Vertical waterproofing of the foundation is better. How important is foundation waterproofing? Screen waterproofing of the foundation

The foundation is the most important part of the house, on which the reliability and durability of the building depends. Being an underground element, the foundation is more susceptible to the harmful effects of water and moisture than others. In most cases, the foundation of the house is a monolithic or precast concrete, which is characterized by a porous structure.

Do foundations and walls need to be waterproofed? Undoubtedly. Penetrating deep, water destroys metal elements. Experiencing temperature changes and moving from one state of aggregation to another, water changes in volume. This cannot but have a negative impact on concrete, which is destroyed more and more with each cycle - cracks and voids appear. As a result, the functionality of the foundation is lost.

Therefore, it is very important to ensure that the underlying structure is completely protected from moisture penetration. The question is how to waterproof the foundation. There are many factors affecting the quality of a hydro-barrier - from the nature of the foundation and the type of terrain to the type of insulating material and the readiness of the base to accept it. That is why it is worth using specialized services - only professionals clearly understand how to properly waterproof the foundation. Small errors can lead, at a minimum, to the need for frequent repairs of moisture protection.

What waterproofing to choose for the foundation?

The answer depends on the orientation of the base - horizontal or vertical surface, on the budget and the degree of rationality. Materials to protect the foundation from moisture are divided into:

• pasting;
• coating;
• penetrating.

Pasting insulation

One of the types of roll insulation. Previously, it was widely used for processing the horizon, creating a waterproofing layer under the foundation. As a roll material, roofing material usually acts, which is glued onto a surface treated with hot bitumen. It is recommended to use in combination with penetrating waterproofing, which is described in more detail below.

Coating insulation

Represented by a range of materials, divided into:

• bituminous;
• polymeric;
• cement-polymer.

Like roll, coating is much better used in conjunction with penetrating insulation.

Penetrating insulation

First, let's talk about the cons of other types. This will help to understand the absolute advantages of impregnation. Other materials are relatively good for outer surface treatment. The pressure of the water presses the insulation against the base. The liquid acts on the internal hydroprotection by separation, and this greatly reduces the life of the barrier.

Plus, all materials, except for impregnations, are prone to damage. Even small problems are a reason for groundwater to work to wear out the foundation. Finding damaged areas often requires a lot of work.

What is the right way to waterproof a foundation if the liquid creates so many problems and the materials are so easily damaged? We need an indivisible union of concrete and waterproofing. This is how penetrating insulation works - the mixture migrates deep into the concrete structure, filling absolutely all the pores and layers, crystallizing in them and creating a reliable moisture barrier. In the impregnation market, the undisputed leader is the materials of the Penetron family.

The better to do foundation waterproofing - Penetron materials

Understanding the essence of impregnations and related materials will tell you how to waterproof the foundation according to the rules.

Penetron is the main material of the complex. Certainly present as one of the components. Advantages:

• penetrates to a depth of at least 30-40 cm; over time, the depth reaches up to 90 cm;
• easy to use - applied with a brush;
• increases frost resistance at least twice;
• increases the strength of concrete up to 15%;
• protects reinforcement from corrosion;
• resistant to aggressive environments;
• characterized by self-healing of microcracks;
• vapor permeable;
• a huge range of uses (up to nuclear power plants, thermal power plants, etc.);
• environmentally friendly, allowed in contact with drinking water.

Still wondering what kind of waterproofing to choose for the foundation? Penetron is characterized by the highest maintainability. Problems are fixed quickly and locally.

Penekrit: the composition is used to seal joints / seams / junctions / cracks in combination with Penetron. It is distinguished by the absence of shrinkage, high strength and water resistance, good adhesion to concrete, stone, brick, metal.

Peneplug and Waterplug - Hydraulic seals that quickly eliminate pressure leaks in structures made of concrete, stone and brick. Fast setting time (depends on temperature and material). Characterized by the ability to expand. Used in conjunction with the two previous species.

Penetron Admix - An additive that is used at the stage of concrete preparation. Increases the performance of the concrete foundation in terms of strength, water resistance and frost resistance. Can be used in combination with Penebar or Penekrit (after setting concrete with additive).

Penebar is a waterproofing bundle designed to seal structural and working seams and communication passages. Increasing several times upon contact with water, Penebar creates pressure and becomes an excellent hydro-barrier.

These are not all the materials of the complex, but those described are the main ones. About how to properly waterproof the foundation with their help, further.

