The EPA recommends taking care of moisture problems in the basement before you finish your basement and convert it to living space. One of the BHA contractor members told a sad story of a customer who installed an open drainage system before he finished the basement. Hugo D’Esposito, owner, A.M. Shield Waterproofing, Albertson, NY, recalls…
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BHA Members Choose the Customer by Installing Only Closed Waterproofing Systems
On our sister website www.basementhealth.org, there is a forum where homeowners and contractors can talk and discuss issues within the industry. There was a discussion about closed vs. open drainage waterproofing systems. For decades, it was common practice to install an open drainage system. Now, we have learned that open drainage systems are a pathway…
Open or Closed Drainage Systems?
Interior drainage systems are typically installed along the perimeter of a foundation footing or at the lowest point on the foundation wall under the basement slab. This procedure generally requires pipe, stone, pump and re-cementing of the floor. If foundation moisture problems are present, some basement waterproofing contractors may choose to install a form of…
BHA Waterproofing Certification Program
For the most past, the waterproofing industry is a self-regulated industry. At this point anyone with a contractor’s license can install a waterproofing and drainage system. While manufacturers and contracting companies may offer installation training, most regions do not require official certifications or licenses (beyond a contractor’s license) for waterproofers. Waterproofing and structural repair contractors…
Understanding FEMA Assistance for Homeowners
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the government relief program for the U.S. Most people know FEMA as a household name but until your area is hit with a disaster where the damage is so widespread that it is declared a federal disaster (the declaration must come from the governor, a federal agency director…
Sump Pumps: The Differences Between Common Pump Models
There are a lot of sump pump models on the market today. The two main types of sump pumps are submersible and pedestal sump pumps. Like the name, a submersible pump is designed be submerged in water. The pedestal pump sits in the sump pit, but the motor is not designed to get wet so…
How to Measure Your Sump Pump Strength
Not all sump pumps are created equal. Some are actually stronger than others. Pump strength is measured by the amount of water that is can push out of a 1 ½ inch PVC discharge line. Most pumps have a flow chart indicating the Gallons Per Minute (GPM) with the feet of discharge line. The length…
Tips to Draining a Seriously Flooded Basement
If your basement is flooded with more than just a couple of inches (we are talking a foot of water, here), don’t be in too big a hurry to pump it out. Here’s why. Water in the ground outside your home is pushing hard against the outside of your basement walls. But the water inside…
What To Do if My House Floods
A basement flood is one of a homeowner’s worst nightmares. At the Basement Health Association, we often talk about prevention when it comes to basement flooding. But what if it is too late to talk about waterproofing applications or those waterproofing systems fail in a serious disaster? The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) put together…
