Outside the foundation
Exterior waterproofing for Murfreesboro foundations
Exterior waterproofing keeps water off the foundation wall in the first place. It is thorough, and it tears up more of the yard than any other option. Call to be connected with an independent local waterproofing company.
What happens, in order
A trench is dug along the wall, down to the footing. The wall is cleaned and any cracks or gaps are patched. A waterproof membrane is applied, often with a dimpled drainage sheet over it so water runs down instead of sitting against the masonry.
At the bottom, a perforated pipe is bedded in washed gravel and wrapped in filter fabric. It carries water to a point downhill where it can run out onto the surface, or to a sump basin if the lot is flat. The trench is then refilled, with gravel against the wall and soil sloped away from the house at the top.
What it does to the yard
Everything along that wall is in the way. Shrubs, flower beds, walkways, a deck or porch, the air conditioner pad, the gas meter and buried pipes all have to be moved, protected or worked around. The dug soil is piled on the lawn while the trench is open. Fresh backfill settles for months, so the surface may need topping up.
Ask what happens to the price if the digging hits rock. It is a fair question anywhere, and the answer should be in the contract before the excavator arrives.
Questions for an exterior job
- How deep is the footing, and will the trench go all the way to it?
- What membrane is used, and what protects it when the trench is refilled?
- Where will the drain pipe let the water out?
- Who moves and resets the air conditioner, steps, plants and paving?
- Is hauling away spare soil included?
- What is the price if rock or an old buried structure is found?
- Who files the Tennessee 811 request, and what is the ticket number?
Exterior waterproofing questions
Can only one wall be done?
Yes, and it is common. Water often comes in along the uphill side of the house. Ask how the ends of the new membrane and drain will be finished so water does not simply run around the corner.
Does a crawl space foundation ever get exterior waterproofing?
Sometimes, where a wall is cut into a slope and water pours through the block. More often a crawl space is handled with surface drainage outside and a drain, pump and liner inside.
Is exterior work a job for dry weather?
An open trench and heavy rain are a bad pair. The city treats December to April as its main flooding season, so ask how the trench will be protected if a storm arrives mid-job.
Ask about exterior waterproofing
Say what you have noticed under the house or in the basement. A short description is enough to get the conversation started.
Call from Murfreesboro or nearby
You will be put through to an independent local company that does this kind of work.
Call (615) 555-0113Calls may be recorded. Read the referral disclosure to see how this service is paid for.