Deeahzone.com – Coastal Foundation Wall construction is an integral part of any basement waterproofing plan. Without a Coastal Basement Design, the potential for leaking, sinking, and damage to the floor, walls, and ceilings are greatly increased. Most homeowners don’t consider that when building a basement that the land on which they are building is not necessarily immune to natural damage. In fact, many basements can be quite well built and structurally sound but still suffer from problems that can compromise the integrity of the walls. These problems can be eliminated with simple and inexpensive Coastal Foundation Wall Construction.
Build a Strong Coastal Foundation Wall
Coastal foundation walls are simply a concrete slab that is raised above the earth’s surface. This eliminates any need for soil, which in turn eliminates the problems associated with wet soil or silt, which can cause foundation wall failure. This type of waterproofing system also allows for the ground surface to drain away from the house and away from the basement. This allows water that may collect underneath the foundation wall to run off quickly to one side of the house and out to a landscaped garden rather than pooling under and around the house.
The main problem with wet basements is that the water penetrates through the concrete into the soil and settles there. This causes the floor to expand and then contract while it is also saturated with water. In addition, most houses have a sump pump that functions primarily as a collection reservoir for household sewage. As sewage sits in the sump, constant back and forth movement cause a constant weight on the pipe, causing it to swell. This causes the water that collects in the pipes to rise to the top of the pipe, creating excess pressure that often causes the pipe to break.
A True Coastal Foundation Wall System
A well-constructed Coastal Foundation Wall System will alleviate this issue. Since the water drainage system is above the soil, it eliminates the possibility of water sitting on the foundation wall itself. Since water cannot penetrate the concrete, the weight of the soil above the structure never weighs down the structure, and therefore never breaks. The result is that your house remains structurally sound and safe.
The most common type of Coastal Foundation Wall System is made up of concrete slabs that are poured between the soil and the foundation wall. After the concrete has been poured, it is left to dry overnight. At daybreak the following morning, the wet concrete is pulled off the dirt site and transferred to the top of the house. Then the wet concrete is leveled and ready to be installed. This is an excellent method of drainage because the house does not need to be excavated for the water drain pipe.
Another variation of this system is the use of metal drainpipes. These drainage systems are installed at the bottom of the soil around the house, about six inches below the grade line. The pipes are sunk into the ground, about two to three feet beneath the grade level, and are set on the surface of the soil about three to four inches above grade. When a storm comes through, the drainpipe drains the water away from the house. At night, when the drainage system rains, this water drains away from the house, keeping the basement dry at all times.
Tricks to Make a Coastal Homes
Many coastal homes use a combination of both the above methods to keep their basements dry. If the soil is too saturated, they will dig a trench around the house to drain any water that gets into the house. If the soil is not strong enough, the trench is made with fill dirt or gravel. This helps to level the area, as well as make sure that the drainage system drains away from the house. At night, the water drains out through a special door on the western side of the house.
As a note, many Coastal Foundation Walls are constructed with materials that are higher than normal in order to keep more water out of the basement. This water, in turn, reduces humidity which in turn helps to keep the humidity down in the house. If your home has a lower water table, you can raise the ground bed a bit which will also help keep the water out of the basement. These are just a few of the many ways that you can help prevent a Coastal Foundation Wall by extending your beach house floor to protect it.
