Winter Drainage Do's and Don'ts. Negative-Side Waterproofing Trade Show Previews Ballasted Roof Basics $4.95

Transcription

1 Winter 2011 Drainage Do's and Don'ts Negative-Side Waterproofing Trade Show Previews Ballasted Roof Basics $4.95

2 The Solaire - New York, NY From concept to completion A green roof is about more than just being green ; its success also depends on keeping the building dry. American Hydrotech s Garden Roof Assembly is setting the standard by which all other green roofs are measured and our Monolithic Membrane 6125 is the key. MM6125 was developed specifically for wet environments and is a seamless membrane that is bonded directly to the substrate. It s the perfect choice for a green roof and the only one Hydrotech recommends for a Garden Roof Assembly. Additionally, our Total Assembly Warranty provides owners with single source responsibility from the deck up. This is a warranty that only American Hydrotech can offer, and peace of mind that only American Hydrotech can provide. To learn more about the Garden Roof Assembly, please call or visit us online at Experience matters! American Hydrotech s Garden Roof Assemblies have been installed for the past 13 years on over 1,400 structures covering more than 7,100,000 SF worldwide. American Hydrotech, Inc. 303 East Ohio Chicago, IL Garden Roof is a registered trademark of American Hydrotech, Inc.

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4 Winter 2011 $4.95 Inside This Issue Features 14 Negative-Side Waterproofing In some cases, the most effective waterproofing method involves coating the interior side of the wall. Here s how this technique works, and the products used to make it successful Ballasted Roof Basics When gravel, pavers, or vegetation is used to hold roofing components in place, the result is a ballasted roof. This time-tested technique recently received a new look from code councils, and the results may surprise 19 you. 24 Drainage Do s and Don ts: Below-grade waterproofers know that a successful system is more than membranes. It starts with the eaves, gutters, and downspouts, and extends to landscaping, sprinklers, and ground slope. Departments 6 Comment: Green is Here to Stay 24 Publisher Summit Publishing, LLC Advertising Manager Craig Shorts Editorial Director Clark Ricks Contributors Elena Danke Dieter Koster Arpad Nagy Circulation Manager Monica Hall Art Director Brad Moulton 8 Waterproof News 12 Trade Show Preview 28 On the Market: 30 Coming Up On the Cover: Drain sheets are a key component of below grade moisture control, but so are rain gutters and landscaping. See story on page 24. Photo Courtesy: Armtec We d Like to Hear From You... Drainage Do's and Don'ts Negative-Side Waterproofing Trade Show Previews Ballasted Roof Basics Waterproof! would like to know what you think about this issue. Let us know what you want to see featured as well as what you d like to change. the editor with your comments at editor@waterproofmag.com, or write to us at: Waterproof! Magazine 884 East 700 North Mapleton, UT, Be sure to include your name, address, and a daytime telephone number. Letters may be edited for publication. Unsolicited manuscripts will not be returned unless they include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Summit Publishing 884 East 700 North Mapleton, UT, toll free: editorial: ext. 2 advertising: ext. 1 subscriptions: ext. 3 fax: Volume 5 Number 1 WATERPROOF! is published quarterly by Summit Publishing, LLC, 884 East 700 North, Mapleton, UT, Subscription price: $20.00 per year. Copyright 2009 by Summit Publishing. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. Waterproof! Magazine is a trademark of Summit Publishing. 4 WATERPROOF!

