BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Poor drainage conditions can enable water to pool around the home.

Right - Basement slab with a capillary break of either gravel or a drainage mat.

Publication Date

Thu, 02/01/2018 - 12:00

Good water management practices like sloping grade away from house, and installing gutters, perimeter drain pipe, a capillary break, and free-draining soils or drainage mat protect the foundation from water saturation.

Publication Date

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 12:00

Wrong - Class I vapor retarder over framed basement walls can cause condensation, mold, and rotting because plastic prevents drying to the inside; the outside should have waterproofing and vertical drainage, and the framing should be spaced from the wall.

Publication Date

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 12:00

Footing Drain Pipe

Guide describing how to help drain water away from the perimeter footing.

Damp-Proof Exterior Surface of Below-Grade Walls

Guide describing how to apply water management strategies to below grade walls.

Water Managed Wall Systems, PA-0301

Author(s)

Lstiburek Joseph W

Organization(s)

Building Science Corporation,

BSC

Publication Date

March, 2003

Document outlining a well-detailed drainage plane and flashings.

Erosion & Sediment Control Requirements

Publication Date

December, 2014

Author(s)

LGL Archive Page

Organization(s)

City of Lexington Kentucky

Video from LGL Archive Page (City of Lexington Kentucky) explaining the steps needed to take to ensure proper site drainage prior to new home construction.

Moisture Management in Residential Construction Series - Building Enclosure: Foundation Overview

Publication Date

January, 2011

Author(s)

Home Innovation Research Labs

Organization(s)

Home Innovation Research Labs

Video from Home Innovation Research Labs providing recommendations for constructing foundations that direct water away from the structure, focusing on site grading, damp proofing, and foundation drainage.

Spray Foam Interior Insulation for Existing Foundation Walls

Guide describing how to insulate an existing foundation wall by adding spray foam insulation to the interior side of the wall.

Final Grade Slopes Away from Foundation

Guide describing how to properly grade a site so water will flow away from the foundation.

Swales, Drains, and Site Grading for Stormwater Control

Guide describing the use of swales, French drains, and site grading to minimize saturation of foundations and ponding of stormwater runoff on sites.

Drain or Sump Pump Installed in Basements or Crawlspaces

Guide describing installation of sump pumps in the basement or crawlspace of a home.

Sump Pump Cover Gasket

Guide describing the need for covers on sump pumps in the basement or crawlspace of a home.

Patio Slabs, Porch Slabs, Walkways, and Driveways Slope Away from House

Guide describing how to correctly slope solid surfaces outside a home so rainwater flows away from the home.

Erosion Control for Slopes, Stream Banks, and Dunes

Guide describing methods for short-term control of erosion during construction and long-term measures for controlling erosion on sloped sites or sites with river banks or shore lines.

Capillary Break at Crawlspace Floor - Polyethylene Sheeting under Concrete Slab

Guide describing how to install a capillary break to help manage moisture in foundations.

Capillary Break at Crawlspace Floors - Polyethylene Lapped Up Walls and Piers or Secured in the Ground

Guide describing how to create a capillary break at all crawlspace floors using polyethylene sheeting to manage moisture in crawlspaces.

Flooding Overview

Overview guide describing residential floodproofing steps.

Decks are Wildfire-Resistant

Guide describing how to properly construct decks and other building attachments to be resistant to ignition in the event of a wildfire.

Design and Retrofit for Flood Protection

Information guide describing constructed flood protection measures to minimize damage and increase structural resilience during a flood.

No Vapor Retarders on Interior Side of Air-Permeable Foundation Insulation

Vapor retarder plastic should not be installed over fibrous insulation on basement or crawlspace walls unless rigid foam or spray foam is installed directly against the concrete, behind the blanket insulation.