Below Grade Waterproofing: Protect Your Property

While the quality of the materials and techniques used to create a building’s foundation are crucial, proper below grade waterproofing is just as important. From basements to parking garages to crawlspaces, the right waterproofing systems are key to preventing damage and protecting the long-term health of a building.

What Does Below Grade Waterproofing Entail?

Many people confuse the terms below grade waterproofing and foundation waterproofing. Foundation waterproofing is considered a type of below grade waterproofing, but this typically entails waterproofing areas such as the footing, foundation walls and slabs of a building.

However, in many cases, our team of waterproofing contractors provides waterproofing for other below-grade areas that aren’t included in the aforementioned list. Essentially, we can waterproof all areas of a structure that sit below the grade or ground level. This can include areas such as:

• Crawlspaces
• Basements
• Underground Parking Garages
• Retaining Walls
• Planter Boxes

Essentially, any structure that rests against soil or has any below-ground areas needs proper waterproofing to ensure that it can prevent moisture and water intrusion as well as hydrostatic pressure. Let’s take a quick look at many of the waterproofing services we can provide.

Foundation Wall Waterproofing

For this, we can use various waterproofing membranes or waterproofing systems and coatings to prevent water penetration through the concrete exterior foundation walls of commercial or residential buildings. This includes basement walls, rare but sometimes seen in Southern California, as well as subterranean structures such as parking or storage areas.

Slab Waterproofing

Typically, this should be applied during the construction phase and typically involves the use of vapor barrios, sheet membranes or a liquid waterproofing product under the slab.

Of course, we often are called in years after construction to fix improperly waterproofed slabs, and while it’s certainly not as cost-effective as doing the job correctly during construction, we can repair the slab, prepare the surface and apply new waterproofing systems and vapor barriers to ensure that the problems don’t occur again.

Blindside Waterproofing

When a foundation wall is built against soil, especially in tight urban areas, we often provide this type of below grade waterproofing. Blindside waterproofing is applied before the foundation is poured to ensure that there is a tight barrier between the soil and the concrete.

If you have improper blindside waterproofing that has failed after construction, we have options to solve this problem. If we can access the interior wall, we can provide negative-side waterproofing and a waterproofing injection into cracks in the concrete.

We also can provide positive-side excavation and waterproofing. This is where we dig trenches around the foundation and apply membranes or sheet systems, and often improve the drainage, as well, to ensure that water can flow away from the structure as easily as possible.

Crawlspace Waterproofing

In Southern California, basements are rare, and most homes are built either on a slab foundation or a crawlspace foundation. Improperly waterproofed crawlspaces cause many moisture-related problems. For instance, you might notice mold or air quality issues or high levels of humidity. If you have a combination of poor drainage and poor waterproofing, you could incur structural damage, which is extremely costly to fix.

Crawlspace encapsulation is typically your best option. For this, we install a heavy-duty vapor barrier along the floors and walls (and sometimes the ceiling) of your crawlspace. We also seal vents and any gaps or cracks to block humidity and prevent water intrusion. In some cases, we also will recommend adding a sump pump, dehumidifiers, and perhaps extra insulation.

This not only creates a controlled, dry environment beneath your home, but it also often provides you with the opportunity to use the crawlspace for storage. Additionally, you should notice a significant improvement in your home’s air quality, which can be hugely beneficial for your family, especially if anyone has asthma or allergies.

Again, if you are one of those rare Southern California homes or businesses that have a basement, we can provide waterproofing for any below-grade structures, including basements.

Planter Waterproofing

Planters typically aren’t “below grade,” but they do often rest against the exterior walls of buildings and, as they contain soil and plants and usually are irrigated, improper waterproofing can damage the structure of the planter as well as any walls adjacent to the structure.

We often are called out to provide repairs for planters on commercial and residential properties. These structures are notorious for having poor waterproofing, but they also need adequate drainage and root barriers. We can provide you with ground-level planter waterproofing or deck and rooftop planter waterproofing.

Retaining Wall Waterproofing

Retaining walls provide essential erosion control, but too often, these structures are not waterproofed properly during construction. We can ensure that your retaining wall prevents water intrusion as well as relieves hydrostatic pressure with proper drainage.

Thome Waterproofing – Serving Southern California

At Thome, we have a large team of waterproofing professionals that can tackle both residential and large commercial waterproofing projects. We deliver consistent, dependable and long-lasting results to customers throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties, as well as the surrounding areas.

In addition to the services listed above, we also offer expert deck waterproofing and deck coating services, including wood deck coating, concrete deck coating and pool deck coating. Whether you need below grade waterproofing or another option, contact us at any time for a free cost estimate.