Abstract: A method for draining accumulated moisture from the juncture between a wall and footing of a foundation is provided. The method comprises excavating a channel into the floor adjacent to the wall into which a drainage conduit is placed. The drainage conduit is wrapped with a wicking fabric to draw moisture into and along the drainage conduit for conveying to a moisture collection reservoir.

Abstract: An under drainage method for building using perforated drain pipes is disclosed. Groundwater entering from underground of a building is collected into collecting drain pipes via horizontal drain pipes, which are wrapped with filtering means such as nonwoven fabric, without using a collecting well. The collected groundwater is maintained in a prescribed water level within vertical drain pipes, which are wrapped with the filtering means, or drained to the surface of the earth. The drained groundwater is utilized as domestic water. Therefore, the method can effectively manage the groundwater, is economical as not requiring the installation of the collecting well, and allows to effectively use perforated drain pipes, which are inexpensive.

Abstract: An apparatus for diverting condensate which forms inside an exhaust system. The exhaust system comprises an exhaust side in which condensate may be formed, a suction side, and an exhaust fan between the exhaust side and the suction side and coupled to each of the exhaust side and the suction side to form a conduit through which gaseous fluid may be conveyed. A hollow tube having a first open end and a second open end is provided. The first end is coupled to the exhaust side and the second end is coupled to the suction side so that the hollow tube communicates between the exhaust side and the suction side in a manner bypassing the exhaust fan. A means exists inside the exhaust side for diverting condensate away from the exhaust fan apparatus. The means is positioned to channel condensate into the first open end of the hollow tube.

Abstract: The invention provides a fastening plate for securing a membrane to a substrate. The membrane has an inner side to be positioned adjacent to the substrate and an outer side disposed opposite to the inner side, and the membrane also has a dimpled portion including an array of dimples and a substantially smooth top portion. The dimples form depressions on the outer side and corresponding projections from the inner side. The fastening plate has a mating portion including a contact side to be positioned adjacent to the outer side of the membrane, a biasing portion extending from the mating portion. The mating portion includes an array of locator elements projecting inwardly from the contact side for cooperating with a corresponding number of the dimples to position the mating portion on the dimpled portion. The mating portion is adapted to receive at least one fastener.

Abstract: A building levelling system is provided for a building having a basement or foundation supported on expansive soil. A water management system is included for maintaining water in the expansive soil at a level adjacent the foundation to saturate the soil with water and thereby prevent the cyclic shrinking and expanding of the soil when the soil is normally repeatedly dried and wetted, causing damage to the building supported thereon. An injection system may also be included for injecting water into the soil spaced well below the foundation to lift a foundation which has already settled significantly due to shrinkage of expansive soil upon which it is supported. The injection system includes a level sensing mechanism for determining when a level of water in a prescribed area of the expansive soil falls below a reference level of the system and injectors for feeding water into that area.

Abstract: The invention pertains to the structure and a method of constructing of a swimming pool grating. The swimming pool has straight and curved edges and a gutter is constructed in the deck of the pool close to the edge including the curves. The grating is made of a multiple of grate bars which extend along the direction of the pool edge including the curves. The multiple grate bars are assembled in a longitudinal direction as well in a lateral direction according to the dimensions of the gutter. Once assembled into a grating in an elevated position, holes are drilled through all of the assembled grate bars in a lateral direction to the edge of the pool and rods are placed through the drilled holes and are fastened therein against any movement in any direction. Thereafter, the thus assembled grating is lowered into the gutter of the pool to be substantially flush with the surface of the pool deck and the level of the water in the pool.

Abstract: My “Clean-Out” consists of one length of solid 4-inch PVC pipe, one 4-inch PVC T-fitting and one 4-inch solid PVC cap. The length of the solid 4-inch PVC pipe is determined by the depth of the drainage system of the building.

Abstract: A method of construction of a damp-proof basement includes disposing a water-permeable palette layer on a bottom surface of the interior of the basement and spaced from an outer wall of the basement, disposing a water-impermeable vent layer over the palette layer, disposing a reinforced-concrete slab on the vent layer and spaced from the outer wall, and disposing an inner wall at a periphery of the concrete slab and spaced from the outer wall. A damp-proof basement construction includes a water-permeable palette layer, disposed on a bottom surface of the interior of the basement, spaced from an outer wall of the basement. A water-impermeable vent layer is disposed over the palette layer. A reinforced-concrete slab is disposed on the vent layer, spaced from the outer wall. An inner wall is disposed at a periphery of the concrete slab, spaced from the outer wall.

