As the winter months fade away and cold weather turns warm, it is not uncommon to notice some unwanted changes in your basement. If you are seeing damp spots along the walls, or cracks showing in the cinder block mortar; you could be seeing signs of moisture intrusion into your foundation. If water reaches your foundation and freezes, the ice will expand and can force blocks apart creating the cracks you see.
During your London home’s construction, a protective exterior layer should have been added for waterproofing during groundworks. The layer is typically a plastic membrane or an asphalt coated sheeting. Over time, these materials can break down allowing groundwater intrusion into the foundation. Without an in-tact protective layer, the water can seep into cinder blocks and when freezes occur, the water can expand in the blocks causing damage.
If you are experiencing water intrusion issues in your house, there are a few techniques to consider. You can perform groundworks around your foundation, giving you access to apply a new moisture barrier to prevent water intrusion. This is a major task, however, and often cost prohibitive to many London homeowners.
An alternative would be to apply sealing products to the interior walls of your basement construction foundations. These products are a short term solution, and will only last for about a decade.
Another option would be to drill weeping holes and a French drain so that water can be directed out of your basement through a sump pump. This solution is quickly done and can provide an efficient and durable solution.
If you are experiencing problems such as these contact BNS Groundwork London, the groundworks contractors London homeowners trust to get the job done right