Preparing for waterproofing installation on your foundation

A damaged foundation can cause serious problems for your home and, therefore, for your well-being. If you want to proceed with the waterproofing of the foundation of your house, good preparation will greatly contribute to the success of your project. Your investment will maximize the health of your home by eliminating the presence of moisture and mold.

Here are some important steps to prepare for a foundation waterproofing project.

Interior preparation

1. You will need to clear your basement in order to leave the space necessary for your contractor to carry out the work. It would be wise to temporarily relocate your valuables as well as furniture that could interfere with the job of your foundation waterproofing specialists. They should inform you beforehand of the key areas they will have to access for the installation of the collection tank and the submersible pump.
2. Replace burnt-out light bulbs to optimize lighting in the work area. Your foundation experts should have their own gear to light up, but good basic lighting will make a difference.
3. If necessary, clean up larger debris and dust. Workers should have cleaning equipment, but an initial cleaning will allow them to be more effective as soon as they arrive.
4. Anticipate the details and take the lead to ensure that access to your basement is as simple as possible on the day the repairs will take place..

Exterior preparation

1. Your contractor will have designated the places to which they will require access. It is important to clear these areas for the work to be carried out. Relocate objects to locations that will not be used to pile excess soil.
2. Move your favorite plants and shrubs which might be located close to the foundation. Here is some advice: Drop by the local plant nursery. Often, pots that have already been used are being disposed of into the trash! Exterior work requires excavation. If some plants are too close, they may have to be removed during operations. If the trunk of a tree is outside the excavation area, but its branches are in the work area, those branches might require to be cut.

1. On the first working day, make sure to leave your entrance clear to facilitate access for the contractor’s team. Also, take into consideration the trucks that will bring the machinery. They will have to park in the street and will take care of the storage of materials (excavation soil or stone for the new French drain, asphalt or concrete).
2. Sometimes, a street occupancy permit is required when you need to park equipment or put material on the street. Charges may then be added to the general cost of the operation.
3. The preparation work you have decided to do in order to save some costs must have been carried out before the arrival of the excavator. These could include removing and storing paving stones, wooden porches, etc.
4. Taking a video before the start of the work can greatly help in avoiding any misunderstandings at the end of the job, especially for any breakage that may occur. Keep in mind that, as the saying goes, “you have to break some eggs to make an omelet”. This means that some breakage will have to be part of the normal collateral damage. 
5. It should also be taken into account that the mechanical shovel weighs between 8,000 and 10,000 pounds, which means there is a possibility of torn grass, slight demarcations on the asphalt, etc.

Taking care of your foundations always pays off in the long run. We know that such a project represents a significant expense and that it can be difficult to see clearly. The experts at Groupe Durasec offer you their expertise, so you can be confident that your foundations will be repaired with care.