It’s a fact that hillside homes stand a greater risk of environmental damage. Natural elements find their way into the seams between walls and foundation, often causing an array of problems. Water is one element that poses particular risk, especially to the foundation of homes. It can spell disaster for many older structures, whose foundations were built without consideration of the way rain cascades freely past gutters towards sublevels. Instead of letting nature have its way, it’s essential to create an irrigation system that redirects water collected at sublevel out into the earth and away from the home. And with meteorologists predicting the next big El Niño, there’s no better time to ensure the safety of your home than now.
Located on the Laurel Canyon hillside, Lookout Mountain is a residential community. AMRON was contacted by a homeowner experiencing water damage and mold; the home’s interiors had been soaked due to the rain and other natural conditions, and hydrostatic water was traveling to the lowest spot in the house, seeping into the basement and collecting year round: a ticking time bomb. The homeowner had more or less given up on the basement room, having spent years applying different things to the walls; this actually created more problems than remedying the original one.
After inspecting the property, AMRON decided that it was necessary to install a waterproofing system with a leech line system to remedy the home’s water damage. This would allow the rainwater to drain into pipes and travel into the ground away from the home, thus alleviating the root of the problem. We also saw that it was necessary to repair the damage already done.
To begin the project, AMRON first dug out a perimeter around the house—8 feet by 30 inches wide. This acted as the road map for the irrigation system; pipes were then set into place. Wherever these pipes daylighted, they were directed towards a sub-pump, collecting the water and carrying it out into the street.
Material was then placed along the walls of the basement to collect any water that had come down from ground level. At the base of the sub level’s exterior, three-quarter inch gravel was placed to create a void between the outside and inside of the home, further securing the home from water damage.
In the final stages of the project, AMRON repaired damages to the concrete. By applying a high quality sealant that absorbs into concrete and seals water off from the interior, we were able to aerate the entire sublevel with a heating system to dry the walls. Finally, insulation and drywall was applied to the finished product.
The project was a five week job that included two weeks of digging—totaling to a full seven weeks on site. AMRON was pleased to hear that the homeowner experienced no further leaks or water damage after the job was done. The room is now in use and its future looks bright.
If you haven’t had your sublevel inspected and are noticing evidence of mold, salts, and/or water, don’t wait any longer. Call AMRON (310-384-2042) to schedule a complementary inspection of your residence or building.