Waterstop Injection – Water Ingress Solutions for concrete structures

Hydrostatic pressure can often cause water to seep through the floor to wall joints in infill slab constructed buildings.

Buildings leak as a result of prolonged rainstorms. A passageway for water can form in areas that didn’t cause any problems in previous rain events.

Any cracks, voids or voids in the concrete, blockwork or floor to wall joints that allow external water to seep through should be sealed promptly to prevent the passage of water that could lead to serious problems in the future. You need to determine the source of the leak if moisture is ingressing through an area such as a slab or through a wall.

Common causes of water ingress through the floor to wall joints in infill slabs:

• Inadequate or compromised waterproofing
• Excess groundwater from rain runoff not properly managed
• Cracks in the concrete or masonry wall and /or slab
• Hydrostatic pressure

Hydrostatic pressure from rising water tables and lateral pressure from saturated soil are pushing excess water into basement slabs, foundations and retaining walls, making them vulnerable to water infiltration through cracks, porous building materials, holes, joints and/or inadequate waterproofing.

During heavy and persistent rain events, poor drainage may result in water collecting against a concrete foundation and retaining wall and causing problems relating to hydrostatic pressure and lateral pressure. The chances of water building up around buildings can be reduced by directing water away from basements and foundations and eliminating pooling.

How water gets into your basement

An important note is that even if the waterproofing system is in perfect condition, water can still enter the property through the cold joints around the perimeter of the slab due to the increased hydrostatic pressure. Water ingress in the floor to wall joint is commonly experienced during heavy rain due to the rising water table bringing the groundwater closer to the surface. This increases the hydrostatic pressure to the slab of your building and it can force water to pass through the construction joint between the floor and the wall, so that this joint effectively begins working as a highway passage for water.