DIY Network

Footprint of the Home: Protecting the Foundation from Moisture From "Home IQ" episode DHIQ-103

In DIY's new Home IQ series, you'll follow the Oberg family during the decision-making process of building this beautiful new home.

Because water poses a danger to homes in this part of the country (Pittsburgh), you'll be introduced to a new technique for protecting the foundation from moisture. You'll hear from building performance specialist Anthony Grisolia, who describes the asphalt membrane that is applied to the footer to protect it. Guest Tom Cullivan will explain the Tuff-N-Dri® Basement Waterproofing System and the Warm-N-Dri® insulation board that is used on the Oberg home.

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	Figure A
	The Tuff-N-Dri® membrane is a flexible, durable and strong agent for the battle against moisture in the home.
	Figure B

• The best way to prevent your home from structural damage is to keep the moisture to a minimum. The danger from water is damage such as wood rot and mold and mildew, which can also cause health problems.

• Builders are using new techniques to protect the foundation from moisture. As mentioned in the last episode (DHIQ-102), one way is to spray an asphalt membrane on the footer, which breaks the two porous materials from capillary action, which means water will rise up through the footer to the block and "not" down into the basement. This will help in preventing mold and mildew or rotting of any kind. This system is called "Tuff-N-Dri® Waterproofing System (see Resources, below, for more information). This asphalt membrane is also sprayed on any wall (figure A) that you want to protect. The membrane actually expands as the wall does to fill those cracks where moisture can penetrate.

• On top of the asphalt membrane goes an insulation board called "Warm-N-Dri® Foundation Board" (figure B) that provides backfill protection, insulation and drainage. This board also helps keep the temperatures from outside and inside the home from meeting. If the cold temperature from the outside meets the warm temperature inside, condensation will occur.

Remember that the foundation is the backbone of the home. It needs a surveyor to figure out its placement, a solid footer to rest on, an experienced mason to lay the block and a well-designed waterproofing system to help prevent mold and mildew.

In the next episode the walls of the home will be raised.

RESOURCES :

Tuff-N-Dri® Basement Waterproofing System
Tremco Barrier Solutions, Inc.
Website: www.guaranteeddrybasements.com

Warm-N-Dri® Foundation Board
Tremco Barrier Solutions, Inc.
Website: www.guaranteeddrybasements.com

GUESTS :

Brad and Lynn Oberg
Homeowners
Company: IBACOS (Brad)
Title: Co-Founder/Chief Technology Officer
Website: www.ibacos.com

Henry (Hank) Swierczynski
President
Hendolhurst Homes
955 Markman Park Rd.
Baden, PA 15005
Phone: 724-935-5658
Fax: 724-935-0884
E-mail: buildm@zoominternet.net

Greg Allen
Site Supervisor
Hendolhurst Homes
955 Markman Park Rd.
Baden, PA 15005
Phone: 724-935-5658
Fax: 724-935-0884
E-mail: buildm@zoominternet.net
Website: hendolhursthomes.com

Jim Sperdute
Surveyor / Project Manager
Sperdute Land Surveyors
108 Deer Lane
Harmony, PA 16037
Phone: 724-452-4362
Fax: 724-452-9357
E-mail: pasurvey@zbzoomnet

Anthony Grisolia
Building Performance Specialist
IBACOS, Inc.
Website: www.ibacos.com

Tom Cullivan
National Marketing Manager
Tremco Barrier Solutions, Inc.
6402 East Main St.
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
Phone: 614-322-4420
Fax: 800-230-8178
E-mail: cullivth@tremcoinc.com