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Builders LondonEven New Construction Homes at High Risk for a Water ProblemMore homeowners than ever are looking to maximize living space in the home. Because basement finishing represents one of the best ways to gain extra usable living space, waterproofing has become an important issue. Waterproofing Where Does a Water Problem Occur? Nearly 85% of newly constructed homes experience a water problem of some sort within the first 3 years; a staggering fact, to be sure. There are three potential types of a water problem in a home:1. Roof leaks a very common type of water problem. Water either intrudes into the home through a faulty or worn-out roof that needs replacing. Or else through faulty or improperly installed flashing that allows water intrusion. Prime locations include where a one story roof joins the wall of a two or three story section of the home, roof valleys, and areas of wall or chimney flashing. Chimney flashing can be especially tricky to install properly or repair. This should be done only by a qualified, experienced roofing contractor or chimney repair contractor. Another problem area is flat roof areas especially common for commercial buildings. A flat roof normally requires a drain tile system to keep standing water from accumulating on the roof surface. Flat roof waterproofing is accomplished with a special one piece rubber membrane or multiple layers of asphalt roofing (hot roof.) 2. Exterior siding and sheathing can allow water intrusion under extreme conditions; such as driving rain or ice dams. Structural waterproofing is normally accomplished with the application of a waterproofing membrane to the exterior wall sheathing during construction, before siding is applied. Commonly called housewrap, this extremely durable plastic sheeting prevents water from penetrating exterior walls. 3. A basement water problem - the most common area of the home for a water problem; usually from one of the following sources; o Condensation occurring when excess moisture in the air condenses and collects on cool basement surfaces. This can be remedied by insulating water pipes, installing a basement dehumidifier, and with adequate ventilation. o Capillary action which occurs when ground water tables are higher than the foundation and basement floor. The result is water seeping up through the floor and foundation. The best cure is prevention. Adequate ground water study and planning before construction, to include a basement sump pump system or French drain system, installed under the foundation. As ground water rises, a sump pump installation or French drain system (a type of foundation drain tile system) drains water out of the area before it rises to the level of the foundation or basement floor. This type planning is critical; rising water tables can exert extreme water pressure or hydrostatic pressure on exterior basement foundation walls, causing them to collapse into the basement. o Runoff pools around the perimeter of the home causing water to seep into the home through basement walls. This can be prevented or corrected using a 2-step process: a sloping grade around the perimeter of the home (allowing the water to properly drain away from the foundation), and the application of basement waterproofing on exterior wall surfaces. While a basement waterproofing product is usually applied to exterior surfaces in coats, there is another type of waterproofing product available. A plastic vapor barrier applied directly to the interior wall. 1. Four prisoners executed in Japan data: 10.04.08 Four death row prisoners are hanged in Japan, two months after the last round of executions. 2. Serbia proposes dividing Kosovo along ethnic lines data: 27.03.08 The proposal, submitted to the United Nations, is the culmination of a campaign by Serbia to entrench its political and administrative control over the northern part of Kosovo, which has a Serbian majority. 3. Dozens of vehicles crash on snowy Austrian highway data: 27.03.08 At least one person was killed and several seriously injured in a pile-up of around 100 vehicles on Austria's main east-west highway on Tuesday, local authorities said. 4. Olympic torch relay nearly abandoned data: 07.04.08 The Olympic torch relay through London was almost abandoned as hundreds of demonstrators clashed with police amid ugly and chaotic scenes. 5. Sue Carroll: Shameless to sneer at Shannon's family data: 19.03.08 For a nation which has spent the best part of a year praying for the safe return of Madeleine McCann, news that missing girl Shannon Matthews had been found alive was joyous. 6. 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Europe struggles to accommodate its growing Muslim minority data: 27.03.08 Across Europe, politicians try to be culturally sensitive to Muslim citizens without sacrificing liberal principles. 15. Prague's greatest hero is really a blank Czech data: 27.03.08 Satirists' invention, Jara da Cimrman, has amused audiences for 40 years. 16. How to spend £35,000 a year on a child data: 19.03.08 Heather Mills says the £35,000 a year she'll get from Sir Paul McCartney to raise their daughter isn't enough. It may seem an absurd amount of money to average parents, but raising a child in more privileged circles can costs big bucks. 17. Protesters 'surrender in Tibet' data: 19.03.08 China says more than 100 Tibetan protesters have given themselves in, as protests again hit a nearby province. 18. Lewis on Heikki data: 27.03.08 19. Blacksliding on reform is seen in new EU states data: 07.04.08 The European Union's eastward expansion aimed to cement former Communist countries into a bloc committed to pluralism, democracy and good government. But the new members have a tendency to backslide and succumb to "reform fatigue," according to a recent academic study. 20. Alzheimer's blood test 'promise' data: 07.04.08 A US company hopes to be the first to market a blood test to detect early signs of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. 21. Comaneci no longer inspires Romanian gymnasts data: 27.03.08 Romanian girls no longer dream of being Nadia Comaneci -- that is the hard fact facing the country's women's gymnastics coach. 22. Yahoo seeks boost from ad sales system data: 07.04.08 New platform aims to simplify significantly the process of buying and selling adverts online and improve Yahoo's value in the face of Microsoft's renewed takeover efforts 23. Harry Potter helps lift Cineworld data: 19.03.08 Strong growth in cinema attendances on the back of releases such as Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and The Simpsons Movie helped Cineworld... 24. Leading figures mark NI Agreement data: 10.04.08 Some of those who helped negotiate the Good Friday Agreement are in Belfast to mark its 10th anniversary. 25. The meaning of assurances given to Israel by European leaders data: 27.03.08 There is a greater willingness on the part of Europe's leaders - you can probably count in Gordon Brown - to state their backing for Israel at a time of a gathering threats. 26. Hammer killer 'attacked others' data: 19.03.08 Police investigate claims that a man who killed his former girlfriend and her two children, attacked others. 27. RSPCA investigates The Fall frontman for 'killing' squirrels data: 10.04.08 Mark E Smith, the rock singer, is being investigated by the RSPCA after he boasted of killing two squirrels. 28. Prisons drug trade 'worth £100m' data: 10.04.08 Drugs worth £100m could be being traded in prisons every year, a former prison service manager tells the BBC. 29. Top Stories: Birmingham City's Karren Brady and David Sullivan 'arrested in bung probe' data: 10.04.08 Birmingham City chief executive Karren Brady and co-owner David Sullivan have been arrested in a new twist to the City of London police’s bung probe, according to reports. 30. BSkyB nets more Champions League data: 19.03.08 British Sky Broadcasting is going into extra time against the BBC and ITV to win the last remnants of European Champions League coverage in the UK after it secured the majority of games in a ÂŁ240m, three-year deal |