Chicago homeowners seeking a basement waterproofing solution rely on Reliable Basement Services for complete and accurate information about basement waterproofing and drainage. We serve as a resource of information to remedy water problems in Chicagoland basements and crawl spaces, no matter the cause. We only employ qualified waterproofing consultants that provide free in home estimates for the Chicagoland area. Our Chicago waterproofing consultants have been trained to answer questions and provide you with the very best workmanship using the highest quality products in the industry, and always supply you with the moost cost effective waterproofing solution. For more information on basement waterproofing, foundation crack repair, crawl space waterproofing and drainage, please contact Reliable Basement Services today.
DRAIN TILE TYPES AND FUNCTIONS
A drain tile system, also called a French Drain, is designed to collect and redirect water seepage away from the house.
Drain tiles can be installed either on the interior perimeter of the foundation or along the exterior as a house is being built.
Drain tiles basically consist of a perforated pipe (typically a PVC pipe with weep holes along one side) set in a trench and covered with gravel. Some contractors cover the pipe with a nylon filter sock to prevent the pipe from filling with debris. Usually the water that enters the pipe is then redirected to the sump pump or away from the foundation by gravity flow.
Most drain tile systems are designed from the same concept. The differences come in the materials, shape of the pipe, and placement.
Differences in Materials and Shape
Before the 1950s, drain tiles were made of a red or orange clay material. The original drain tiles had no holes in the pipe, but instead the sections were laid with a quarter-inch space between them to let in water. Now, drain tiles are made with plastic or PVC perforated pipes.
Manufacturers have designed drain tile pipes in various shapes from round, rectangle, and square to oblong variations or pipes vents with multiple openings for increased flow.
Differences in Placement:
While the main difference in placement is outside versus inside the basement, there are mainly three different placement options for interior drain tile systems.
Interior drain tile systems can be placed either above the concrete slab, within the slab edge or under the concrete slab.
The most common placement for drain tile systems in existing homes is below the concrete slab. To install this option, a portion of the basement floor is removed (approximately 12 inches from the concrete wall). Then, a trench is dug and the pipe is set in place and covered with washed gravel. We hydro channel to direct water that enters through the foundation wall to the drain tile. The concrete is then replaced.
Exterior drain tiles, more commonly know as footing drains, are usually installed during construction. The drain tile around the outside of a foundation acts as a piping system to collect and redirect subsurface water that moves down into and through the soil.
Installing an exterior drainage system at an existing building is the most costly, but also the most effective water control approach. This requires digging up the area around the foundation and rebuilding it similar to a new house installation. It also requires digging up shrubs and other obstacles around the house.
Exterior drain tiles can be placed beside or on top of the footing. All exterior drainage systems must drain to a sump that can be pumped out.
Basements typically flood due to one of two reasons:
1.Foundation back fill. Much of the earth around the basement walls are removed during construction and then refilled around the basement walls after completion. Although the soil is tightly packed, it’s nowhere near as compact as it was prior to excavation, causing water to find the path of least resistance after rain or snow.
2.Hydrostatic pressure. This is simply how the force of gravity pulls down on water. In other words, if you’re in a high water table and your basement is lower than it, water will find its way through cracks and crevices to balance the pressure. It is very difficult, without a professional waterproofing company, to seal the cracks completely with any type of caulk or sealant because of the hydrostatic pressure that can push water though the smallest of hairline cracks.
As the previous article stated, be sure to check the grade around your home and ensure it is sloping away from the home at a minimum of one inch per foot. Then verify the downspouts are directing the water away from the basement walls.
Having water seep through the wall and floor intersection can be caused by a number of issues and takes some time and investigation. A couple questions would need to be answered to determine the course of action. Do you have a sump pump and drain tile? How much area is water leaking into your basement? Do you have a high water table?
3.Cracks in the foundation wall. Even if an existing crack has not yet leaked, over time, the likelihood that water will permeate the crack increases greatly, thanks to the combined effects of thermal movement, drying shrinkage, and other environmental stresses. Although a crack might seem minor or small, it can grow much larger and cause water to leak inside or even result in the loss of structural integrity of the foundation.