Abstract: Devices and methods for protecting weepholes in brick veneer structures against insects and other pests while still allowing drainage and for helping prevent mortar portions and other objects from blocking the weepholes. A weephole device is described that includes a substantially vertical spacer portion having a pair of side walls that are maintained in a spaced relation to one another to define a gap for the passage of water or other fluids. The spacer portion is shaped and sized to be inserted into a weephole space between a pair of bricks. A tray is affixed to the spacer portion and includes a substantially horizontally disposed tray portion that is shaped and sized to capture falling mortar portions or other objects that might block the weephole were they to fall behind it within the air gap between the brick veneer wall and the structural inner wall. The rear edge of the tray portion has an edge that is intended to contact the inner wall when the weephole device is emplaced.

Abstract: A method for draining accumulated moisture from the juncture between a wall and footing of a foundation is provided. The method comprises excavating a channel into the floor adjacent to the wall into which a drainage conduit is placed. The drainage conduit is wrapped with a wicking fabric to draw moisture into and along the drainage conduit for conveying to a moisture collection reservoir.

Abstract: A floor panel is provided for use in a sub-floor application. The floor panel has an upper member and a lower member. The upper member is made from a sheet floor material and the lower member is made from a waterproof sheet material. The lower member has a series of projections extending away from the floor panel and located adjacent to an underlying surface when the panel is in use. The projections allow moisture to drain between the floor panels and the underlying surface and also permit air circulation.

Abstract: A sub-floor, perimeter, L-shaped water drainage panel for new construction basements having walls and supporting footings for receiving and draining water running down the walls and/or water entering at the wall/footing interface. The plastic drainage panel is molded with a plurality of spaced frustroconical wells on vertical and horizontal sections thereof, to engage the wall and footing, and space the panels therefrom and to be filled with wet concrete composition, when the floor is poured, to support the wall and footing against the basement floor and prevent relative movement therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention is a pavement edging device consisting of an elongated extrusion having a flat bottom portion, said bottom portion having opposite first and second side edges. The extrusion also has a trough formed from first and second spaced apart parallel wall portions extending upwardly from the bottom portion between the first and second side edges. The wall portions have first and second top edges, respectively. The extrusion also has first and second flange portions formed on the bottom adjacent the first and second side edges, respectively. The first and second flange portions extend away from the first and second wall portions, respectively.

Abstract: A simple, economic and rapid method for the reliable and precise erection of sturdy room delimiting means in new and semi-finished building and, respectively, for incorporation in pre-existing room and the room delimiting means includes modular prefabricated elements, stiffening and connecting elements and fastening elements. The prefabricated elements include groove and tongue like recesses and projections at their ends for connecting to other prefabricated elements. The stiffening and connecting elements stiffen, fasten and/or connect the prefabricated elements and are arrangable at a recess and/or space to connect the prefabricated elements. The stiffening and connecting elements may be adapted in an extremely simple fashion for different stiffening and connecting purposes so that erection of the room delimiting means requires only a few different parts.

Abstract: An inexpensive system and method of dwelling wall construction allows water to drain from the wall instead of being absorbed into the wood. A tool creates a moisture-reduction system within an existing wall.

Abstract: An exterior wall assembly water management system that provides the designer and building owner with the popular esthetics of synthetic stucco and the long-term reliability of water management. The water managed exterior system includes flashing, a weather-resistive barrier, a water durable board, a basecoat and an exterior finish. Either the water durable board, or an insulation layer secured to the water durable board, forms the exterior cladding of the building structure, and the basecoat and the exterior stucco finish are applied to the outer surface of the water durable board, or in the alternative to the insulation layer. The disclosed water managed exterior system efficiently directs any penetrating water to weeps, or the like, by providing a water drainage medium between the weather-resistive barrier and the water durable board. The unwanted water drains downwards via the drainage medium, is caught at the base of the wall by the flashing, and is further drained outside of the wall cladding.

