Any structure with a below-grade area requires thorough waterproofing to avoid a high water table wreaking havoc on your basement. If your basement contains your heating and cooling system, water heater, laundry room, or other mechanical systems, water intrusion can lead to considerable disruption. Water seepage can also result in severe foundation damage that’s costly and difficult to repair. Here’s what you should know about water tables, how to tell if your home is located on a high one, and what to do to protect your foundation.
What is a water table level?
The water table refers to the zone between the dry topsoil and the saturated ground below it. It’s not a fixed point or thickness and can alter from season to season. After winter snow melts and spring rain arrives, the water table will be high. It will also rise after a series of heavy rainstorms. Homes built close to streams, creeks, rivers, and other bodies of water may always have high water levels underneath them. The water table is also affected by the top of the bedrock that’s well below the surface. Granite is impervious to water. Since it can’t soak up water from heavy rain, granite bedrock leads to higher water tables than bedrock consisting of limestone.
Why is it a problem?
Water tables affect the structural part of your home that’s underground. If your home includes a basement, a high one can lead to seepage. Foundations are usually made of absorbent materials, such as concrete blocks where heavy, wet soil may shift, crack or degrade it. Water can also leak through and damage items stored in your basement. Many homes have finished basements utilized for game rooms, workshops, or home offices. Therefore, water seepage, mold, and structural damage can make your home uninhabitable.
Where is the water table located on your property?
The water table’s location is different on every property. Soil testing can be conducted to determine precisely what level it’s at and how it’s affecting your home’s structural integrity and the safety of your basement and foundation. It’s essential to keep in mind that the water table will be different during the wet spring months compared to the dry summer and autumn months. We recommend having your home’s water table analyzed during the wettest time of the year because it will determine the best high water table solutions for your property.
How to Fix a Water Table Under the House
If water hasn’t yet caused damage to your basement, waterproofing is an excellent option. We’ll waterproof the inside and outside walls of your basement to prevent the intrusion of water through the concrete. Another option is to install a drain. French drains, also called perimeter drains, can be dug along the perimeter of your home to funnel water away from the foundation. Sump pumps in each corner of your basement can help remove water from the foundation area.
We also offer crawl space encapsulation to prevent high water levels from seeping into your crawl space. This is exceedingly beneficial for split-level homes that have a partial basement and partial crawl space. Suppose your home has already experienced damage from a high water table level. In that case, you’ll benefit from concrete leveling and poly-jacking which will raise your home’s basement or foundation to above its current level.
Protecting Your Foundation
Your home is one of the most significant investments you’ll ever make. Protecting it from a high water table level helps you avoid a catastrophe. These specialized repairs benefit from the expertise of our trained technicians. Our services come with a lifetime transferable warranty, so if you sell your home, the buyers will feel confident knowing the basement is protected. For more information about high water table solutions, contact Ground Up Foundation Repair today.