

  • Carbon Fiber Solutions

Carbon fiber is a high-strength strand that is woven into a fabric that is virtually unbreakable and does not stretch.  When used for structural foundation repair, it is epoxied to the damaged wall at intervals determined by the type and severity of the damage.  When a steel angle is added to the top of the wall, between floor joists, the wall is completely stabilized and no further movement occurs.

The Pros of Carbon Fiber Over Steel I-Beams

  • Quick Installation – The installation process for carbon fiber is very simple:  the area of the wall where the strip will go is ground flat and a bed of high-strength epoxy is applied.  The carbon fiber strip is embedded into this under pressure and the steel angle is bolted to the top.  Depending on the size of the wall, carbon fiber repairs can be done in a day.
  • Incredible Strength – Carbon fiber is a super-strong material that is even being used in the construction of commercial aircraft.  It cannot break and the fibers do not stretch so when properly applied the wall repairs are permanent.
  • Low Visibility — When the carbon fiber strip has been applied to the wall, it shows up as only a small bump on the wall, a fraction of an inch thick.  It can be painted over, which makes it nearly disappear, and a normal stud wall can be constructed over it if the basement is to be finished.
  • No Maintenance – When the carbon fiber repair is finished, it requires no further attention from the homeowner – or anyone.
  • Low Cost – Carbon fiber repairs can be done for approximately half the cost of steel beams.

New Jerseys Foundation Repair Experts

We are proud to be known as New Jersey’s foundation repair specialists. Established over 30 years ago, DryMaster Basement Waterproofing has created a reputation based on honesty, quality, and fair pricing. All of our basement waterproofing comes with a free lifetime guarantee which is transferable to a new owner at no cost.

Call today to schedule a free evaluation of your foundation, basement waterproofing, or concrete issues, and we will show you why you should rest your foundation on our reputation. We strive to be the best foundation contractors in the New Jersey area.