| Hydrostatic Pressure |
| Hydrostatic pressure refers
to the pressure that any fluid in a confined
space exerts. If fluid is in a container,
there will be some pressure on the wall
of that container. If we picture a column
shaped container, we can see that the
pressure pushing against its wall is greater
at the bottom, than it will be at the
top. This is partly related to the force
of gravity. |
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| Efflorescence |
| Efflorescence is a white
crystalline or powdery, often fluffy/fuzzy
deposit on the surface of masonry materials
like concrete, brick, clay tile, etc.
It's caused by water seeping through the
wall/floor/object. The water dissolves
salts inside the object while moving through
it, and then evaporates leaving the salt
on the surface. |
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| Cinder Block |
| A pre-fabricated structural
component constructed of concrete and
cinders that is utilized to construct
foundation walls, retaining walls, etc. |
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| Footing |
| Poured concrete base upon
which foundation walls, columns, or chimneys
rest; usually has steel reinforcing bars. |
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| Foundation Wall |
| Supporting portion of a
structure below the first floor construction
or below grade. |
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| Cold Joint |
| A cold joint is the intersection
between the end of one concrete pour and
the beginning of a new pour. The basic
rule is to try to avoid cold joints by
pouring straight through until the job
is finished. The cold joint is a weak
area and could allow the entry of water. |
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| Erosion |
| The wearing away of land
or soil by the action of wind, water,
or ice. |
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| Keyway |
| A joint between the footing
and foundation wall. |
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| Basement Floor Slab |
| The 4- or 5-inch layer
of concrete that forms the basement floor. |
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| Clay Soil |
| Soil, which is composed
of very fine particles, usually silicates
of aluminum and/or iron and magnesium.
Clay soil impedes the flow of water, meaning
it absorbs water slowly and then retains
it for a long time. Wet clay soil is heavy
and sticky, and tends to swell from the
added moisture. When dry, clay soil shrinks
and settles. The top layer can bake into
a hard, concrete-like crust, which cracks. |
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| Backfill |
| The replacement of excavated
earth into a trench around or against
a basement or crawlspace foundation wall. |
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| Poured Concrete |
| Any concrete structure
or slab that was poured and formed in
a liquid state. |
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| Mortar Joint |
| A brick being secured
to another similar brick or bricks by
means of mortar or grout. |
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| Mold |
| Parasitic, microscopic
fungi (like Penicillin) with spores that
float in the air like pollen. Mold is
a common trigger for allergies and can
be found in damp areas, such as the basement
or bathroom. |
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| Mildew |
| A plant disease where the
pathogen occurs as a growth on the host's
surface. |
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| Silt |
| Substrate particles smaller
than sand and larger than clay. |
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| Dry lock |
| Vapor Barrier for Basements,
Attics and Crawl Spaces |
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| Water Seepage |
| Water oozed through a porous
material or soil. The act or process of
seeping; percolation. |
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| Rust |
| Iron oxide that forms when
exposed to oxygen and moisture. |
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| Tar |
| A viscous black liquid
containing numerous organic compounds
that is obtained by the destructive distillation
of coal and used as a roofing, waterproofing. |
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| Exterior Footing Drain |
| A tube or cylinder or box
that is normally installed around the
exterior perimeter of the foundation footings
that collects and directs ground water
away from the foundation of the house. |
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| Ground Water |
| Groundwater is water that
has drained through surface layers of
soil and rock until it reaches a layer
of rock material through which it cannot
pass, or can pass only very slowly. This
results in the accumulation of water in
the rock layers above this impermeable
layer. The water is stored in gaps in
the rock, or between the particles of
which the rock is composed. |
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| Black Mold |
| Mold Exposure - Black Mold
- Toxic Mold - People are exposed to mold
through the air they breathe, contact
with skin, and ingestion. Molds need moisture,
a food source, time, and to be left undisturbed.
Any source of moisture within an indoor
environment can be a possible contributor
to a mold problem and poor indoor air
quality. It has been stated simply that
the best mold control, is moisture control.
Many molds given the right conditions
have the potential to cause ill health
effects in susceptible individuals. |
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| Foundation |
| The lowest and supporting
part or member of a wall, including the
base course and footing courses; in a
frame house, the whole substructure of
masonry. |
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| Drain Tile |
| A perforated, corrugated
plastic pipe laid at the bottom of the
foundation wall and used to drain excess
water away from the foundation. It prevents
ground water from seeping through the
foundation wall. Sometimes called perimeter
drain. |
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| Sump Pump |
| A sump pump is a pump used
to remove water that has accumulated in
a sump pit. A sump pit, commonly found
in the home basement, is simply a hole
to collect water. |
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| Water table |
| The level below which the
ground is completely saturated with water.
Also called water level. |
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| Dry well |
| A hole in the ground filled
with gravel or rubble to receive drainage
water and allow it to percolate away. |
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| Wall Crack |
| A thin and usually jagged
space opened in a previously solid material. |
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| Floor Crack |
| MASONRY FAILURES DUE TO
VERTICAL SHEAR. |
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| Undermining |
| To dig or wear away the
base or foundation. |
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| Excavation |
| To dig out and remove,
as earth. |
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| Water Leak |
| To let water or other fluid
in or out through a hole, crevice, etc. |
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| Acidic Soil |
| Soil pH is a measurement
of the alkalinity or acidity of soil.
pH is measured on a scale of 1-14, with
7 as the neutral mark, anything below
7 considered acidic and anything above
7 considered alkaline. |