Foundation waterproofing technology

Preparatory work

It is not enough to know how to waterproof a foundation. You need quality training. All surface defects should be identified. Loose concrete, places with bare rubble and / or reinforcement must be dismantled and plastered with a repair mixture of Scrape M500. The fittings are pre-cleaned and primed with an anti-corrosion solution. Defects are not always noticeable, they can be hidden by cement laitance. This milk is removed, for example, with the composition of Himfreza.

In a concrete foundation, especially if it is a block structure, there are a lot of seams. These are the most vulnerable places. The joints are pre-deepened by 20-25 millimeters, cleaned and, washing well moistened. Then we recommend sealing these places with Penekrit.

Cracks and crevices are sealed, again, with Penekrit. The moistened surface is treated with Penetron, in two layers. Possible leaks in concrete are eliminated with the help of Waterplug or Peneplag mixtures. Leaking places are embroidered, at least in width, by 25 mm and deepened by 50 mm. It is recommended to deepen the expansion in the form of a dovetail. In the case of abundant hydrofiltration with a large water inflow, it is necessary to use injection resins such as PenePurFom. But this is already with the help of special devices and equipment.

Very often there are brick inserts in the FBS foundation. What waterproofing to choose for the foundation in this case? In this situation, you should again pay attention to the M500 Skrepa. It is used to plaster a brick over a metal mesh, achieving at the same time a significant increase in strength and a waterproofing effect. Do not forget about Penekrit, which close up the joints, and in this case, along the border of the M500 M500 and the FBesok themselves.

Final treatment with Penetron

This completes the preparation and you can proceed to the final stage. After the used mixtures have set, the surface to be treated must be cleaned and moistened very well. Finally, the Penetron mixture is prepared and the solution is applied in two layers - with a break of 4-6 hours, or as soon as the first layer dries. After completion of work, the foundation, with a frequency of several hours, is moistened for three days. At this stage, we can say that you already understand how to properly waterproof the foundation.

The finished compound must be used within half an hour, so prepare the amount that can be applied during this time, otherwise the composition will turn into stone!

If the waterproofing of the foundation with your own hands is done correctly, the foundation of the house will turn out to be guaranteed to be durable, strong and of really high quality.

The foundation of any residential building is considered the most important part of its structure. It is on it that during operation there are large loads. This means that it must be reliable. After all, with its destruction (even partial), other elements of the structure will also begin to deform.

Let's see what happens to the concrete base of a residential building when it is not protected from moisture. In the warm season, the surface of the foundation is constantly moistened. It collects a certain amount of moisture, which is absorbed into the concrete. With the advent of winter, the water that has fallen into the foundation freezes. It expands, which causes the destruction (at first very insignificant) of the concrete structure.

Waterproofing protects the foundation from water

In the spring, the frozen moisture thaws. After it, cracks and numerous pores remain in the concrete. The situation repeats itself the following year. After a couple of years, the cracks in the foundation will already be large enough and moisture will begin to penetrate into the reinforcement frame. From now on, the process of destruction of the foundation will become irreversible.

Careless builders claim that in a number of situations (low groundwater level, minimum precipitation during the year in a particular area, and so on), it is possible not to waterproof the base of the house. It is better not to pay attention to the words of such unfortunate advisers.

At any time, ground movements may begin on your land. They will lead to a change in the position of underground aquifers. Water from them may well go to the foundation of your house. What will happen in a few years, we have already described.

Therefore, waterproofing the foundation - with your own hands or with the involvement of hired professionals, should always be done. And here it is important to choose the right material that will reliably protect the base of the home from moisture.

Moisture protection of the bases of residential buildings is horizontal and vertical. The first of them is equipped at the stage of foundation construction, and the second can be carried out in an already built house. Horizontal insulation is usually made with roofing material. Also, its variety is the arrangement of a special drainage system (it is mandatory when groundwater is close to the surface on the site).

Horizontal waterproofing

Do-it-yourself waterproofing of the foundation with roofing material is performed as follows:

1. You dig a foundation pit for the foundation of the house, fill it with clay with a layer of about 0.25–0.3 m at its bottom and tamp the material very carefully. Instead of clay, it is allowed to use. The so-called pillow is made from it.
2. You make a 6–8 cm concrete screed (a part of cement to five parts of sand plus water until a thick consistency is obtained) over a sand cushion or clay layer.
3. Wait 10-12 days until the concrete hardens. After that, bituminous mastic is used. With this composition, the made screed should be processed, and then the roofing material should be laid on it.
4. Apply the mastic again and cover it with a second layer of roofing material.
5. Make another screed of concrete mixture (thickness similar to the previous layer).

