Fix it Friday: Water Intrusion

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Updated: 6:27 PM May 3, 2011 Fix it Friday: Water Intrusion Kenny Guffey Construction Call (865) 577-3514 or visit online at www.KennyGuffeyConstruction.com. Posted: 10:30 PM May 12, 2011 Reporter: Kiley Yarbrough Email Address: kiley.yarbrouhg@wvlt-tv.com

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Water: One of the main essentials for life. It's great, as long as it is the right place.

But when it enters your home, there can be trouble.

Typically water is a blessing, but is some cases it can be a disaster!

Water Intrusion Prevention

1. Keep surface water diverted away from the foundation by means of proper grading and

elevation of floor level of house.

2. Make sure there are drains installed at gutter downspouts and taken away a minimum of 12 feet.

3. Seal outside foundation surface with water proofing membrane or foundation coating.

4. Apply protection board to surface of wall to prevent damage during the back fill process.

5. Back fill materials should be gravel because it lets water free drain to the drain pipe, unlike soil it can

not gain weight as it as it saturates with water.

6. Install at least one 4 inch perforated or slotted drain pipe at footing level taken to open free draining area.

Water is in almost everything that exists here on Earth.

As we all know it even makes up more than 1/3 of the earths surface.

Our bodies are up to 60% water.

The human brain is 70% water and our blood is 83% water.

On the other hand, water can be devastating especially to your home.

Water intrusion into your home causes much damage and unnecessary repairs and each comes with a price tag.

Kenny Guffey with Kenny Guffey Construction says there are several things to watch out for around the house that might let you know there is an unwanted guest sharing your residence with you that is not in enclosed in your pipes. Water!

1. Moldy musty smell, especially in the basement.

2. Visual signs of water is usually the first
Indication of water intrusion.

3. Interior doors that stick or won't close properly.

4. Buckling of hardwood floors, especially around
Exterior doors.

5. Mold on drywall surfaces.

6. Water marks or stains on drywall.

This year, with the excessive amount of rain fall and snowfall we have had, one of the main problems that people have encountered are leaky basements.

Since water seeks the lowest level the basement is the best place for that unwanted guest.

So what can we do to stop the water from getting into our basements?

There are different ways to stop water from entering through basement walls.

"The best way that I have found and have done is to stop the intrusion at the point of entrance and that is from the outside of the wall surface. That means excavating from the outside of foundation walls all the way to the footing level and starting back with the same application that I use on a new house foundation. In my opinion this method is best," said Guffey.

If your basement leaks and has excess water standing at or on the support footings it will continue to cause problems, and over time structural problems will occur.

It can and probably will be detrimental to the structural integrity of your life's largest investment "your home".

To learn more about Kenny Guffey Construction, call (865) 577-3514 or visit online at www.KennyGuffeyConstruction.com.