5 Technology That Your Clients Will Love! Are cracked or bowed basement walls affecting your home sale? We can Help! The best solution to stop cracks and bowing in foundation walls. In BusIness for over The Old Way 10 years! The decision is simple... The Old Way The Smart Way If you want a stronger, easier and more attractive solution, choose THE REINFORCER The decision is simple... for your basement foundation problems. If you want a stronger, easier and more attractive solution, choose THE REINFORCER for your basement foundation problems. Before NO NO Messy Concrete NO NO Heavy Equipment NO NO Invasive Measures What makes The Reinforcer the obvious choice? Our patented carbon fiber system is is stronger, Thin easier as to to a install, dime - more Carbon attractive, FIber and our wall reinforcing 10 times strips stronger are less than than steel a a dime in in thickness! The Subtle Reinforcer appearance replaces - virtually steel beam unnoticable installation. Are The Original U.S. PAT. NO. 6,145,260 STOPS BOWING WALLS TECH SUPPORT: TOLL FREE FORCE Carbon STOPS BOWING Fiber WALLS there Are System! ( ) The Smart Way Copyright 1998 TECH SUPPORT: All Rights Reserved TOLL FREE FORCE Nationwide Reinforcing, Ltd. ( ) LookIng for QuaLIfIeD Copyright 1998 InstaLLers All Rights Reserved Nationwide Reinforcing, Ltd. After Material is non-corrosive & non-flamable Free engineering design & support Lifetime manufacturer warranty Permanent Economical Guaranteed Are Cracks there in Your Cracks Basement in Your Foundation Walls? Foundation U.S. PAT. NO. 6,145,260 STOPS BOWING WALLS Mention this this ad ad and and receive $100 $100 credit credit toward your your installation For more information call Nationwide Reinforcing, Ltd or or visit our website at at The Old Way For more information call Nationwide Reinforcing, bowing? Ltd or visit our Basement Stop worrying... website at or bowing? Stop worrying... The Smart Way the hassle, The Old mess, Way and reinforced with a simple, practical, and attractive material. The Smart Way intrusive construction Introducing THE REINFORCER, a revolutionary new product reinforced from Nationwide with a simple, Reinforcing, practical, and the hassle, mess, and attractive material. methods required Ltd. made to stabilize basement foundation walls! intrusive construction Introducing THE REINFORCER, a re to stop your basement THE REINFORCER is a patented stateof-the-art system ary developed new product by professional from Nationwide Rein methods required Ltd. made to stabilize basement founda walls from cracking engineers. A combination of space-age polymers to stop your basement walls from cracking THE REINFORCER is a patented stat of-the-art system developed by professi engineers. A combination of space-age Now, you can have your basement walls U.S. PAT. NO. 6,145,260 STOPS BOWING WALLS

6 Comment: Green is Here to Stay As 2010 draws to a close, economists and construction industry experts make their predictions of what the next 12 months will look like. As I ve reviewed the data, the results aren t encouraging. This recession is lasting longer and going deeper than anyone expected. Organizations from the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) to the PCA (Portland Cement Association) are revising downward their new construction estimates. New single-family home starts will end this year at around 475,000 units, down from 1.7 million at the height of the building boom four years ago. Next year s home starts are projected to be around 550,000, rising to 800,000 in So if the majority of your business is built around new residential construction, you may want to look at diversifying into remedial waterproofing and structural repair work. The commercial side of the industry is still looking for the bottom. PCA predicts commercial construction to fall another four percent next year, with hospitality projects showing the greatest drop at 8.5%. As most commercial waterproofing is done in conjunction with concrete construction, this may be the most accurate prediction of what s in store for commercial roofing and waterproofing. Looking further down the road, 2012 construction levels will match next years, with double digit growth finally beginning in Editor s Note Amid all this, there is one sector of the waterproofing industry that continues to grow, despite by Clark Ricks the dismal numbers everywhere else. Green or sustainable construction will likely have another record year in Manufacturers now offer a wide variety of membranes, coatings, and assemblies to meet this need. If your waterproofing business is struggling, retool, retrain, and reinvent. The demand for green waterproofing installers is already there. And it will be for the foreseeable future. Green is here to stay. 6 WATERPROOF!

7 Poly Wall Air Barrier Flashing and Rainscreen Systems PolyFlow Drainage Systems Technical Director - Air Barrier Systems President/founder in 1990 of Poly Wall - acquired October ABAA technical committee - spray 10,000 ft 2 per day with single compound - no flushing required - install in any temperature. Director - Wall Systems 27 years in masonry - founded PACC Systems, a building envelope products development company, 40 flashing products designed to overcome common construction and design oversights - CSI - eight products patented or pending in air and moisture management technology. Director - Drainage Systems PE with 26 years in waterproofing and 33 years in drainage, including 20 years building America s 2nd largest drainage products manufacturer - CSI, ASCE - two patents in drainage technology. Vice President - Architectural Products 35 years in construction - 24 years in waterproofing, including 12 years managing the expansion of Polyguard s 40 year old Architectural Products Division - CSI - one patent and one patent pending in below grade waterproofing technology. Ted DeZurik Mike Collins Mike Obermeyer Bryan Coulter Underseal System Blindside Underslab With our acquisition of Ted DeZurik and his Poly Wall air barrier technology, Polyguard Products completes its goal of an innovation based set of building envelope products. To keep current with our contractor friendly building envelope materials, we encourage you to get to know these grey haired inventors.