This completed the work. Do-it-yourself horizontal waterproofing of the foundation is done! But remember that then it is desirable to produce vertical moisture protection of the base in one of the ways that we will describe in the next section.

Now let's figure out how the drainage system is equipped, a subspecies of horizontal waterproofing. It is built in two situations:

• when water accumulates under the building (does not soak into the ground);
• when soil water flows at the same level as the depth of the foundation.

The procedure for performing work on the arrangement of drainage is as follows:

1. You dig a small ditch 0.3 m wide around the perimeter of the house (retreat from the building by about 0.8–1 m). The depth of the groove is taken lower by 0.25 m from the level of pouring the concrete base. Note! The ditch is made with a slope (very small) to the well in which water is collected.
2. Lay geotextiles on the bottom of the ditch (the material is overlapped on the walls by about 0.7 m), pour gravel (5 cm) on top and mount a drainage pipe on it. For each meter of tubular product, provide a slope of about 5 mm.
3. You fill the pipe with a 25 cm layer of gravel, and then wrap the entire structure in geotextile (just lower the overlap left earlier).

The last step is backfilling the trench with soil. Do not forget to build a separate water collector where the drainage pipe will remove excess moisture.

Vertical moisture protection is suitable for an already built dwelling, and for one that is under construction. Such waterproofing is understood as the treatment with special compounds or materials of the walls of the foundation made.

It is performed with bituminous mastic, plaster mixture, liquid rubber, ordinary clay, penetrating solutions.

Foundation vertical waterproofing

Most often, bituminous mastic is used to protect the foundation of a built house from moisture. It is inexpensive and at the same time has excellent waterproofing potential. The principle of performing work with its help is given below:

• get a piece of bitumen;
• in any container, heat it to a liquid state;
• treat the foundation with the resulting solution (usually bituminous mastic is applied 3-4 times).

The composition will penetrate into all existing gaps and the smallest cracks in the structure and will become a good barrier to moisture seeking to penetrate into the residential building.

Bituminous mastic is also sold in finished form. It's even easier to work with her. As a rule, the finished composition does not need additional heating. Yes, and such a mastic is applied not 3-4 times, but a maximum of two layers.

Important! Every 5-7 years, the foundation must be re-treated with a bitumen composition.

Penetrating solutions for moisture protection - Penetron, Aquatro and others - have greater durability. They should be applied to a foundation cleaned of dust (in addition, it should be slightly moistened before direct use of the penetrating composition). The solution impregnates the base structure by 12-15 cm and effectively protects it from moisture.

Penetrating insulation is not yet very common in our country because of its novelty and rather high cost. At the same time, it protects the foundations from water much better than the bituminous mastic familiar to domestic home craftsmen.

Excellent vertical type hydraulic protectors are Elastopaz and Elastomiks. They are liquid rubbers, ideal for independent work on moisture protection of the foundations of private residential buildings. The rules for their use are simple:

1. The base of the building is processed twice with Elastopaz, once with Elastomix.
2. The foundation is processed with a roller or a wide paint brush. To speed up the work, it is allowed to use a spray device.
3. Before using liquid rubber, the base of the house must be treated with a primer.
4. Unused Elastopaz can be stored until the next work. But Elastomiks is applied once. If you did not use the entire composition from the package, the rest will have to be thrown away.

Waterproofing with liquid rubber

The disadvantages of these waterproofing materials include their high cost and long duration of work (the process of applying liquid rubber to the foundation takes a lot of time). At the same time, such compositions are very effective and durable. We add that the consumption of liquid rubber for processing one square of the base is about 3 kg.

If you do not want to spend money on the purchase of expensive compounds, waterproof the foundation with a conventional plaster mixture. Just add special water-resistant polymer elements to it (they are available in a large assortment at any construction store).

It is necessary to attach a putty mesh to the foundation (dowels are usually used to fix it), and then process the structure with plaster. The result of such work will be both high-quality moisture protection of the base of the building, and its simultaneous alignment. The application of the plaster mixture is carried out with a spatula - this procedure will not cause any difficulties for the home master.

The disadvantages of using plaster for waterproofing include the relative fragility of the insulating layer (maximum 12–15 years) and the risk of cracking on the treated surface. But such a composition costs mere pennies, and the speed of doing such work with your own hands is very high.

