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Testing in Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota and Washington, D.C., indicates that Tremco’s Above-Grade Foundation Finishing System can be applied in any weather situation suitable for foundation pours.
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A better understanding of building science and the development of better products mean builders have a chance at fighting moisture. Until now, however, no product protected the entire foundation.
Tremco Barrier Solutions’ Above-Grade Foundation Finishing System extends the same waterproofing membrane used below grade in its Tuff -N-Dri product up to the sill plate. To ensure seamless protection of the spray-applied material, the entire foundation gets treated at once.
Fiberglass insulating board with an appearance like stucco then covers the membrane on all of the foundation walls. It includes a drainage mechanism for water that might penetrate the insulation.
The system’s insulating properties — from R-5 to R-12 — are key components to fighting moisture, Tremco vice president and general manager Mark Patterson says. Generally, builders insulate basements with batts on the interior. As warm air passes through the insulation, it hits the much colder basement wall, encouraging condensation and trapping moisture.
The Above-Grade Foundation Finishing System insulates the wall’s exterior, thereby moving the point where vapor starts to condense to the exterior side.
The Above-Grade Foundation Finishing System will not be available nationwide until late March or early April. Patterson estimates the cost at $4.50 to $5 per foot, although cost will fluctuate by region. The selling point for builders, he says, will be twofold: a strong footer-to-sill plate warranty and an upgrade for which buyers are willing to pay, Tremco’s focus groups show.
Tremco will roll out the product this month at the International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas.
