Basement Development Innovation - DRIcore Smartwall
Basement Renovation & Development Innovation - DRIcore Smartwall
Building Science is now telling us that the traditional method of perimeter wall wood framing, batt insulation and polyethylene vapour barrier for residential basement developments leaves much to be desired from a “home-health” point of view. External forces such as Hydrostatic Pressure can cause moisture in the adjacent soil to be drawn through porous concrete foundation walls and slabs by way of capillary action. Despite the prevalence of current water mitigation techniques (Foundation wall damp-proofing, polyethylene vapour barrier, etc.), water can still be drawn into your basement, most notably through the unprotected bottom of your concrete foundation wall footings. This is a phenomenon known as “Rising Damp”. Due to these and other factors, homeowners have often been faced with unknown moisture building up behind their basement walls, promoting the growth of unhealthy mold…not good for the home, not good for the occupants!
Enter DRIcore, with its’ new SMARTWALL System. Designed to replace standard perimeter wall framing, insulation and vapour barrier methodology, this unique new system consists of:
- 2’x2’ interlocking DRIcore Subfloor panels with a built-in air space underneath that allow moisture migrating up through the concrete floor to dissipate without affecting the flooring (optional, but recommended component).
- 2’x8’ (or 10’) interlocking wall panels with built-in Vapour Shield Technology that eliminates all air pockets and creates an effective insulation R-Value of R-17.
- Tapeless joint technology allows DRIcore “Patch-Pro” to be applied directly to the panel joints without tape. Simply apply, sand, paint.
- The SMARTWALL Panels have built-in Easy-Wire Channels for feeding electrical wiring, as well as specialty panels with pre-installed switch & plug boxes.
What a great idea! Not only is there a significant time savings with a SMARTWALL installation, but this highly superior system also adds value by defending against moisture incursion, which in turn promotes “home health” quality and helps retain your home’s long-term worth. Considering our mutual goal of a warm, dry, comfortable basement living space, we recommend taking a close look at SMARTWALL! Go to DRIcore.com for full detail on how the SMARTWALL System works, then call Channel Custom Builders for a no-obligation basement renovation & remodeling estimate using the SMARTWALL System.