Finally, we will talk about the simplest and cheapest way to protect foundations from moisture. It is called the clay castle. The rules for its arrangement are as follows:

1. You dig a shallow (up to 0.6 m) ditch around the existing foundation.
2. Pour gravel or crushed stone to the bottom of the ditch (a layer of about 5 cm).
3. Place the clay on top and carefully ram it. Sprinkle clay several times.

The resulting clay castle acts as a buffer that traps moisture and prevents it from penetrating under the house. This method is ideal for a building that has already been built and has been in operation for a long time. True, experts do not advise using it for waterproofing residential buildings. It is more suitable for commercial buildings.

As you can see, there are many methods for protecting the foundations of various buildings from excess moisture. You just need to choose the appropriate option and start independent work.

One of the important conditions during construction is the protection of the supporting part from moisture. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that technology violations in this case are difficult to control without extracting the foundation. It may happen that during the operation of the purchased house, problems were discovered. Or another situation: the building was built in compliance with all standards, but it already has a fairly long service life and needs repair. In all these cases, it will be necessary to perform waterproofing of the foundation with your own hands on an already built house.

Isolation methods

There is no mention of additional measures such as foundation drainage or drainage. These measures relate to protecting the foundation from moisture, but, in fact, are not insulation. It is important that without these works, waterproofing can be meaningless, so you should not forget about them.

The foundation must be reliably protected from water

The main problem arises for strip foundations in houses with a basement. The need for isolation may arise in the following cases:

• violation of technology in the construction of a house(neglect of waterproofing or its insufficient quality);
• material degradation over time(aging, repair required);
• groundwater level rise, as a result of which the strip foundation of the house is flooded in the presence of a basement.

Depending on the cause of the problem and its size, choose the appropriate option from the following:

• coating vertical insulation;
• rolled vertical insulation;
• penetrating waterproofing;
• injection protection of the foundation of a built house;
• use of diffusion membranes;
• mounted methods.

Waterproofing device, if it is missing, insufficient or out of order

Here it is extremely important to find out one thing: the insulation system is completely absent or only vertical protection has been neglected. It is worth noting that if the horizontal laying of the material was not provided for during construction, nothing can be done about it without dismantling the foundation of the house.

To eliminate the dampness of the basement and prevent the destruction of structures, work can be done from the inside or outside. The first option is more time consuming, since you will have to dig out the soil around the perimeter of the building, but more correct.

Moisture protection from the outside

In order to repair insufficient waterproofing or correct the situation in its complete absence by an external method, work is performed in the following order:

External way to protect the base from moisture

1. Digging out the foundations from the outside.
2. If there is no drainage around the perimeter of the strip foundation, you need to do it yourself. The location of the pipes in the ground is prescribed in such a way that they are 30-50 cm lower than the sole of the base and are no further than 1 meter from the basement walls.
3. The next step is to assess the condition of the foundation. If there are significant damages, they must be repaired. Seal up cracks, crevices and sinks with a cement-sand mortar. In case of serious defects, it may be necessary to strengthen the strip foundation of the house. The execution of such work depends on the degree of damage. If there are problems only on the surface, shotcrete will suffice, if the situation is more serious, do it yourself by expanding the sole or unloading the supporting part of the house.
4. Next, you need to choose a method of waterproofing. The cheapest option is bitumen coating. But this protection is suitable for low soil moisture and is not durable. The same can be said about the roofing material (roll pasting material). It is better to repair the strip foundation using more modern materials, such as linokrom, hydroisol, glass isol, diffusion membranes.
5. After the walls of the basement of the house are sheltered from moisture, you can build a brick wall around the perimeter. This will become an additional barrier in the ground. Having finished with waterproofing work, backfill with layer-by-layer compaction is performed.
6. The last stage of waterproofing is a do-it-yourself blind area.

Moisture protection from the inside

Do-it-yourself fragment of the strip foundation of the house is a labor-intensive undertaking. If it is not possible to perform waterproofing measures from the outside, then the option remains from the inside. In this case, you do not have to work in the ground. The repair of the foundation is carried out from the side of the basement.

The easiest option in this case is the use of coating and roll materials. The method will not require large expenditures, but will be ineffective. Such actions will prevent water from entering the basement, but the construction of the strip foundation of the house will not be protected.

Protection of the basement from moisture from the inside

It is better to give preference to more effective measures when doing waterproofing with your own hands:

• use of penetrating materials;
• injection.

