Cove Leakage -

The joint where the floor meets the wall is called the cove. When a foundation is built, the footers, floor and walls are all built separately. Expansion and contraction of these structures creates a void or entry point for water to seep in. When underground water is under pressure, it is referred to as hydrostatic pressure. This hydrostatic pressure can force water in through the cove area, through wall cracks and even up through floor cracks. Builders usually install footer drains, drain tile or french drains to try and prevent this problem from occurring. Unfortunately, these types of drainage systems often end up clogged when ground water picks up sediment and mud as it travels through the soil.

Basement Wall Cracks, and Form Tie Leaks - When the soil directly against the foundation get wet and saturated, water will be forced in through and voids in the walls like cracks and rusted out form tie pins.
Back to Damp Basement Assessor |