Step 3:
Seal
the Deal
Water damage can dampen any work
you’ve done. Before your start, get
ahead of the problem with some simple
solutions. Juan E. Rojas, owner of
Abalon Foundation Repairs in Calgary,
offers some advice for getting your feet
wet in waterproofing
What causes water
issues in basements?
Under regular to heavy
rain conditions, water
damage can occur due to
cracks in the foundation. If
there’s a space for it to seep
through, nothing is going
to stop water from com-
ing in. Grading, sloping and
down spouts will help, but
if there’s a crack on a wall, it
will come in no matter what.
What are the signs of
water problems?
Look for moisture, su lphate
residue and efflorescence (a
white coating) on walls, as
Save
with AMA
AMARewards
partners for
reno success
and savings
well as wet floors. If there
are below-grade windows
or vents, look to make sure
there’s drainage, like weep-
ing tile. If new windows
have been cut, check that
they have proper drain-
age too. When a contractor
builds a bedroom in a base-
ment, they usually make the
window bigger, to prop-
erly fit an egress window.
But they sometimes forget
about drainage.
How can homeowners
prevent water damage?
The best, most compre-
hensive solution would be
F2 Furnishings
Save 15% on
regular-price
merchandise;
free design
consultation
($500 value)
to excavate outside, repair
the foundation and install
drainage (weeping tile).
Are there any quicker
fixes?
If you see a small crack on
a wall, apply caulking and
build up the soil around
the area. Make sure down
Cloverdale Paint
Save 30% on
paint
Polar Windows
Save 32%
on windows
and doors
Reliance
Home Comfort,
Reliance
The Furnace
Company
Save 25% on air
conditioner and
furnance rentals
spouts discharge water
at least one to two metres
away from the foundation.
If you have a negative
slope against the house,
build it up. And a sump
pump can be your best
friend: It collects the
water coming in from
the outside. »
Tile Town
Save 10% on
in-stock tile
Just Junk
Save 20% on
junk removal
services
AMA InsIder
CertaPro
Painters
Save 15%
(February 1–28)
AMARewards.ca
sprIng 2018
49