The Donatelli Builders, Inc. E-Newsletter: Tips to Prevent Flooding / Water Seepage

Our Premiere E-Newsletter: Vol. 2 | September 2008

Dear Friend:

The record rainfall in Chicago on September 13 probably left you feeling relieved if you didn’t get any water seepage in your home’s basement or distressed if your basement is flooded, which resulted in damage to your home and personal belongings.

In this installment of the Donatelli e-Newsletter, we want to share some thoughts on measures to take to prevent leaks, seepage or flooding in your home. At Donatelli Builders, Inc., we have helped our homeowners avoid basement water-related problems by being proactive. In fact, we called our clients after the record-breaking rainfall and none of them had a drop of water in their homes.

As with each of our e-Newsletters, our goal is to offer up quick tips and concrete examples of ways to increase your current home’s value, or features you might want to consider when you renovate your existing space or build your new custom home in the near future.

After you’ve read about water-damage prevention, please take a minute to visit our newly designed Web site:

http://www.donatellibuilders.com/

How to prevent flooding or seepage in your home:

Don't let this happen to you!

Foundation Waterproofing

If you’re building a new home, the team at Donatelli Builders, Inc. suggests waterproofing the foundation at the time of construction. This is a critical feature that we highly recommend as a first defense against Mother Nature’s fury. Most building codes require that a damp proofing material be applied. This will offer some protection from the porous cement walls absorbing moisture, but it will not always stop water from traveling through the walls. To ensure a water-tight foundation, a waterproofing system must be installed. A typical installation will include a membrane that is applied to the new foundation wall. There are multiple systems available; and in addition to the waterproofing qualities, they usually increase the R value of the wall system to help save energy.
www.deltams.com
Waterproof your home's foundation for extra protection.

Install a high-quality sump pump

The average pumps are 1/3 or ½ horsepower. They also have water sensor switches that vary greatly in reliability. We have experienced switch failure in less than 12 months on some brands. The bottom line is that pump failure can cause a lot damage if your basement floods. Our suggestion is to make sure your home is equipped with a high-quality pump including a 1 horsepower motor to be on the safe side.
www.ridgid.com/Tools/SSP1000-1HP-Submersible-Sump-Pump/EN/index.htm

For more than 10 years, Donatelli Builders, Inc. has been incorporating a minimum of two sump pits and pumps into our projects. Why? Because multiple pumps provide for a higher volume of water removal as well as a second level of protection if one pump fails.

Install a battery backup system.

Battery back-up sump pumps provide an additional 8-12 hours of water removal in the event of a power failure.  
www.zoeller.com/zcopump/Products/backupsystems/bsmtsentry.htm

Install a whole-house generator.

Many communities have experienced power outages over the past months. When this happens you have no electricity and therefore your sump pump will no longer work. If this happens during a heavy rain, the dewatering process stops and the likelihood of flooding increases. Consider a permanent house generator that will run pumps automatically during a power outage. A generator is a high priority item in a custom home for protection, convenience and safety. A generator can also power your air conditioner, furnace, refrigerator and lights when the power goes out.
www.kohlerpower.com/residential/sectionfront.htm?sectionNumber=13561

Additional suggestions.

  • Check grading to make sure that all dirt pitches away from the foundation. Sometimes the immediate 4’ area around the foundation settles at a faster due to this area being disturbed at the time of construction. This area should be evaluated to determine if it slopes away from the house as it was designed to do.
  • Remove any debris from all window wells that may block water from entering the drains in this area.
  • Divert all downspout water at least 10’ away from the foundation (go further when possible).
  • Divert the sump pump discharge at least 10’ away from the foundation, but again, 25-35’ is preferred.
  • Check sump pump during each heavy rain to make sure it is working. Replace pumps every 36 months.
  • Pumps come in 1/3, ½, ¾, and 1 horsepower motors.
  • To reiterate, consider a battery back-up sump pump for a limited-time power outage.
  • Have a portable generator on hand to run sump pumps in a power outage. In a heavy rain, one hour without a pump running can lead to flooding.
  • Install alarm-monitoring that will sound an alarm, e-mail or call a designated phone number if the sump pits’ water reaches a high water mark.

To find out more about Donatelli Builders, Inc., please visit our newly designed Web site anytime at www.donatellibuilders.com. Feel free to ask us questions, too: info@donatellibuilders.com or call us at 630-289-9981 and we will reply within 24 hours.

For additional information on flood prevention or another topic that piques your interest, please send me an e-mail or call me directly at 630-289-9981.

Best wishes,

Cindy Kedzie, Editor

Donatelli Builders, Inc., Inc.

If you do not wish to receive the Donatelli Builders, Inc. e-Newsletter,
please click here to unsubscribe

Donatelli Builders, Inc. | 2206 N. Main St. | Wheaton, IL 60187
phone: 630-289-9981 | fax: 630-289-9984 | email: info@donatellibuilders.com