8 WATERPROOF! News Liberty Pumps Selects Rep Council Liberty Pumps, the New York-based sump pump manufacturer, has selected a group of eight sales representatives to be part of the company s Rep Council. The selections were made as part of the American Society Of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) Convention held in early November in Philadelphia. Council members are (clockwise from top left) Randy Waldron, vice president of Sales/Marketing, Liberty Pumps; Charlie Pongratz of GT Gordon & Associates in Washington state; Tony Bruno of Triumph Sales in Pennsylvania; Charlie Cook, President of Liberty Pumps; Steve Sutter of Hodes & Sutter, Inc. Missouri; Scott Cooper of Cooper New England Sales, and Charlie Fletcher of Delco Sales in Calif., Nev. and Hawaii. Chuck Schwabe, national sales manager at Liberty Pumps is also on the council, but not pictured. New Course on Energy- Efficient Basement Design Learning about healthy, energyefficient basements is now even easier, thanks to a new continuing education unit (CEU) course from CertainTeed Corporation. Titled A Systems Approach to Effective Basement Design, the course explains how the flow of water, moisture and heat affect basements. Successful completion of the course provides the knowledge needed to design healthy, durable, comfortable and energy efficient basements. The course qualifies for one Health Safety and Welfare (HSW) credit, which will be automatically reported to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) at the time of successful completion. Moisture management and energy efficiency are cornerstones of sustainable building practices and learning how these affect a basement and occupant comfort is essential, says Keith Reifke, national sales manager for CertainTeed s Foundations Business. The CEU course is free and available at EPA Approves Alternate Asphalt Solvent The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the use of 1-bromopropane as an alternative to more common but ozone-depleting solvents. The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) Health, Safety and Environment Committee and membership has been working with EPA for nearly two years to approve a substitute solvent for use when testing stack emissions. Trichloroethylene was banned in 1996 under the Kyoto Protocol, and trichlorethane was banned under the Montreal Protocol and the Clean Air Act. Both are chlorinated solvents thought to contribute to the depletion of the earth s ozone layer. The problem was that until recently, trichlorethane was only solvent approved by the EPA for demonstrating compliance with particulate matter emissions required by the same Clean Air Act. But in mid November, the EPA released a statement that 1-bromopropane is acceptable for use at any asphalt processing or manufacturing facility covered by the following regulations: 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart UU; 40 CFR Part 63, Subpart LLLLL; and 40 CFR Part 60, Subpart AAAAAAA. EPA s official letter, titled Approval of Modifications to Method 5A for Various Reasons, can be found online at: Venture Tape Expands Sales Agreement Venture Tape Corp. a subsidiary of 3M, announced that it is expanding its agreement with Industrial Sales Corp. (ISC) for sales and distribution of its adhesive products for the (window and door) and glass building products market. In addition to product sales in the Northeast and Midwest regions, ISC will now handle sales of Venture Tape s products in the Southeast and Western regions of the United States as well. We look forward to leveraging our strengths and experience in the industry on behalf of Venture Tape, said Jim Hornung, president of ISC. Venture Tape Corp. manufactures a broad range of tapes used in the construction, oil and gas, HVAC, electronics, aerospace, marine and appliance markets LEED Program Seeks Feedback The U.S. Green Building Council s popular LEED Green Building Program is being updated, and developers are 8 WATERPROOF!