4. Check your drainage system (also known as drain tile and sump pump). The drainage system’s main purpose is to divert water away from the home. The drain tile is typically a three- or four-inch plastic perforated pipe which has a thin protective sleeve around it allowing water in and keeping the rocks and dirt out. They are designed to catch water draining down the exterior walls or underneath the floor, and then to drain into the sump pump to be pumped out and away from your home.
If you have drain tiles, the most common cause of seepage is due to them being clogged from dirt or sand over the years, or they might be damaged.
5. Over the top of the wall Water entering at the top of the wall, between the concrete and wooden sill-plate, is due to one of 2 things: The soil grade has been built up outside the home, higher than the concrete. Homeowners, in their efforts to keep water away from the foundation, build the dirt level higher than the concrete wall, ironically creating a seepage problem through the below grade brick or siding.
Sometimes there is an above grade penetration of water, due to a caulking or tuck pointing issue. Any water that penetrates the veneer of the house will run down the back side of the siding and appear at the sill-plate juncture in the basement. The surest way to verify which of these two "spillover" problems you have is to water test by running a hose on the ground on a dry day. If water comes in, it is a below-grade problem. If water does not come in, then it is an above grade problem that will require caulking, tuck pointing or possibly roofing repairs.
During a one-inch rainfall, 1,3000 gallons of water fall on the roof of a 2,000 square foot home. Without proper grading, extended gutters, and downspouts, a lot of this water flows toward your basement. To properly waterproof your home you must first manage the source of the water. Rain runoff is often the source of wet basements and foundation repairs.
Problems with window wells filling with water after heavy rains are a common complaint of homeowners. Too often, the blame is mistakenly put on the fact that these essential landscaping components are present. The window wells, themselves, should not be the focus of concern, but lack of proper cleaning and maintenance is often to blame for waterlogged wells.
8. Sump Pump Installation
Your primary sump pump is your first line of defense against basement flooding. The sump pumps job is to remove any water that collects in the sump pit, and is designed to maintain a lower water table. Sump pumps have a float, or switch that tells it when to turn on and off. There are many types of floats or switches… mechanical, tethered, pressure and electronic. Since the switch mechanism is the most common reason for sump pump failure your focus needs to be on picking a high quality sump pump first.
9. Crawl Space Repair
Many homes built over crawl space foundations in the Chicagoland area suffer from poor moisture management. The current trend of striving for a healthy home is damaged by crawl space moisture.
Proudly Serving the Following Chicagoland Communities
Complete Basement Waterproofing Addison IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Bensenville IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Bloomingdale IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Burr ridge IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Bloomingdale IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Carol Stream IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Clarendon Hills IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Darien IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Downers Grove IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Elmhurst IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Glen Ellyn IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Glendale Heights IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Hanover Park IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Hinsdale IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Itasca IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Lisle IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Lombard IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Oak Brook IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Oak Brook Terrace IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Roselle IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Villa Park IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Warrenville IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Wayne IL Complete Basement Waterproofing West Chicago IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Westmont IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Wheaton IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Complete Basement Waterproofing Willobrook IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Winfield IL Complete basement Waterproofing Wood Dale IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Woodridge IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Aurora IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Batavia IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Big Rock IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Burlington IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Crampton Hills IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Elburn IL Complete basement Waterproofing Elgin IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Geneve IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Gilberts IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Hampshire IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Kaneville IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Hampshire IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Kaneville IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Lily Lake IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Maple Park IL Complete basement Waterproofing Montgomery IL Complete Basement Waterproofing North Aurora IL Complete Basement Waterproofing St Charles IL Complete basement Waterproofing Sugar Grove IL Complete basement Waterproofing Lisbon IL Complete basement Waterproofing Complete Basement Waterproofing Millbrook IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Millington IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Newark IL Complete basement Waterproofing Oswego IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Plano IL Complete basement Waterproofing Plattville IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Yorkville IL Complete basement Waterproofing Bolingbrook IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Braidwood IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Channahon IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Crest Hill IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Crete IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Elmwood IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Frankfort IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Godley IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Homer Glen IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Joliet IL Complete basement Waterproofing Lockport IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Manhattan IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Mokena IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Monee