The owners wisely
called on the local wet basement specialist – Jesse Trebil
for an evaluation and estimate. Jesse and his crew arrived a few
weeks later and spent two days transforming the basement.
A jack hammer
made short work of the concrete around the basement perimeter. Because
the footings had not originally been poured into forms, they were
wide and irregular. This necessitated a wider trench than had been
planned.
After the concrete
was removed a narrow trench was dug. This trench extended down to
a level just below the footings. Some sites allow for a conveyer,
on this location, however, excavated soil and concrete had to be
carried outside by pail. Day one proved to be the more strenuous
one.
A series of
holes were drilled into the blocks just above the footings. This
allows water that might enter the block to freely flow out the bottom
and into the trench.
This serves to reduce the pressure of heavy soil on the walls. Residue
from the drilling was removed with a shovel.
The Multi-Flow
arrived in a 150 foot roll. It was rolled it out next to the trench.
The Multi-Flow used was six inches tall and was positioned in the
center of the trench.
An end outlet
was snapped on to the end of the line to accommodate transfer to
a round pipe. The filter was taped down to prevent clay or silt
from washing in behind it. The system was then connected to a sump
pump basket.
Backfill was sent down a chute through a basement window and wheeled
to the trenches. The Multi-Flow was held in the center of the trench
to allow sand on both sides of the product.
Jesse put Shad
drainage boards, made from polystyrene, over the newly placed sand.
Shads provide a pathway for water to move across the footing and
into the drainage trench. This includes the water that seeps out
of the drilled holes in the block as well as any condensation that
might run down the walls.
The basement
was then ready for cement which was troweled out carefully to prevent
unevenness or cracking.
A sump pump
was installed and connected to an outdoor storm sewer.
The homeowners are eager to begin remodeling their basement and
putting it to good use. Jesse and his crew are pleased that they
have another satisfied customer. They are also confident that there
will be no call-backs since Multi-Flow is a system that will last.
