Waterproof It Right

In the case of a concrete block foundation, the cores inside the block can fill with water and deteriorate the block or sometimes even freeze, causing major foundation failure. The first course of the concrete block starts below your concrete floor allowing water to sit inside of the block in most cases without your knowledge. This is the reason you will find mold, peeling paint, and mineral deposits along the first few courses of the block but possibly no water on the floor. By stopping the water from the outside there is no chance of having these problems. Also letting water into your basement over time can allow easier paths for the water to get through the wall, increasing the water flow in to your home. The dirt used to originally back fill your foundation can also do extensive damage which can also create areas for water to enter.

In northern Minnesota, there are many areas, especially in the Twin Ports, with very dense heavy clays. These types of native soils used to back fill your foundation, hold water, and put enormous amounts of pressure against your foundation. Anytime you have moisture in the material your foundation is backfilled with there is the potential for expansion of the soil during the winter months. In these conditions your foundation wall will most likely fail over time. This is another reason we remove 100 percent of the original backfill and replace it with granular sand. This keeps the moisture content of the backfill material on the wall to a minimum, water flowing to your drain tile and away from your foundation.