What it takes to Excavate and Replace Walls from the Exterior

If you’re considering investing in foundation repair or basement waterproofing, it’s important to understand what your options are and what is expected with the options. Over the years waterproofing has improved a lot with technology and better options that come with warranties.

Foundation excavation used to be one of the most common tasks performed by waterproofing companies during waterproofing projects. But what is foundation excavation, and when is it necessary?  We’ll answer those questions and provide a guide for homeowners who want to know more about what to expect from this process.

Many other companies use exterior waterproofing as their only option to completely waterproof your home. It can be effective, but very likely no warranty or a very weak one. Also, it is very costly to both the pocketbook and the mental wellbeing of our clients.

What is Foundation Excavation?

Foundation excavation is the process of excavating around the perimeter of your home’s foundation in order to access the area beneath your home. To do this, a waterproofing professional will use heavy equipment to dig a trench around the foundation. They will then remove any soil or debris that is blocking access to the area beneath your home. Depending on the scope of the project, it may only be necessary to excavate a single side of your foundation or part of one side. For larger-scale projects, it may be necessary to excavate the whole perimeter of the foundation.

The steps involved in excavating and waterproofing a foundation

External excavation and waterproofing are a very extensive process:

1. A determination is made with respect to the amount of external waterproofing that needs to be done

2. The accessibility of the area requiring excavation is assessed (removal of porches, decks, patios, driveways, sidewalks, additions, air conditioning unit, etc.)

3. The location for placement of the excavated soil is established

4. Locates (location of known underground gas, hydro, cable and telephone lines)

5. Adequate clearance for excavator access is prepared, it may be necessary to remove a fence post or other obstructions impeding excavator access

6. Shrubs and bushes along the excavation area are removed

7. The area to be waterproofed is excavated

When is Foundation Excavation Necessary?

Foundation excavation is necessary any time a professional needs access to the exterior of your basement, crawl space, or slab foundation walls. Here are a few examples of projects where full or partial foundation excavation may be necessary:

Basement walls rebuild: If the wall(s) requires more than just PowerBraces to correct the bow, we can excavate around the perimeter of the home to relieve the pressure and literally push the wall back into place from the inside, installing the PowerBraces at that time. In some cases, the wall is beyond bracing and the foundation wall needs to be replaced and rebuilt. B.A.M! Basements can send an expert out to your home and make a proper assessment and help guide you to the proper fix with YOU, the customer, in mind!

Foundation piering: Foundation piering is a type of foundation repair that involves installing support piers beneath your home’s foundation. To do this, the basement company will need to excavate around the perimeter of your foundation in order to access the area beneath your home.

Choosing the Right Foundation Repair Contractor

Foundation excavation can be an intimidating and time-consuming process, but it is essential if your home’s foundation needs rebuilt. Taking away the supportive dirt around your home’s foundation requires exceptionally careful skill and strategy, and you should only work with a highly reputable Des Moines foundation repair company for a project that requires excavation. If you have any questions about foundation excavation or would like to schedule a free estimate, contact BAM Basements and Masons of Des Moines today. We are experts at all facets of basement waterproofing and foundation repair. We are happy to provide references from our many satisfied local customers.

Can I Avoid Foundation Excavation?

Yes! In most cases, it is possible to avoid foundation excavation altogether. Most bowed walls and cracks can be repaired from the inside. The most effective way to keep water out of your basement is to install a non-clogging interior waterproofing system that redirects the water to a sump pump which then pumps the water out of the home. B.A.M! Basements and Masons of Des Moines provides custom tailored non clogging interior basement waterproofing services so our clients can enjoy a dry, comfortable, healthy home. This and our limited lifetime transferable warranties take the worry and stress away. When it rains you will know that your home is equipped with a non-clogging interior system that keeps the water outside your home.

At BAM Basements, we help homeowners with all types of basement waterproofing and foundation repair needs.  For answers to your questions or to schedule your free estimate, contact us today. We are the Premier waterproofing and Egress window company serving the Des Moines, Iowa area. If you’re located in Des Moines, Ankeny, Bondurant, Altoona, Pleasant hill, Ames, Huxley, Adel, Waukee, Indianola, Grimes, Urbandale, Johnston, West Des Moines, Clive, or the surrounding areas, we’re the place to call.