I had a new front porch/celler storage put in a few months ago 20’x5′ in the front of the house. Poured footings, concrete block with tar and a dimpled wrap, weeping tile + gravel and sump pump.
The wrap was attached at the top with orange “nails” but not its not securely attached to the wall at the top, and soil and water could get behind it – but I kind of ignored it.
Over the weekend I was going to start planting all around it and was out this afternoon starting to dig, when a contractor stopped and commented on the bad job that was done -he said that the wrap should have a strip covering at the top that is attached to the wall and gold the top edge in place and covers the edge, also some special metal plates at the corner. He made a big thing about this – but I’m not sure if he was just trying to get work.
Should I try and fix this fast – since it will be harder once I plant shrubs. Am I likely to get what I need at home depot on the weekend.
Replies
I don't know where you are from, but Menards carries the dimple membrane and the closure strips. I doesn't matter if water get backs there--the purpose of the dimples is to provide a drainage plane. The closure strips will prevent dirt from getting in there and ruining your drainage plane, so I would add the strips.
I thought the dimples were to provide separation to avoid damage to the tar from the ground/rocks/freeze cycles pushing the membrane against the tar. [I'm in Canada]
The primary purpose of a dimple membrane is to provide an airspace next to the foundation. Water that gets into this space will freely drain down and exit via the drain tile. Without this airspace, water in the soil exerts hydrostatic pressure on the foundation and will force its way in. Actually, the same thing can be accomplished by backfilling with sand.Read about it here:http://www.systemplaton.com/PDFs/PlatonSpecSht.pdf
Looking at that link - it talks about the "flat tab at the top" being sealed to prevent dirt. I think the problem is that they installed the membrane too high and then cut it after leaving no flat tab (and also a very unstraight cut) at the top, and they also did put enough fastener in, so dirt will go in easy - especially when I start digging around it tomorrow.
IIRC, they make a termination strip that goes over the membrane where it has been cut off. You would need to recut it straight.
"the dimples were to provide separation to avoid damage to the tar "No - it is to provide a drainage plane
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