If most new home callbacks were limited to nail pops, sticky doors, carpet wrinkles, and loose handrails, that would be one thing.
But they’re not. Far too many callbacks involve moisture. Today moisture damage contributes to 90 percent of all building and building material failures. Some experts estimate that as much as 80 percent of construction defect litigation is due to moisture-related failure.
Which leads to the scariest callback of all: “A leaky foundation is the worst callback because it costs so much money to fix,” says Texas-based homebuilder and host of a popular YouTube channel on residential construction, Matt Risinger.
A leaky foundation is usually attributed to one of six construction failures. The good news it’s comparatively fast, easy and cheap to prevent foundation moisture problems. Here are six common construction mistakes to steer clear of:
Failure #1: The foundation waterproofing line is too far below grade.
Yes, even today some builders don’t observe The Six-Inch Rule: Never go lower than six inches below the finish grade to mark the waterproofing line. This is doubly important on structures with complex foundations and varying grades.
Failure #2: Water infiltrates the dig area.
The dig area should be as dry as possible. Do everything possible to keep water away from the foundation pour and subsequent waterproofing. Snow or rain should always flow away from the new foundation.
Failure #3: Water is allowed to pool around the foundation.
Water needs an easy escape path around the foundation. Too often a drain system of perforated PVC or corrugated plastic pipe isn’t properly installed. Water needlessly pools and super-saturates the soil next to the foundation, increasing leak risk. Make sure the drainage pipe rests on stone. Drape a filter over the pipe to keep it clog-free. Use rock to backfill, speeding drainage.
Failure #4: Waterproof membrane/coating is applied too soon.
Concrete releases vapor as it dries. Give foundation concrete 28 to 30 days to dry in the open air (curing) before waterproofing. A cold, fluid-applied waterproofer avoids mismeasurement, ripping and gaps that sheet membranes are susceptible to.
A good example of a seamless, penetrating and easy to apply waterproofer is DRYLOK Extreme Masonry Waterproofer. DRYLOK Extreme comes with a transferable 15-year warranty, the best in the business, and a value-added feature many homebuilders promote.
Failure #5: Low- or no-grade fill around the foundation.
A positive grade of one foot of fall in the first 10 feet around the house helps ensure water runs safely away from the foundation. The lack of a positive grade is a leading cause of foundation failure.
Failure #6: No gutters!
Specify a quality gutter system. An inch of rain on a 2,000 square-foot roof produces 1,200 gallons of water. The gutter is the best line of defense against this wall of water.
Safeguard your projects and profit margins from costly foundation failure. Trust in proven, practical solutions that have stood the test of time, like DRYLOK Extreme Masonry Waterproofer, a top-rated brand by contractors and trusted for nearly 70 years.
Learn more about how to minimize costly moisture-related callbacks with DRYLOK Waterproofers.
