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Interior and exterior safe room locations for slab-on-grade foundations.

Interior and exterior safe room locations for slab-on-grade foundations.

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Pouring the slab

Pouring the slab

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

Guide

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

Building Enclosure: Foundation Overview

Video

There is no polyethylene sheeting installed between the ground and the slab

There is no polyethylene sheeting installed between the ground and the slab

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Concrete slab over polyethylene sheeting as capillary break

Concrete slab over polyethylene sheeting as capillary break

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Spray Foam Interior Insulation for Existing Foundation Walls

Guide

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

There is polyethylene sheeting installed to provide a capillary break between the ground and slab

There is polyethylene sheeting installed to provide a capillary break between the ground and slab

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

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

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Capillary Break at Crawlspace Floor - Polyethylene Sheeting under Concrete Slab

Guide

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

Final Grade Slopes Away from Foundation

Guide

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

Right – The drain slopes away from the foundation and terminates at the proper distance

Right – The drain slopes away from the foundation and terminates at the proper distance

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Impervious surfaces like patio slabs, sidewalks, and driveways that are within 10 feet of the home should slope away from the house.

Impervious surfaces like patio slabs, sidewalks, and driveways that are within 10 feet of the home should slope away from the house.

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Wrong – Drain pipe has been cut and foundation penetration has not been properly sealed

Wrong – Drain pipe has been cut and foundation penetration has not been properly sealed

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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.

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.

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Below-Grade Water Management for Urban Sites

Guide

Guide describing methods to manage groundwater under and around urban multifamily buildings.

Footing Drain Pipe

Guide

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

Site Drainage Practices to Minimize Localized Flooding

Information Guide

Information guide describing steps that builders can take to reduce the likelihood of standing water and localized flooding around the foundation of a home during rainy conditions.

Trapezoid swale design

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Easy access

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Water intrusion

Water intrusion

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A damp crawlspace

A damp crawlspace

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

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

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There is no polyethylene sheeting installed in the crawlspace

There is no polyethylene sheeting installed in the crawlspace

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Comprehensive water management features include a capillary break (≥ 6-mil polyethylene sheeting) at all crawlspace floors

Comprehensive water management features include a capillary break (≥ 6-mil polyethylene sheeting) at all crawlspace floors

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The seams of the rigid insulation are not taped and it will not provide a complete capillary break

The seams of the rigid insulation are not taped and it will not provide a complete capillary break

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There is 6 mil. polyethylene sheeting installed and sealed in the crawlspace

There is 6 mil. polyethylene sheeting installed and sealed in the crawlspace

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Lapped and taped polyethylene sheeting

Lapped and taped polyethylene sheeting

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Wrong – Driveway is not sloped away from the house

Wrong – Driveway is not sloped away from the house

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Wrong – No polyethylene sheeting vapor barrier is installed on the crawlspace floor

Wrong – No polyethylene sheeting vapor barrier is installed on the crawlspace floor

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