9 of approved materials. Non-GSAapproved materials must pass through additional scrutiny before being used on government construction projects, so contractors can often reduce expenses and schedule times by using materials available through the GSA Federal Supply Schedule. Now this list includes Dow Corning s weather sealants; structural glazing sealants; parking structure sealants; highway and airport products. GALVANIZED BRACKET OUTSIDE PRESSURE DISTRIBUTED seeking feedback on how to improve it. The public comment period, which closed on December 31, 2010, is part of a continuous improvement process. Scot Horst, senior vice president of USGBC overseeing LEED, says, As green building practice evolves, so does LEED, providing innovative solutions to the challenges and opportunities in the building industry. To contribute to the dialog on improving the LEED certification process, visit the public comment web pages at Form-A-Drain gains CCMC Approval Form-A-Drain, the two-in-one foundation drainage system from CertainTeed, has been approved by the Canadian Construction Materials Centre (CCMC). The CCMC report states that the patented concrete footing form system is in compliance with the National Building Code of Canada and the National Research Council Canada. The report, number R, makes it simpler for local building inspectors across Canada to understand and approve the product for construction. Dow Corning Now GSAReady Finding sealants for government construction work just got easier. Dow Corning s silicone products for the construction industry are now available through the GSA Federal Supply Schedule. The U.S. Federal government has sought to reduce paperwork and building costs by pre-approving certain products used in construction. The General Services Administration (GSA) is responsible for maintaining the list CARBON FIBER PIN FOOTER The Strongest System on the Market. Patented Rhino Carbon Fiber Wall Supports link the foundation base with the house framing making it the most advanced system available! The carbon fiber is fastened to the sill plate with a galvanized bracket and anchored to the foundation floor with a carbon fiber pin. Deterioration does not occur because the carbon fiber system is secured to the foundation wall allowing for an even distribution of outside pressure. Visit us online today and enter to win a FREE Rhino Wall Repair Kit! Find out more at our new website Winter

10 From small, no-bid projects to major construction endeavors, building contractors can specify trusted silicone construction products that provide fast, flexible, and cost-effective solutions, said Jim Hayes, a Dow Corning executive. We are committed to providing construction industry professionals with the proven performance of the Dow Corning brand through the convenience of the Federal Supply Schedule availability. GSA-approved Dow Corning silicone construction materials are available through select distributors or GSA Advantage. For more information, visit www. dowcorning.com/gsa. Carlisle Roofing Win Brand Preference Recognition Readers of Commercial Building Products magazine selected Carlisle SynTec as their preferred brand in the roofing category of building products, according to a recent survey. Voters from a wide variety of professions, including architects, contractors, and building owners, participated in the survey. Mike DuCharme, Carlisle s director of product marketing, says, We feel that this award shows that Carlisle is committed to [developing] innovative new roofing products that continually redefine the standards for performance and customer satisfaction. Henry Publishes Green Roof Brochure Henry Company has just published a new brochure explaining its Vegetative Roof Assembly system. The publication explains how the company s hot rubberized asphalt roofing membrane can be combined with other products to create a green roof system adaptable to a wide range of applications. The brochure also explains the environmental and economic benefits of vegetative roofs, and also mentions several other sustainable roofing products, such as reflective roof coatings and spray-foam roofing. For more information, call LEED Reaches One Billion Sq. Ft. of Certified Space In November, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announce that the total footprint of commercial projects certified under their LEED Green Building Rating System surpassed a billion square feet. Another six billion square feet of projects are registered and currently working toward LEED certification around the world. This demonstrates a transformation of the way we design, build and operate buildings, said Rick Fedrizzi, president and CEO of the USGBC. Since it was first introduced in the year 2000, over 36,000 commercial projects and 38,000 single-family homes have participated in LEED. CertainTeed Warehouse Generates Power for NJ New rooftop solar panels atop a factory in New Jersey will generate more than 870 kilowatts of clean, renewable energy. The project was realized thanks to a partnership between CertainTeed Corporation, which owns the warehouse, and NJR Clean Energy Ventures (NJRCEV), which financed the up-front cost of the installation and is buying the electricity through a 20-year lease and concurrent Power Purchase Agreement. NJRCEV is installing 300,000 sq. ft. of thin-film solar laminates atop CertainTeed s Berlin, NJ facility, which is used to distribute fiberglass insulation products throughout the Northeast. The system will provide nearly 90% of the building s electric needs and help transform the facility into a green building by eliminating more than 800 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. New VPs at Protecto Wrap Protecto Wrap Company, has promoted two executives to division vice-presidents of sales and marketing. Scott Harter has been promoted to vice-president of sales and marketing and will direct the company s flooring division. He continues to be an active member of numerous flooring and ceramic tile associations. Harter has worked for the company nearly 15 years, and has been the driving force behind Protecto Wrap s AFM and Whisper Mat flooring underlayments and the company s North American distributor network. Wes Settlemyre has been promoted to vice-president of sales and marketing and will direct the company s building products division. Settlemyre joined Protecto Wrap in 2008 after 13 years at another waterproofing manufacturer. In his new position, he will continue his effective inside sales and personnel management, and implementation of modern marketing solutions. Scott Harter Wes Settlemyre 10 WATERPROOF!