Abstract: A floor mold slab 3 of reinforced concrete is uniformly assembled above sleeve crowns of underground beams 12 of mat foundations 1 of reinforced concrete, and underground beam piercing pipes 43, whose length is identical to a width of the underground beam 12, both pipe ends thereof being provided with connecting portions 433 for joints, are embedded and fixed within the underground beam 12 at the time of installing concrete for the mat foundations 1, and pipes 4 that are used for guiding plumbing for water, gas or other fluids or electric wiring cables are respectively connected to both pipe ends while the pipes 4 are extended indoor and outdoor. With this arrangement, concrete closely fits to the periphery of the underground beam piercing pipes 43 so that termites can be prevented from entering an underfloor portion 5 of a building from piping portions piercing through the underground beams 12.

Abstract: A water seepage controlling device for draining away water from between an inner wall and an edge of a foundation wall. The water seepage controlling device includes a device positionable between a front surface of an inner wall and a peripheral edge of a foundation wall. The device has a base panel. The base panel is elongate having laterally spaced first and second opposing edges. A first panel controls water seepage and abuts against the front surface of the inner wall. The first panel has a first and second edge. The first edge of the first panel is fixedly coupled to the first edge of the base panel. The first panel is oriented generally perpendicular to the base panel. A second panel controls water seepage and abuts against the peripheral edge of the foundation wall. The second panel has a first and second edge. The first edge of the first panel is fixedly coupled to the base panel. The second panel is oriented generally perpendicular to the base panel.

Abstract: A flashing article for sealing out and draining away moisture from all types of stucco coated exterior wall surfaces, and for impeding the ingress of termites, rodents, and other animal infestation, having a generally flat sheet of a rigid material having a first section, a second section extending from and angled with respect to the first section, and a third section extending from and angled with respect to the second section, the third section having at least one aperture defined therein, and a hollow tube that passes through the aperture. A perforated conduit for distributing a pesticide or other fluid is carried by the second section and fastened to a conduit connector which extends through an aperture in the third section to provide access for injection of the pesticide.

Abstract: Devices and methods for protecting weepholes in brick veneer structures against insects and other pests while still allowing drainage and for helping prevent mortar portions and other objects from blocking the weepholes. A weephole device is described that includes a substantially vertical spacer portion having a pair of side walls that are maintained in a spaced relation to one another to define a gap for the passage of water or other fluids. The spacer portion is shaped and sized to be inserted into a weephole space between a pair of bricks. A tray is affixed to the spacer portion and includes a substantially horizontally disposed tray portion that is shaped and sized to capture falling mortar portions or other objects that might block the weephole were they to fall behind it within the air gap between the brick veneer wall and the structural inner wall. The rear edge of the tray portion has an edge that is intended to contact the inner wall when the weephole device is emplaced.

Abstract: A water impervious panel assembly for a foundation wall. A series of rigid, extruded thermoplastic panels are mounted in side-by-side relation to the outer surface of the foundation wall. Each panel has inner and outer faces connected together by a series of parallel spaced ribs which define vertical flow channels that extend the height of the panel. A plurality of holes are formed in the outer face of each panel and communicate with the channels. The holes and channels facilitate movement of water to the drain tile at the footing of the wall and relieve hydrostatic pressure on the wall. To provide a watertight vertical joint between adjacent panels, the inner face of each panel adjacent one vertical side edge is provided with a first vertical slot that communicates with the flow channel located adjacent that side edge and the outer face of each panel adjacent the opposite side edge is provided with a second vertical slot that communicates with a flow channel adjacent that side edge.

Abstract: A strap drain material adapted for use in soil conservation in the hillside regions, in subterranean drainage for orchards and farmlands and in drainage system of the tunnels, road basement and basement of the buildings is formed on one surface of the flexible strap like or panel like body with a plurality of drainage grooves arranged parallel densely spaced-apart along the direction of the width and extending whole length along the direction of the length and including slit like openings capable of producing capillary action and interior channels expanding to form rounded holes. By the difference in water level at the two ends of the channels or the syphonic force so produced the capacity to absorb water is increased and water is collected and drained away. The interior of the part of the drain material where there is without drainage grooves is embedded with a plurality of longitudinally parallel arranged reinforcements of metal filament, synthetic filament or of crisscross network formed thereof.

