The lifespan of a building with a waterlogged foundation is shortened in direct proportion to the water and humidity it is exposed to. If measures are not taken in time, the structural safety of such buildings is eliminated and they become risky. In earthquakes and similar disasters, buildings with waterlogged foundations collapse much more easily, leading to loss of life and property.
The foundation is the most important part of a building. When it is constructed, it is planned according to the load it will carry and supported with metal reinforcements. However, this planning does not take into account that it will be constantly exposed to moisture and water. Because it is foreseen that foundation insulation and drainage systems will be installed during the construction process. If the insulation and drainage system is not built, all calculations are suddenly wasted and the life of the structures starts to decrease very quickly.
Does Waterlogging of the Foundation Damage the Building?
One of the most important enemies of buildings is water and moisture. Water and moisture both negatively affect the quality of concrete and cause the iron and metal reinforcements in the concrete to rust and rot. Prevention of this situation is only possible with the installation of a drainage system and insulation.
The drainage system ensures that rain and snow water falling on the relevant area is collected and discharged. Thus, the foundation is not constantly exposed to rain and snow water. This significantly eliminates the risk of corrosion and decay. However, the drainage system alone is definitely not enough. Foundation insulation must also be carried out.
In the absence of insulation, concrete begins to absorb the water and moisture it is exposed to due to its structure. As a result, the rebar in the concrete gradually rusts. If the necessary precautions are not taken, this rusting accelerates and the thickness and therefore the strength of the rebar decreases.
Apart from iron, the structure of concrete is also weakened. Water entering through capillary spaces causes a continuous cycle of freezing and thawing. With this cycle, ruptures and weakening of the concrete structure occur.
How Long Does a Building with a Waterlogged Foundation Last?
The lifespan of a building with a flooded foundation is shortened by 20 to 30 years. Since there are many factors affecting this process, these periods are not valid for every building. However, the continuous exposure of the foundation and other building components to moisture and water seriously reduces the lifespan of the structures.
Researches have revealed that the thickness of rebar and metal reinforcements in the foundation decreases in continuous exposure to water. In a 10-year period, a decrease of approximately 34% occurs in the thickness of the bars in the bearing elements of a structure whose foundation is flooded. This decrease causes the rebar to lose approximately 66% of its bearing capacity. Therefore, more than half of the total bearing capacity is lost in just 10 years. This takes 20 to 30 years off the life of the buildings.
In a different study, it was found that the bearing capacity of structures with waterlogged foundations decreases by nearly 50% in just 5 years. Within 15 years, about 90% of this capacity is lost. In 25 years, the rebar completely decays and loses its bearing capacity.
The lifespan of a building with a flooded foundation is dramatically and drastically reduced. Moreover, measures that are not taken on time will definitely not yield the desired results in the later process. In order to avoid such a negative situation, it is absolutely necessary to take timely measures and have foundation waterproofing done.
What is the Lifespan of a Building with a Waterlogged Foundation?
Reinforced concrete building life is between 50 and 55 years. In reinforced concrete structures such as bridges and viaducts, this period may exceed 100 years. The lifespan of buildings whose foundations are flooded is between 25-30 years. Moreover, this period is valid in scenarios where there is no earthquake or similar natural disaster. Because in a very short period of time, the iron in the foundation structures will corrode and rot. Consequently, buildings lose their reliability and robustness.
Another issue at this point is the ground conditions. If the permeability of the area where the building is built is high, the foundation and the sections under the ground are exposed to more water pressure. However, this pressure is eliminated with the drainage system to be added to the foundation and the relevant area. The drainage system has a positive impact on building life.
Other details that should be known about the life of the building whose foundation is flooded are as follows:
- In buildings without waterproofing, serious structural problems arise in very short periods such as 10-15 years. At first glance, these problems may seem to have different causes. However, upon closer examination, it is seen that the foundation behind it is waterlogged.
- If water leaks continue, the lifetime of the structure will be between 20 and 30 years. Signs such as bursting of the load-bearing floor, rusting and complete decay of the metal reinforcement and cracking of the concrete are important signs that the building has reached the end of its useful life.
- Such negativities are not experienced in buildings with quality waterproofing. These buildings can be used safely for 50 to 60 years.
The building is getting water from the foundation, what can I do?
If the building is taking water from the foundation, a drainage system should be built first. Pipes with holes for drainage and a structure that allows the collection of rainwater are preferred. These pipes allow water to be collected and delivered to different points before it reaches the foundation.
Drainage systems give extremely successful results. But these systems alone are not enough. In addition, the foundation must be insulated . There are different materials and methods for insulation. Considering the condition of the building, the appropriate ones should be preferred.
How to Insulate the Foundation Afterwards?
Foundation insulation should be done when the structures are being built. Digging around the foundation makes the application much easier and more effective. However, foundation insulation can also be done afterwards. There are different options at this point. If the walls that form the foundation are reached from the sections inside the building, insulation is done here. However, if it is not possible to reach the relevant walls, the perimeter of the structure is excavated at a depth of approximately 100 cm. The steps followed in this process are as follows:
- First, a detailed examination is carried out. The cause of the problem is identified and a plan is made accordingly.
- Access to the walls that make up this section must be provided as the insulation will be installed on the foundation. This requires a trench about 100 cm deep.
- Before the application, the surfaces where the insulation materials will be used are cleaned very thoroughly. Dirt, oil and dust are removed. This ensures full adhesion of the basic insulation material to the surfaces. Polymer bituminous covers, bituminous membranes or different insulation materials can be used here.
- Application is carried out in accordance with the instructions for the preferred insulation material.
- In the last stage, protection screed is applied and the process is finalized by landscaping.
For the products to be used in this process waterproofing materials You can visit our category.
