BASEMENT GRAVEL

Rocky Mountain Slinger's primary business, before the introduction of concrete, was work in and around the basement envelope.

A well meaning builder friend once described gravellers as the "hidden people" who came and went unnoticed. He added that they were really operating under the radar.

In addition to being unnoticed, laying gravel in a basement is not a glamour job. It is backbreaking work that requires considerable knowledge of hydraulics and ingenuity to get the gravel from the slinger trucks that transport it, into the home's basement.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN SLINGER has built their company on this service. Our basement gravel is the very best quality and we have a proven knowledge of basement hydraulics.

Will Dorling has over 8 years experience in this field and can consult on the most difficult applications. Please contact Will at 923.4792 for all proposals and technical data.

Figure 1.5. Schematic of perimeter drainage pipe and gravel approach to below-ground drainage.
Source: National Research Council Report Section 1.

Figure 2.5. Drainage approach to control of groundwater.
Source: National Research Council Report Section 2.

Notes:

1. Foundation Drain encompasses the house at the same elevation.
2. An interior drain is at the same level in the internal basement gravel and is interconnected to the perimeter drain through passages in the wall footing.
3. As much surface water as possible is deflected away from the foundation drainage.

EXTERIOR DAMPPROOFING/WATERPROOFING

This is a much discussed subject with many opinions as to the best installation options.

We can arrange for supply and installation to suit your requirements.

Plastic Membranes^*

Currently evaluated plastic membrane products available in Canada typically consist of carbon-compounded high-density polyethylene sheet roll, manufactured in such a way that the material has a dimpled surface on one side to provide an air gap between the concrete wall and the adjacent soil. When properly installed, these products provide a level of dampproofing performance equivalent to that required in the NBC 1995, Subsection 9.13.2.

The use of these products has been evaluated for applications falling under the provisions of Part 9 of the NBC 1995, in depths up to 3.7 m. Applications below such depths could be appropriate; nevertheless, they are not covered by the present CCMC evaluations. It is also important to note that these products are not intended to resist flood conditions. Where there is a risk of flooding or drainage backup, appropriate waterproofing measures should be considered.

High-Density Mineral Fibre Insulation (in dual role)^*

Semi-rigid glass or mineral wool insulation products may play a dual role, as thermal insulation, and for foundation wall drainage. These systems are designed to be used as a protective layer or a capillary breaking layer against the foundation wall to protect the wall against transient or intermittent water that may come in contact with the wall surface.

The material, size and installation requirements for drainage tile and pipe shall conform to Subsection 9.14.3 of the OBC. The finished grade is to be within 75 mm (3 inches) of the top of these products. The placement and grading of backfill shall conform to the requirements of Subsection 9.12.3 of the OBC.

The insulating board must be installed to the top surface of the footing to facilitate evacuation of water from the drainage layer to the weeping tile. It is recommended that an impervious "topping off" layer of clay/silt material be placed on top of the backfill with a positive slope leading surface water away from the building.

Foam Plastic Insulations (in dual role)^*

Foam plastic insulations, both boardstock and spray-type, have been evaluated by CCMC for use as foundation wall drainage. Currently, Type I and II polystyrene boardstock systems have been evaluated. These Type 2 drainage products are either Class A or Class B rated (see above note on Engineered Drainage Products). Class A products should be selected to deliver transient water, including heavy rainfall, to the weeping tiles when installed against the foundation wall, in either pervious, semi-pervious or practically impervious soils.

Spray polyurethane foam on the exterior of basement walls has also been demonstrated to be an effective foundation wall drainage option.

WINDOW WELLS

We supply window wells of all sizes and recommend the following installation methods as outlined in the National Research Council of Canada Performance Guidelines Report.

Figure 4.7 Isometric view of window well installation.
Source: National Research Council Report Section 4.

INTERIOR & EXTERIOR WEEPING TILE

RMS can supply a quality product at competitive costs.

REBAR & POLY

We supply and install 10mm rebar and 6mm CGSB Poly.

STYROFOAM & INSULTARP

In addition to the above products we recommend viewing a research report done on the basement envelope in 2005 by the National Research Council of Canada. See: Performance Guidelines for Basement Envelope Systems and Materials: Final Research Report.