11 International Leak Detection (ILD ) is the worldwide leader of integrity testing technology. Why do this... Historically, flood testing was utilized to confirm that waterproofing and roofing membranes were watertight. However, flood testing has many drawbacks, especially when comparing it to the latest EFVM testing method only used by ILD s trained and certified technicians. When this can be done! ILD technicians use EFVM testing to pinpoint exact breaches in membranes without relying on wet spots within the insulation or visual confirmation of a breach. EFVM vs Flood Testing Only proves the capability of a waterproofing membrane to HOLD water; it cannot locate breaches or verify the absence of any breaches. EFVM requires as little as a spray of water or existing water within the overburden to test waterproofing. EFVM s technology can be used on flat, sloped and vertical surfaces. Testing can occur after all work is completed and overburden is installed. Any breach allowing even minute amounts of water will conduct electricity to complete a circuit, measurable by the ILD technician. The contractor can repair the defects found and have them retested the same day. EFVM s non-destructive method reads through all typical water-permeable overburden mediums such as soil, sand, crushed stone, pavers, asphalt, and un-reinforced concrete May actually cause more damage with membrane breaches from the required amount of flood water. Sloped or vertical surfaces cannot be flood tested. Expensive and time-consuming, often causing delays in overburden installation and roof completion. Pinholes and minor seam voids escape flood testing detection which could subsequently cause mold or structural decay. Water infiltration damage from flood testing often restrains retesting. Garden roofs prohibit flood testing. Copyright 2009 International Leak Detection (ILD ) All Rights Reserved Contact ILD today! USA : Phone: Toll-Free: LEAK Fax: Canada : Phone: EFVM Toll-Free: LEAK Fax:

12 Trade Show Preview & Report GreenBuild Show Report Greenbuild 2010 was held in Chicago Nov. 17 through 19. Over the past four years, when other construction-related tradeshows have seen a steep decline in attendance, Greenbuild has continued to attract tens of thousands of attendees. With more than 1,800 exhibit booths from all sectors of the construction industry, it s on track to soon match the size and scope of the NAHB s International Builders Show. The show attracted dozens of waterproofing related companies, including American Hydrotech, Cetco, Polyguard, W.R. Meadows, International Leak Detection, Sika Sarnafil and Johns Manville. Exhibits featuring low-voc coatings or green roof systems were especially popular. The keynote speaker at this year s event was Colin Powell, former U.S. secretary of state. IBS Preview Registration is now open for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) 2011 International Builders Show. Organized by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), IBS is focused on high-end residential construction The 2011 show will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, returning to Florida after a two-year stint in Las Vegas. The show will run Wednesday through Saturday, January 12-15, IBS is still the largest annual light construction tradeshow in the U.S., and is expected to draw about 60,000 this January. That s up slightly from the estimated 50,000 to 55,000 that came last year. Only a handful of waterproofingrelated companies will be exhibiting. These include Cosella-Dorken, Tamko, Insulation Solutions, Liberty Pumps, and Ames Research Laboratories For a complete list, search the www. BuildersShow.com website under the categories of Waterproofing, Weatherproofing, Mold/Moisture Control, Foundations, and Flashings. Organizers are optimistic that the worst of the downturn is past. It s obvious that there s a tremendous difference, says Mike Benshoof, a partner with home building management firm SMA Consulting in Orlando, Fla. In contrast to IBS 2009, when many builders were still just shell-shocked by the rapid deterioration of the economy, builders in 2010 are ready to do battle, Benshoof said. In every economy, good or bad, there s opportunity for somebody, he added. For more information on IBS, or to register, go to World of Concrete Preview World of Concrete 2011 will be held the week immediately following the International Builders Show, and will run from Jan , Once again, WOC will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, which has hosted the event since Our goal is to bring together qualified buyers and sellers to do business, share ideas, and to network, said Tom Cindric, show director. Last year s show attracted 55,000 attendees and organizers are expecting the 2011 show to be about the same size. Photos by Oscar Einzig Photography 12 WATERPROOF!