The effect of penetrating insulation is that the composition, getting into the thickness of the foundation of the house, crystallizes in the capillaries and prevents the penetration of water. Repair in this case will be quite effective, since the thickness of the walls of the basement of a private house rarely exceeds 60-70 cm, and some manufacturers claim that their compositions are able to penetrate to a depth of up to 90 cm. In this case, when performing work from the inside, even that part of the structure that is in the ground. Another advantage of this method is its low labor intensity. The disadvantage is the rather high cost of materials for processing.

An effective and simple method of base protection

Injection is a more efficient method than the previous one, but will require more labor. At the same time, the soil is strengthened around the basement walls. This means that not only the waterproofing is repaired, but also the supporting part of the house is strengthened. The work process begins with the introduction of injectors through pre-drilled holes to the outer edge of the basement walls. Through them, a solution for amplification will be supplied. The distance between the holes is assigned depending on the permeability of the soil and the viscosity of the composition for strengthening.

As mixtures for injection can be used:

Injection allows you to strengthen the supporting structure

• polyurethane foams;
• various resins;
• acrylate gels;
• liquid rubber compounds;
• cement-based mixtures;
• combinations of polymers.

If you need to strengthen the base at the same time as insulation, then cement-based mixtures are suitable. When solidified, they turn the soil into a solid stone foundation. The bearing capacity of the soil is thus significantly increased. Even if the foundation is damaged, this will not lead to uneven shrinkage and cracking.

What to do when the groundwater level rises

High water protection

Compared to the previous problem, this one can bring more trouble and require more serious investment. The way out in this case will be reliable drainage and dewatering. If the foundation is exposed to pressure, it is necessary to isolate not only the base, but also to repair the basement.

In addition to strengthening the insulation from the outside, additional measures will be required on the inner edge of the walls. In this case, caissons are often equipped, but construction can be started only after moisture has been prevented from penetrating the foundation, performed in one of the following ways:

• rolled materials with additional protection (for example, the construction of brick walls around the perimeter of the supporting part of the building);
• diffusion membranes (you need to choose those that have a perforated surface, they are designed for vertical protection);
• penetrating compounds;
• injection.

The most reliable, but extremely expensive method will be repairs using steel wall cladding from the inside.

For work, sheets with a thickness of 4-6 mm are taken.

The most reliable basement protection

First, they are cut and fixed on the surface of the floor and walls (on vertical structures, they should be taken out just above the groundwater level). The sheets are fastened together by welding. To the floor and walls - with the help of special anchors. They are driven in such a way that a small space remains between the protected surface and the steel sheet, which is filled with cement mortar through the holes in the sheets. After completion of work, these holes are closed with steel plates for welding.

Waterproofing for the foundation is possible only taking into account several factors, such as: type of soil, groundwater level, climatic conditions, type of foundation. You can do without waterproofing in hot regions with a minimum of precipitation and low humidity, as well as with deep passage of groundwater. In other cases, waterproofing is necessary for any structure. Read more about what is foundation waterproofing, types of waterproofing, methods of application in our article.

External waterproofing of the basement

How does moisture affect the foundation

Water leads to a violation of the integrity of the foundation in at least two ways.

First of all, this is the washing out of concrete, the appearance of roughness and potholes on its surface.

No less dangerous is the icing of water that has entered the pores of concrete. When water freezes, it tends to expand in volume rather than contract. Penetrating into the foundation structure, in a frozen state, it destroys it inside, forming cracks and crevices. Therefore, during construction, the waterproofing of the foundation should be carried out during the construction process.

Destruction of the foundation due to lack of waterproofing

Why waterproofing

In the basement of a building without good waterproofing, flooding and smudges on the floor, mold on the walls will certainly appear. In such a house it is unacceptable to save food or household items. It is important to choose high quality materials for waterproofing, follow the technology of building a foundation in order to protect the house from the damaging effects of moisture.

Waterproofing performs important tasks:

strengthens the foundation and extends the service life;

prevents warping of the walls of the house and the formation of cracks;

prevents walls from leaking and the presence of water in basements, mold formation; protects from natural destroyers.

Types of moisture insulation

It is divided into the following types:

horizontal;

vertical;

blind area device.

In some cases, all means of protection are used at once.

Horizontal waterproofing

It is used to prevent the transfer of moisture from one level to another. Designed for all types of foundations: strip, slab, individual supports.

Horizontal insulation - more often used to protect the walls of the house

Such protection is the processing of the walls of an already finished foundation. Vertical waterproofing is designed to protect the foundation of the structure from the influence of surface water. It is necessary only for tape and columnar supports of the structure.

