Order in the court!
Sometimes our waterproofing and structural repair work takes us to places we never anticipated they would at the start of our business, like a courtroom!
Case and point: in the summer of 2012, we received a call from the Gloucester Township, New Jersey, municipal team saying that they needed to keep their court dry. When we explained that we don’t usually do this for basketball or tennis facilities, we soon realized they meant court-court. Like traffic tickets, lawyers, and the whole judiciary process.
We sent out our expert team the next day to investigate, to build our case, if you will. We found that water was seeping into the courtroom of Gloucester Township during heavy rains and storms. Severe storms, which are becoming much more common.
Following a post-mortem on some structural elements, we determined our strategy. Unless our team intervened and installed a French drain system and new sump pump, some cases might get thrown out. Why? Because they are underwater. So just like that, we began our opening arguments over the next few days.
The Trial of the Century
First, South Jersey Waterproofing installed a French drain system. A French drain is like a skilled defense attorney in the courtroom, redirecting water away from the foundation and presenting a watertight case to prevent potential flooding. To install a French drain, one must excavate a trench around the building, lay a layer of gravel, add a perforated pipe, and cover it all with more gravel. This process creates a porous layer and allows excess water flow through the French drain. Though several storms since have called for objections to our methods, the judge (structural integrity of the building) has sustained them.
Secondly, our expert team installed a brand-new sump pump. A sump pump is like a judge in a courtroom, ready to rule in favor of your property. It removes any excess water from the basement or crawl space, preventing any water accumulation that may cause damage to the foundation or basement walls. A sump pump is installed in a specially designed pit, known as a sump pit. It’s activated when the water level reaches a certain point, just like how a judge rules when there is enough evidence to make a decision. Once activated, the sump pump will discharge the water outside the house through a discharge pipe. Just as a judge’s verdict brings closure to a legal case.
Closing Arguments
After a few hours of presenting our case, doing the work, and deliberation, the courthouse was found NOT GUILTY of water intrusion. Our team would like to thank Gloucester Township, NJ for calling us and having us work on their case.
If you need help keeping your workplace, home, or other space dry from heavy rains, call South Jersey Waterproofing’s team. We can be reached at (856) 428-8271 or CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE AN ASSESSMENT today! We’ve been proudly serving New Jersey and Pennsylvania for over three generations.
