Basement Waterproofing Photo Album: Installing a Perimeter Drainage System

When water leaks into the basement it often leaks in through a couple of common places. The area around doors and windows (if there are any in the basement) can leak as well as cracks in the foundation walls. But the area that most commonly leaks is the tiny gap between the floor and the wall. When the home is constructed, a footing is poured to support the home. Then the walls and floor are poured seperately from one another. This leaves a tiny gap through which water can rise into the basement. As water levels beneath the home rise, water enters the basement through the gap where the floor meets the wall.   To prevent leaks from this area, a perimeter drainage system should be installed to drain the water away before it can leak inside. For this home in Kirkwood, MO., the best perimeter drainage solution was WaterGuard™. WaterGuard™ is different from other drainage systems as it is installed on top of the footing rather than alongside it. This placement keeps WaterGuard™ out of the mud around the footing and prevents the system from clogging up due to mud and debris. It is still installed beneath the floor, so WaterGuard™ will still collect any leaks before they can rise into the basement.   As an added bonus due to its unique placement, WaterGuard™ also features an attachment that reaches up the wall slightly. This covered gap will allow any leaks that drip down the walls surface to enter the perimeter drainage system instead of puddling up on the floor.    With WaterGuard™ installed along the walls just beneath the floor, water won't be able to leak into the basement from below and any water that leaks down the wall will be drained away as well. WaterGuard™ will keep this basement dry and protected.