Vertical waterproofing directly protects the sap foundation

On our website you can find contacts of construction companies that offer foundation design and repair services. You can directly communicate with representatives by visiting the exhibition of houses "Low-Rise Country".

This type of protection protects the foundation from the action of precipitation and melted snow in spring. In this case, the width of the structure plays an important role. With insufficient width, moisture will be discharged a short distance and will be able to reach the foundation.

For its construction, the following means are used:

asphalt concrete;

• sidewalk tile;

• waterproof membranes.

The method of constructing the blind area is selected, taking into account the architectural properties and the price of materials. The most budgetary option for a blind area would be its construction from concrete or asphalt. This method does not add decorativeness, but protects the base of the building without significant financial costs and labor costs. The construction of a blind area made of concrete or asphalt is widespread in the large-scale construction of high-rise residential buildings and collective buildings.

The blind area prevents moisture from running off the walls under the foundation

General technical rules

There are a number of technical requirements for each insulation method.

Be sure to take into account the height of surface water.

Consider the purpose and operating conditions of the facility.

Provide for the possibility of floods or heavy precipitation.

Take into account the properties of the soil during frosts.

The optimal method of strip foundation protection is to combine vertical waterproofing in combination with horizontal type protection.

Insulation according to application

Vertical and horizontal insulation according to the method of application can be divided into the following types:

pasting;

plastering;

painting;

mounted;

injection.

Let's consider these methods in more detail.

Okleyechnaya

Pasting insulation against moisture is based on the use of roll products on a bituminous binder. A built-up or pasting material is used to waterproof the foundation. This method involves applying a heated layer of glue, and gluing it to the surface. To make such protection without using a layer of glue, you will need to use bituminous mastic instead of fastening.

Gluing waterproofing is most often applied in a "hot" way.

Adhesives include:

roofing material - the most popular method;

roofing, which is still used, given its cheapness, but it should not be used as protection for the main structures of structures;

glassine - thick cardboard impregnated with bituminous binder;

polymeric materials with bituminous impregnation.

Plaster

This waterproofing belongs to the type of coating.

Now there are many means of protection against moisture - these are solutions in which, in addition to asphalt or cement with sand, there are additives that give useful properties.

The most common among them are: liquid glass, sodium aluminate, ceresite.

Plaster insulation is "smeared" on the foundation

Painting shop

Paint waterproofing can be hot or cold and involves the application of a complex layer 1-1 mm thick of protective agents. The most suitable among them are hot polymer-bitumen and cold epoxy-rubber coatings. Such a foundation waterproofing device is widely used to protect against capillary moisture.

Paint insulation is more liquid than plaster

mounted

Various fiberglass, rigid polyvinyl chloride, prefabricated reinforced concrete products are used for mounted waterproofing. The disadvantage is the high cost and laboriousness of preparatory work. Such insulation is used when the use of conventional waterproofing is not possible.

Mounted roll foundation waterproofing

injection

This method of waterproofing is based on the process of creating a membrane between a layer of wet soil and the foundation. The method consists in introducing a hydrophobic gel into the structure, which, when solidified, closes all the pores, preventing water from penetrating.

What is injection waterproofing and how it is used for restoration work, see the video:

What affects the installation of waterproofing

The foundation is the backbone of any home. The service life of the building as a whole depends on its construction. Before starting, you should outline a set of ongoing waterproofing works.

The following factors can influence the decision: the height of the flow of groundwater, the forces of a frost increase in the volume of the soil, the circumstances of the operation of the building, and the heterogeneity of the soil.

Types of foundation installation

With a tape type, the foundation is built in the form of a tape at a certain depth. The canvas rests on foundation slabs, which allows you to evenly distribute the load over the entire surface.

Pile - the most budgetary and simple type of foundation, in which the consumption of materials is minimal. It is a separate pillar and is used in the construction of buildings that do not need a continuous tape support. These are light houses, in the design of which there is a load-bearing lower beam and structures, and the walls consist of horizontal large-sized elements.

A slab foundation is the foundation of a building in the form of a flat reinforced concrete slab. For the foundation slab, there is no need to dig a deep pit, just remove the top layer of soil and fill it with crushed stone or gravel to protect the foundation slab from capillary moisture.

Surface water level

Consider how to make waterproofing at a particular water level. With a height of surface water below the base of the foundation by more than 1 meter, you can get by with vertical coating protection and horizontal with the help of roofing material. The location of surface water near the foundation, but below the height of the basement floor, requires an extended set of works. At the same time, horizontal protection is laid in 2 layers, and smeared with bituminous mastic. For vertical waterproofing, both pasting and coating methods are used. All concrete devices are treated with agents that prevent the penetration of capillary moisture.

