Manage Basement Moisture on The Outside First
A dry, comfortable basement begins on the outside with a well-functioning foundation wall.
It is well-drained, damp proofed, insulated, and durable. To keep out as much water as possible you must first drain the surface water (the water that collects on the ground next to the building), drain the ground water (the left over water that soaks in), damp proof the foundation wall with mastic or self-adhered membrane, and insulate.
Drain surface water away from the foundation by sloping the earth away from the building. This allows gravity to do most of the work for you. Drain the ground water away through footing drains. And, although the integrity of damp proofing won’t last forever, if you deal with surface and ground water adequately, you won’t have a problem. Exterior rigid foam insulation adds another layer of protection by limiting capillaryForces that lift water or pull it through porous materials, such as concrete. The tendency of a material to wick water due to the surface tension of the water molecules. suction of water and water vapor.
If you have an existing basement and don’t have access to the exterior, see below for interior insulating strategies.
Green points
LEED for HomesLeadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED for Homes is the residential green building program from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). While this program is primarily designed for and applicable to new home projects, major gut rehabs can qualify. : up to 2 pts. For meeting basic insulation requirements
NGBSNational Green Building Standard Based on the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines and passed through ANSI. This standard can be applied to both new homes, remodeling projects, and additions. /ICC-700: considered mandatory, no additional points awarded
Learn more in the Green Building Encyclopedia:
Further Resources
Building Science Corp.
Water Management
DRAWING LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
