AboutMarc Chapelle, ASLA Expertise As a licensed Landscape Architect, I am available to answer general questions about style and design, ideas and suggestions for site amenities, larger site-planning issues, or recreational and park design. I prefer you ask somebody else why your petunias are not as perky as they should be...I'd LOVE to tell you how can use those petunias to increase your home's value!
Experience Member, American Society of Landscape Architects(ALSA); My clients are mostly contractors, developers and local civil engineering/architecture firms, plus the occasional homeowner. I am currently located in the dry Great Basin area (Reno/Sparks), so use of landscape materials OTHER than plants is emphasized. As a licensed Landscape Architect on the East and West Coasts, I have been in practice over 18 years. My website: DesertLA.com
Question QUESTION: Hi Marc,
We need to bring in fill o regrade our yard. If we plan to add in fill against our currently exposed foundation, should we coat the foundation in some sort of waterproofing first, and if so, what product should we use. The part of the foundation that is now covered with dirt has a black coating on it. Thanks for your help.
Lisa
ANSWER: If it is a concrete foundation, and it has a water-proofing already applied (the black tar-like coating), I'd say no need to add to it.
~M
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Marc,
Thanks for getting back to me. If you can, please tell me what that tar-like coating is called. Also, is it something we can put up ourselves or will it require the hand of a professional? Thanks again.
Lisa
Answer To cover a concrete foundation and make it water-proof/damp-proof, most builders use an asphalt-based mastic. It isn’t complicated to install, but it can be messy if you paint it on. Some come in sheets with a plastic backing (like cellophane wrap) that you peal off after applying it to the concrete.
And to REMOVE it later is a big mess – solvents & scraping – yuck! So put it down right the first time.
All you’d probably need (depending on the extent of your re-grading) is just the mastic portion. I give you this additional information, because I don’t know your specific situation.
Best building practice is for the waterproofing to extend up to 4 inches above the finish grade line.
If it is a small job, I found a brush-on product at Lowes, manufactured by Quickcrete. Go to Lowes.com and look for item #102612.
If you are going to waterproof more than a few feet of the foundation, then I’d go to a contractor’s building supply company. Check for them in the Yellow Pages under Contractor’s Supply.
Their helpful staff may have just the correct product you need, and help you plan it’s installation.