Abstract: A drainage assembly is disclosed for draining water from the vicinity of a subterranean construction surface, such as a subgrade foundation wall. The assembly comprises a hollow drainage panel formed by a sheet-like base and a filter media, the filter media being spaced apart from the base by a plurality of members that project from the inner surface of the base. The base has at least one hinge, and preferably two closely spaced parallel hinges, extending along its entire length between adjacent side edges, thereby allowing the panel to be easily folded and set into place against a foundation, with the portion above the hinge resting against the vertical foundation wall and the portion below the hinge resting atop the foundtion's horizontal footing. The apparatus further comprises a connector assembly that connects the panel to a standard drain pipe to convey water away from the foundation.

Abstract: A tough, high-strength geomembrane made from a custom blend of polyethylene copolymers, for protecting waterproofing courses from impact and pressure damage of debris resting against the waterproof course. A slip sheet configuration reduces surfaces stress due to earth movement and subsurface cracking thereby maintaining the protective course intact without any effect on the waterproofing layers. The geomembrane is available as lightweight rolls which can be easily be handled by one man. The film is installed horizontally in continuous sheets with few adhesive joints. Installation begins by applying a thick brush coat of the selected waterproofing membrane material (usually a rubber coat but may be any waterpoofing material). The film is unrolled along the wall, held up into position and secured using plastic self-sealing plugs and/or plastic termination bars. Concrete nails are used to attach the self-sealing plugs or termination bar to the wall.

Abstract: A method is provided for waterproofing a foundation in which a minimal amount of debris is generated. The method provides for selecting a first limited area of excavation of a floor along a wall. A tunnel is dug laterally below the floor to a location remote from the area of excavation for receiving a drainage pipe underneath the floor. A narrow channel is further excavated within the floor along the wall for receiving accumulated moisture leaking in from the wall. The channel directs and drains the moisture towards the excavated area in the floor and the drainage tunnel. With the limited amount of excavation provided by this method, the amount of concrete to be removed is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A footing connector has a first hollow leg and a second hollow leg integral therewith. The interiors of the two hollow legs are in fluid communication. The two legs cooperate to form, preferably, a T-shaped connector. The first leg has threading thereon, and, preferably, the second leg has threading thereon and protruberances therein, to enable connection to other elements of a drainage system. The second hollow leg may have end caps integral therewith at the ends thereof. The connector is used in a drainage network to drain water away from the outside of a building and to evacuate unwanted gasses from the inside of a building.

Abstract: A method for waterproofing an architectural component comprises the steps of applying a waterproofing composition to the component above a grade line to form an non-swelling elastomeric membrane having a tacky exterior and pressing a flexible, non-porous polymeric sheet onto the tacky exterior of the elastomeric membrane. The polymeric sheet is preferably stronger than the elastomeric membrane so as to protect the elastomeric membrane from punctures or tears. Exemplary waterproofing compositions include solutions of thermoplastic elastomers such as styrene/butadiene block copolymer in volatile organic solvents. Exemplary polymeric sheets include two-ply cross laminated high density polyethylene sheets. Preferably, an upper edge of the polymeric sheet is secured to the architectural surface by means of mastic or fiberglass-backed adhesive tape.

Abstract: A prefabricated foundation panel for being supported on a footing to support the perimeter floor sill of a mobile home is disclosed. The panel has a generally rectangularly shaped frame including generally elongate, parallel and spaced, metallic top and bottom members as well as a plurality of spaced metallic cross members which are rigidly affixed to the top and bottom members. The outermost cross members of the frame are positioned so that they are flush with the ends of the top and bottom members. The top, bottom and cross members collectively define a plurality of spaces extending through the frame from an outer side thereof to an inner side thereof. A decorative aggregate coated facing is also provided for the panel which is attached to the outer side of the frame and which covers the plurality of spaces. A method of installing the panels around the lower periphery of a mobile home to enclose the lower periphery is also disclosed.

Abstract: A water drainage system and water collector pan for use in unit masonry block walls includes a plurality of water collection pans which may be quickly placed on the top surface of the course of masonry block units over the length of a selected block wall course for collecting the water drained through the interior cavities of the upper courses and directing the water to the exterior of the wall. The collector pans includes a substantially planar collector surface, which, when installed on the block, extends from the front to the rear edges of the block, and generally vertical ridges surrounding the front, rear and side edges of the collector portion and extending to a height slightly less than the height of the bed joint between the blocks, and a weep spout extending outward from the collector surface over the portion of the block to be covered by the bed joint to provide an exit for the collected water from the interior of the wall.