If the location of groundwater is higher than the base of the foundation or basement floor, a drainage system should be added to the above methods. The cost of these works depends on its size, quantity and type of funds used.

House foundation drainage

The presence of excess moisture in the soil is a difficult but solvable issue for a land plot. At the same time, it is necessary not only to carry out waterproofing, but also to drain this area.

Experts recommend waterproofing at the beginning of the installation of the foundation. One of the most used methods is the use of waterproofing and water-repellent components for concrete mortar. After all, these components not only prevent the effects of moisture, but also speed up the solidification of the mixture, strengthen the foundation and enhance its frost resistance. At the same time, you can add components that simultaneously enhance both hydro and thermal insulation.

How waterproofing is done, see the following video:

How to protect an already poured foundation

If waterproofing was not carried out during construction, it's okay. There are methods of protection against moisture and for the finished building. In this case, gluing waterproof sheet or roll products made of bitumen-polymer material are used. Today, this work is done using self-adhesive materials. Coating insulation - cement, bitumen and polymer solutions, mastics or emulsions - for waterproofing the foundation, these materials are used both during construction and to correct and eliminate cracks or chips that have appeared in the foundation.

Trust the experts

As practice shows, it is difficult and expensive to correct errors in waterproofing during operation, therefore, for safety, you should contact specialists at the construction stage. It is better to do waterproofing when erecting a building, because repairing the foundation in the future will be more expensive and labor-intensive than erecting a house. Experts will analyze the surface of the building plot and advise the most suitable type of foundation. Competently and quickly calculate its installation, taking into account ventilation, sewerage and all engineering networks. Specialists of construction companies will qualitatively perform the construction of the foundation, the organization of waterproofing, as well as the insulation of the structure.

At the heart of any structure lies its fundamental foundation. It is on this part that the load of the entire overlying structure falls. The strength, reliability and quality of the foundation guarantee the durability of the erected building and a comfortable stay in it. However, to create a solid foundation, only correct calculations and compliance with construction technology are not enough. It is very important to properly organize the protection of the fundamentals from the negative impact of external factors, among which the main enemy is water.

This article can be called a review material, since it will describe the methods of waterproofing the foundation for informational purposes, and you can follow the links in the article to detailed step-by-step guides.

Types of base waterproofing

Protection of the foundation from the negative effects of moisture is carried out in two directions:

• Waterproofing of horizontal surfaces.
• Waterproofing of vertical surfaces.

Horizontal waterproofing protects similar planes from the penetration of soil moisture at the capillary and molecular level. The need to carry out such measures arises with a sufficiently high occurrence of groundwater.

The protection of the horizontal surfaces of the base is carried out in several stages, one of the important measures in this case is the creation of a drainage system (read in detail), with the help of which excess soil moisture is removed from the base of the foundation. Also, horizontal waterproofing involves the arrangement of a special pillow, the size of which should slightly exceed the parameters of the base (for more details, see the article). In other words, with this method of protection, immediately before the foundation is erected, a kind of barrier is created that prevents the penetration of moisture to the supporting structure of the building. The last step in horizontal waterproofing is the application of protective compounds to the upper cut of the foundation. In this case, an obstacle is created for moisture, which can penetrate to the walls of the building at the capillary level.

When creating a vertical protection of the foundation, the main attention is paid to methods that will prevent the impact of atmospheric moisture through the soil layer adjacent to the vertical surfaces.

Directly on concrete, which is the basis of any foundation, water does not have a destructive effect, it even increases its strength characteristics. But with poor-quality construction of the fundamental foundation or with the slightest deviation from the construction technology, micropores can form in the foundation cavity, into which water penetrates. In winter, the smallest particles of moisture freeze and expand, as a result of this, its further destruction occurs. Also, water penetrating into the foundation cavity causes the main damage to reinforcement, which, like all metal products, loses its strength characteristics under the influence of moisture.

Basic waterproofing technologies

To maintain the integrity and performance of the foundation, it is necessary to fully protect the structure from the effects of harmful factors. There are several technologies for waterproofing the base, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Coated bituminous insulation

Bituminous mastic is the most popular and affordable waterproofing material. Of the advantageous points of using such material, the following can be distinguished:

• The elasticity of the applied layer.
• The absence of joints, which increases the reliability of protection.
• Complete clogging of micropores in concrete.
• Long service life.
• Acceptable price.

