Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Processes – Requiring soil work
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-02
2001-05-15
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Processes
Requiring soil work
C052S169500, C052S169140, C052S287100, C052S302300, C052S741400, C052S741130, C405S039000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230468
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention addresses problems relating to seepage of water into buildings along walls and flooring, especially in basements. It has always been a problem in keeping water from leaking into basements or other rooms that are at or below ground level. Cracks frequently generate in the walls, which allow moisture to trickle in from the outside. Further, water can enter from the outside around the area at the juncture between the wall and footing. The moisture accumulates and results in puddles of water on the floor inside the building. There exist many systems that effectively address this problem, such as by providing means for collecting the moisture that seeps in along the walls, usually in the form of a perimeter channel excavated along the wall, and directing that collected moisture to a drainage pipe installed beneath the floor. These methods are commonly referred to as waterproofing a basement.
While these types of waterproofing methods are often effective, they are extremely labor intensive and produce a tremendous amount of debris from broken concrete and excavated dirt. This presents serious concerns from both economic and environmental standpoints. It is becomingly increasingly difficult to find affordable labor, much less willing labor, to carry out these methods given the physically demanding work required for excavating and installing such systems. This drives up the cost of these waterproofing systems. Additionally, the debris created from excavation must be transported to appropriate landfill sites. Such sites are typically located substantially remote from the job site, and frequent truckloads are generally required to haul off the debris, which is time consuming and expensive. This further drives up the cost of these systems.
Another problem to be dealt with when considering excavating for installing the drainage pipe used in these waterproofing systems relates to forces placed on the foundation wall. Damp expansive soil experts tremendous lateral pressure against the outside surface of the foundation wall, often resulting in a bowed-in wall. The intact contact floor acts as a barrier, which meets and opposes the pressure forces of the soil and keeps the wall from bowing in at its base. When a drainage pipe is installed, a substantial amount of the concrete floor is removed so that the drainage pipe may be laid down. Therefore, the barrier effect of the floor is compromised. While a thin layer of concrete is typically poured back in the floor after installation, it is usually insufficient to provide the desired resistance to the lateral stress from the outside soil. A further concern is that with the large opening in the floor for laying down the drainage pipe, the exposed ground soil has increased potential for releasing harmful Radon gas.
It would therefore be desirable to provide an effective method for waterproofing a foundation, wall or other structure that minimizes the debris created by, and labor involved in, excavating and installing a drainage pipe below the surface of the floor alongside the footing.
Further, it would be beneficial to provide a waterproofing method that preserves the structural integrity of the floor so that its ability to withstand the lateral stress placed by the outside soil on the foundation wall is not impaired. Further still, it would be beneficial to provide a waterproofing system that would minimize the amount of floor resulting in less labor to be excavated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
By means of the instant invention there is provided a method for waterproofing a foundation, wall or other structure in which a minimal amount of concrete debris is generated and which minimizes the disruption to the structural integrity of the floor. The object of the method of this invention is to minimize the amount of excavation of the concrete floor itself necessary for installing the drainage pipe beneath the floor, thus limiting the generation of a large quantity of concrete debris. The method provides for first excavating at a localized area on the floor adjacent to a wall to a sufficient depth below the floor to accommodate the full diameter of the pipe in a lateral orientation underneath the floor. A tunnel is then excavated laterally underneath the floor to a length sufficient to accommodate the length of the drainage pipe that is to be installed. In most instances, the tunnel will lie parallel with the wall; however, the tunnel may also be directed in other orientations depending on the drainage field desired. By laterally excavating the tunnel from underneath the floor, rather than from above the floor, large debris comprising concrete chunks is minimized. Instead, relatively loose dirt is generated, which is much easier to manage. While excavating the under-floor tunnel, a flexible drainage pipe may be strung behind the excavation mechanism so the pipe may be installed simultaneously with drilling. A second remote area may be excavated through the floor adjacent the wall to connect with the termination point of the drainage pipe tunnel.
A channel is cut or chipped into the floor for collecting seeping moisture along the wall. The channel need only be a few inches from the wall, creating just enough of a width for water to be channeled therein. It is not necessary to also extend the channel down through or to, the footing, as the channel can exist on top of it, yet still be below the top surface of the floor. The depth of the floor need not be completely removed to create the channel, and it is preferable to leave a bottom portion of the thickness of the floor intact to serve as a support against the lateral force exerted on the wall by the outside soil. The span length of the channel is disposed so that it extends to the open excavation area which is in fluid communication with the tunnel and the drainage pipe. The channel is extended to communicate with any second or subsequent excavation areas. Weep holes may be drilled into the wall at or near the bottom of the channel to facilitate the draining of moisture into the channel from the wall's cavity. The channel and the excavation areas may be sealed off at the top, above the weep holes, to create a closed drainage system.
The concrete debris generated from the excavation method is therefore relatively minimal and can be used to support the drainage pipe within the tunnel. This method thus greatly reduces the labor involved in the excavation and installation of drainage pipes for waterproofing a foundation or other wall and floor structure. Further, it minimizes the disruption to the floor itself by limiting the amount of excavation required for the drainage pipe.
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Friedman Carl D.
Greensfelder Hemker & Gale, P.C.
Horton Yvonne M.
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