Doug Lacey's Basement Systems Q&A

One of our trained System Design Specialists can meet you at your home for a free no obligation inspection of your property and provide you with a quote on the required work.  If a block wall has cracks running on a stair step pattern, or if there is movement in the wall, (tipping/shearing/leaning) we are looking at a structural repair.  If there is no concern with the structure and we are looking to prevent water infiltration, we have wall systems that can be fixed to the block walls and have the water seepage directed into your perimeter drain and away from your finished space.

Yes!  The patented products that Basement Systems use are designed to be installed on the interior of your basement.  The key advantage with working from the inside is we are away from the soils that can cause an exterior drainage system to clog and fail.  When we install our patented WaterGuard system around your basement and drain to one of our sump systems your basement will carry a lifetime warranty against groundwater seepage that is fully transferable should you decide to sell your home.

We typically work from the inside of the home to repair cracks. We use our patented Flexispan repair method or inject the cracks. Both of these repairs carry a lifetime warranty against seepage. There are cases where an interior fix is not possible (cabinetry or other built-ins against the wall, shower wall, tile etc) in this case we can excavate to expose the foundation wall. The process then is to grind/clean the wall and apply a waterproof membrane material over the crack. We then install a protection board and backfill. Exterior repairs carry a 5 year warranty.

Polyurethane Injection is a repair process in which a resin is injected into a foundation crack, hole, joint or another opening in the concrete. The resin reacts with water to form an effective flexible waterproof seal within the wall. In order to inject the resin, holes are drilled into the wall at an angle to intersect the crack halfway within the wall. High pressure injection ports are then securely installed into the wall. Next the polyurethane resin is pumped through the ports into the crack.

As with all homes we visit we look at what the issue is and the cause. From there we can look at options for repair. For leaking poured concrete walls the options for repair would be one of our internal wall systems draining into our patented WaterGuard system and pumped away from the home. This option would provide a lifetime warranty against further seepage into the home. The other options out there would be to excavate around the entire foundation and apply a new damp/waterproofing membrane and weeping tile all draining to a sump location. This option would have a limited warranty and will typically cost quite a bit more, not to mention the rebuild of any exterior stairs, steps, landscaping, patios, driveways etc.

First off, we love old homes and the foundations that they rest on. The character of an old home is hard to beat. Depending on the quality of the concrete and what the customer is hoping to achieve, there are a couple options on the market. One option that we do here at Basement Systems Calgary is to build an internal Preserved Wood Foundation inside of the existing structure. This allows us to protect the old walls with a waterproofing system and erect a new, structurally sound foundation wall. Another option is a system called Shotcrete. Essentially concrete is sprayed onto the surface of the foundation walls and reinforced with steel mesh or rebar.

As with all homes we visit we look at what the issue is and the cause. From there we can look at options for repair. For leaking concrete block walls the options for repair would be one of our internal wall systems draining into our patented WaterGuard system and pumped away from the home. This option would provide a lifetime warranty against further seepage into the home. The other options out there would be to excavate around the entire foundation and apply a new damp/waterproofing membrane and weeping tile all draining to a sump location. This option would have a limited warranty and will typically cost quite a bit more, not to mention the rebuild of any exterior stairs, steps, landscaping, patios, driveways etc.

Radon is a radioactive gas found naturally in the environment. It is produced by the decay of uranium found in soil, rock or water. Radon is invisible, odorless and tasteless and emits ionizing radiation. As a gas, radon can move freely through the soil enabling it to escape to the atmosphere or seep into buildings. Testing for radon in your home is easy, and inexpensive to do. If need, a radon remediation system can be installed in your home relatively easily within a few hours.

By stopping water at the point where it enters the structure.  Since most basements flood from the wall-floor joint, one of the most common ways to stop the flooding is to install a perimeter drainage system along the edge of the basement floor. This would collect the water and direct it to a sump pump, which would then discharge it out of your home.

Weeping tile (also called a drain tile or perimeter tile) is a porous pipe used for underground water collection or discharge. Often used for water drainage near basement foundations as a part of basement waterproofing, where they are called a French drain.