How to Waterproof a Monolithic Foundation from the Inside - Sadieville, KY

Monday, July 14th, 2025 by Jack Purdon

Challenge

A homeowner in Sadieville, KY contacted The Basement Doctor of Central Kentucky with concerns about water seeping into their basement. The home was built on a monolithic slab foundation, meaning the footer and floor slab were poured as one solid unit. This type of construction makes it unsafe to jackhammer along the perimeter to install a standard drainage system, like our WaterGuard system. The homeowner was seeing water seep in from the walls and the cove joints, especially during heavy rains, and wanted a permanent solution that wouldn’t compromise the slab.

Solution

This basement had a monolithic foundation, which means the floor and footing were poured together as one solid piece. With this type of foundation, we can’t cut or trench along the entire perimeter like we normally would, because that would weaken the structure. That’s why we had to use a different approach to control the water.

We installed drainage pipes beneath the slab, a few feet in from the walls, to make sure the footing stayed protected. These subfloor pipes capture groundwater rising from under the floor, but they can’t handle wall leaks the way our WaterGuard system does. To manage water coming through the walls without chipping away at the base, we used a special baseboard drain called DryTrak. This system sits neatly on top of the basement floor against the walls, so no jackhammering is required. Before sealing it in place, we drilled small weep holes at the bottom of the block walls. This relieves pressure and lets trapped water flow safely into the system. DryTrak also has a narrow opening along the top edge, which allows wall seepage to drip directly inside.

Because DryTrak sits higher than the subfloor drains, we connected the two with interval ties. These are sloped channels that carry water from the DryTrak down into the perforated pipes. By spacing them at intervals, the foundation remains intact while still providing a continuous path for water to flow out.

From there, everything drains to a TripleSafe sump pump, which offers three levels of protection, including a battery backup for storms and power outages. To keep the air fresh and dry, we installed a SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier. And to give the space a clean, finished look, we added ThermalDry Elite plank flooring in gray, which is both attractive and resistant to moisture.

By combining these systems, we created a waterproofing solution that keeps the foundation safe while giving the homeowner a dry, comfortable basement they can enjoy. Be sure to scroll through the attached photos & graphics to learn more visually!

Project Summary

Products Used: Perforated Subfloor Drainage

Products Used: DryTrak® Baseboard System

Products Used: TripleSafe™ Sump Pump

Products Used: SaniDry™ Sedona Dehumidifier

Products Used: ThermalDry® Elite Plank Flooring (Gray)

This shows how the DryTrak system is pitched toward the perforated drainage beneath the floor, with interval ties connecting the two systems. This way we can drain both the wall and underneath the floor slab without compromising the foundation.

This photo helps display the difference between a monolithic slab vs a floating slab. The monolithic slab, as seen in the bottom of the graphic, does not allow us to safely trench the entire perimeter because the floor is connected to the footing. It also means that the floor slab is very thick near the wall, which would require a whole lot more excavation and dust.

This photo shows the first step in the process, where we trenched the slab a couple feet away from the wall. The drains, sump basin, and interval ties have all been graded with gravel, and are ready to be sealed.

This was after we sealed the perforated drains, but before we installed our DryTrak. This photo also shows one of our interval ties, which breaks away to the brick wall by about a foot and a half.

This photo shows how the DryTrak looks after we installed it along the coves. Behind it are weeping holes, which invite ground water into the drainage system. At the top of the DryTrak is a slight opening, which will allow moisture to drip down the walls and into the system.

This photo shows our TripleSafe sump pump and our SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier.

This photo shows our ThermalDry Elite Plank Flooring in the gray colorway. These panels provide a thermal break between the concrete slab and the floor. They can not be damaged by moisture, and mimic real wood.

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How to Waterproof a Monolithic Foundation from the Inside - Sadieville, KY

Challenge

Solution

Project Summary

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