IL Complete Basement Waterproofing New Lenox IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Plainfield IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Rockdale IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Romeoville IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Shorewood IL Complete basement Waterproofing Symerton IL Complete Waterproofing Wilmington IL Complete basement Waterproofing Alsip IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Arlington Heights IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Bartlett IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Bedford Park IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Belwood IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Berkeley IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Berwyn IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Bridgeview IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Broadview IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Brookfield IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Buffalo Grove IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Chicago IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Chicago Heights IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Chicago Ridge IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Cicero IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Country Club Hills IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Countryside IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Crestwood IL Complete basement Waterproofing Des Plaines IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Elk Grove Village IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Elmwood Park IL Complete basement Waterproofing Forest Park IL Complete basement Waterproofing Franklin Park IL Complete basement Waterproofing Harwood Heights IL Complete basement Waterproofing Hazel Crest IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Hickory Hills IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Hillside IL Complete basement Waterproofing Hodgkins IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Hoffman Estates IL Complete Waterproofing La Grange IL Complete basement Waterproofing La Grange Park IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Lemont IL Complete basement Waterproofing Maywood IL Complete basement Waterproofing Melrose Park IL Complete basement Waterproofing Mount Prospect IL Complete Basement Waterproofing North Riverside IL Complete basement Waterproofing Northlake IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Oak Forest IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Oak Park IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Oak Lawn IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Oak Park IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Olympia Fields IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Orland Hills IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Orland Park IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Palos Heights IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Palos Hills IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Palos Park IL Complete Basement Waterproofing River forest IL Complete Basement Waterproofing River Grove IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Riverside IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Schaumburg IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Stickney IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Stone Park IL Compete Basement Waterproofing Streamwood IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Summit IL Complete basement Waterproofing Tinley Park IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Westchester IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Western Springs IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Willow Springs IL Complete basement Waterproofing Lasalle IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Peru IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Ottawa IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Mendota IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Complete Basement Waterproofing Morris IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Marelilles IL, Complete Basement Waterproofing Dekalb IL Complete basemant Waterproofing Sandwich IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Algonquin IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Lake in the Hills IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Barrington IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Carpentersville IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Dundee IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Elgin IL Compete Basement Waterproofing Schaumburg IL Complete basement Waterproofing Arlington Heights IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Lake Zurich IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Palatine IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Roselle IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Mt Prospect IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Elk Grove IL Complete basement Waterproofing Des Plaines IL Complete basement Waterproofing Wheeling IL Complete basement Waterproofing Buffalo Grove IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Park Ridge IL Complete basement Waterproofing Glenview IL Complete basement Waterproofing North Brook IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Complete Basement Waterproofing Glenco IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Skokie IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Lincolnwood IL Complete Basement Waterproofing Wilmett IL
Lifetime Warranty!
Chicago homeowners seeking a basement waterproofing solution rely on Reliable Basement Services for complete and accurate information about 
Basements typically flood due to one of two reasons:
5. Over the top of the wall
During a one-inch rainfall, 1,3000 gallons of water fall on the roof of a 2,000 square foot home. Without proper grading, extended gutters, and downspouts, a lot of this water flows toward your basement. To properly waterproof your home you must first manage the source of the water. Rain runoff is often the source of wet basements and foundation repairs. 
Problems with window wells filling with water after heavy rains are a common complaint of homeowners. Too often, the blame is mistakenly put on the fact that these essential landscaping components are present. The window wells, themselves, should not be the focus of concern, but lack of proper cleaning and maintenance is often to blame for waterlogged wells.
Your primary sump pump is your first line of defense against basement flooding. The sump pumps job is to remove any water that collects in the sump pit, and is designed to maintain a lower water table. Sump pumps have a float, or switch that tells it when to turn on and off. There are many types of floats or switches… mechanical, tethered, pressure and electronic. Since the switch mechanism is the most common reason for sump pump failure your focus needs to be on picking a high quality sump pump first. 
Many homes built over crawl space foundations in the Chicagoland area suffer from poor moisture management. The current trend of striving for a healthy home is damaged by crawl space moisture. 