13 Among the 1,300 registered exhibitors, several dozen are directly related to the waterproofing industry, covering everything from helical piering to crystalline waterproofing admixtures. More than two dozen makers of below grade waterproofing and drainage membranes will also be represented. Most waterproofing exhibits are located in the South Hall, including this magazine located at S For a complete list, visit com and use the exhibitor search tool. In conjunction with WOC, the Basement Health Association (formerly the National Association of Waterproofing and Structural Repair Contractors) will be holding their midyear meeting. Certification testing, classes, and a welcome reception are already being planned. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the association. SWRI Winter Technical Meeting The Sealant, Waterproofing & Restoration Institute will hold their 2011 Winter Technical Meeting February 27 through March 2 at the Westin Resort and Spa in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The event features a number of educational sessions presented by leading experts in the sealant, waterproofing and restoration industry. International Roofing Expo The International Roofing Expo is set to take place in Las Vegas in mid-february. Running Feb. 16 to 18, the event is billed as an exhibition, a conference and a major networking opportunity. Organizers claim it is the most focused, dedicated and comprehensive gathering of roofing manufacturers, distributors and retailers in North America. More than 400 exhibitors have already reserved space. A comprehensive educational AQUAFIN The#1 AQUAFIN -1K Cementitious waterproof coating BRAND for waterproofing Waterproofing made easy with... AQUAFIN -2K/M Highly flexible cementitious waterproofing AQUAFIN -IC Crystalline penetrating waterproofing AQUAFIN -PM3811 Acrylate injection resin program offers training on a myriad of roofing industry issues covering workplace safety, technical, and business management topics. Most seminars offering continuing education unit (CEU) credits. AQUAFIN -MORTAR-LN Waterproofing, repairing & lining mortar AQUAFIN Inc. 505 Blue Ball Rd., #160 Elkton, MD phone fax info@aquafin.net Winter

14 NEGATIVE SIDE WATERPROOFING»»»»»»»»»»»»»» NEGATIVE SIDE WATERPROOFING NEGATIVE SIDE WATERPROOFING NEGATIVE SIDE WATERPROOFING It s Possible to Waterproof Leaking Basements From the Inside By Basil Mewes and Dieter Köster Photos courtesy Köster. Water and moisture considerably reduce the value of a basement as living space or storage area. When moisture enters a basement, the conditions for the formation of mold become favorable. And once mold has formed, it continually produces spores and releases them into the surrounding air, allowing them to spread through the rest of the building, which not only causes a musty smell but also reduces the living quality and even cause health disorders. The cause of water or moisture in basements is usually ground water or ground moisture which penetrates into the basement through the floor slab or the basement walls. Such defects are frequently encountered in older buildings, but new buildings can also be affected. Construction is usually carried out during the dry summer months, so designers, owners and craftsmen sometimes neglect the seasonal changes which will expose a basement to water in the fall and winter. As a result the waterproofing of new structures is often neglected and does not provide permanent protection. Sources A recent survey of leaking basements showed water comes from a variety of sources, but walls are the usual culprit: Occurrence of moisture Only on walls: 82.8 % Only on the fl oor: 4.1 % On walls and fl oor: 13.1 % Moisture penetration on walls (Multiple entries were permitted) Larger areas: 58 % Around penetrations (pipes, cables,doors): 35 % Cracks: 28 % At the horizontal barrier: 27 % At the wall / fl oor junction: 22 % Other (partially multiple sources): 11 % Moisture penetration on fl oors (Multiple entries were permitted) Cracks: 55 % Larger areas: 46 % Other (partially multiple sources): 6 % This survey examined mostly basements built of masonry. Leaking basements which were built with concrete walls tend to show less moisture penetration in large areas but more water-bearing cracks. Repair Options In order to restore the integrity of exterior basement waterproofing, the obvious approach is to excavate the ground in the area where the leakage is located and to repair the waterproofing layer. So called positiveside waterproofing is an effective and proven solution. In some cases, however, it s not possible to take this approach due to inaccessibility to the leaking area, for example because garages, driveways, property lines or roads abut directly with the leaking wall. Leaking floors are almost always inaccessible form the exterior. This leaves the application of a waterproofing on the inside of the basement as the only possibility. This is termed negative-side waterproofing. The construction chemicals industry has developed products and methods which have made waterproofing basements from the inside possible. These products and methods are easy to apply and their effect permanent. Additionally, the costs of waterproofing a leaking basement from the inside are usually much lower than the costs of waterproofing that building from the outside. The excavation of the ground on the outside of a building is a 14 WATERPROOF!