Among the disadvantages of bitumen, the following characteristics attract attention:

• Poor resistance to low and high temperatures. When heated above 60 degrees, the mastic begins to melt and flow down a vertical surface, and when the temperature drops to -15 degrees, the material simply cracks.
• Mastic is applied to the surface of the foundation only when hot, therefore, special conditions are required for high-quality waterproofing.

When choosing bituminous mastic to protect the foundation from moisture, it is important to pay attention to the following:

• Operating temperature.
• Service life of the material.
• Qualitative characteristics.

It should be noted that not all bitumen-based mastics can be used as a waterproofing material. In addition, such protection is not recommended for use in areas with high groundwater. This is due to the fact that under the influence of moisture, the service life of bituminous mastic is significantly reduced.

To work with bitumen-based mastic, brushes with stiff bristles should be purchased, since the material has a rather viscous structure. Coating bituminous waterproofing is in most cases applied in two layers, with each subsequent application being carried out after the first coating has completely dried.

Waterproofing with liquid rubber

One of the means of waterproofing foundation walls is liquid rubber. Such protection has many advantages, among which are the following:

• High degree of reliability.
• The durability of the applied layer.
• Creation of a monolithic layer.
• Resistance to temperature changes.
• Easy installation.

The disadvantage of liquid rubber can be called a rather high cost compared to other waterproofing materials. In addition, the material can be applied to the surface only with special equipment. Despite the ease of installation, the process requires a lot of time.

Waterproofing the foundation surface with liquid rubber is carried out in one or two layers. It depends on the brand of the material and its quality. In the process of spraying, rubber fills microcracks and pores in concrete, thereby increasing the service life of the base.

Building a clay castle

The clay castle is a densely compacted layers of clay laid along the walls of the foundation. Such waterproofing is most often used as additional protection against the penetration of groundwater into the basement of the house.

The advantages of a clay castle include the following characteristics:

• A reliable barrier on the way of water to the basement.
• Availability and low cost of the main material.
• Simple technology.

The disadvantages of this method of protection are more significant, so you should also be aware of them.

Firstly, clay itself is not able to completely prevent the penetration of water, so additional protection is required.

Secondly, the clay layer freezes at low temperatures, which leads to an increase in the volume of the material. This can cause the destruction of the foundation of the house.

Based on this, we can say that it is better not to use this method for responsible buildings. It is suitable for small outbuildings.

Membrane type waterproofing

One of the modern materials used to protect the foundation from the negative effects of moisture is a waterproofing membrane. This material is made from various types of polyethylene with the addition of polymers, antioxidants and mineral components. Due to this composition, the operational characteristics of the material are at a fairly high level.

The waterproofing membrane has a great advantage over other materials of this type:

• Resistant to ultraviolet radiation and various aggressive environments.
• Durability.
• Safety for human health.
• Retention of elasticity at any air temperature.

The membrane is fixed to the foundation surface in different ways:

• Using special glue or tape. The sheets are overlapped, and the joints are heated with a blowtorch and glued together.
• The self-adhesive membrane has one side covered with a special adhesive and a protective film. In the process of pasting, the protection is removed, and the membrane is pressed against the walls of the foundation.
• The profiled type membrane is fastened with dowels with profiled washers. Due to this, the tightness of the connection of the sheets of waterproofing material is achieved.

One of the most reliable and simple ways to protect the foundation from moisture is to use rolled materials, including roofing material. Of the advantages of this material, the following characteristics are clearly distinguished:

• Pretty low cost.
• Convenient and easy installation process.
• Creation of reliable protection against moisture penetration.
• Long service life, practice shows that roofing felt waterproofing can last up to half a century.

As for the disadvantages of roll waterproofing, we can confidently say that there are no particularly significant points in this case.

Roofing material is laid in vertical and horizontal rows. In the first case, installation work is carried out easier and faster, but with horizontal fastening of the sheets of waterproofing material, the protection is of higher quality.

Reliable waterproofing is provided due to two points:

• The surface is smeared with a layer of bituminous mastic, which guarantees additional protection.
• The process of fixing the roofing material is accompanied by heating the strips with a gas burner, due to which the waterproofing material is firmly glued to the foundation surface.

Read about one of the most popular waterproofing materials in the articles and.

Protecting the fundamental foundation of the structure from moisture penetration is a very crucial moment. However, with the right choice of waterproofing method and appropriate materials, the whole process can be done by hand.