RainTek Blog

What's the difference between landscape planning and landscape design?

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 18:35:49 GMT

Landscapers Explain: Landscape Design vs. Landscape Planning

Landscape planning, while it might sound like a term that simply means planning the design of your landscape, actually means something completely different. Landscape design is something most landscapers can do, but landscape planning requires a landscape architect, that's because landscape planning is a branch of landscape architecture that focuses on policies and strategies to create healthy, successful environments that protect natural resources and processes. For example, landscape planning might involve making use of pre-existing swamps and native shrubbery to create a landscape that is more self-sustaining and friendly for local wildlife. On the other hand, a landscape designer, if preferring to make an outdoor area more attractive than self-sustaining, might completely redesign the natural space by installing new plants and reshaping the swamp's natural look.

To further illustrate this difference, let us tell you about our own practices. Here at RainTek our landscaping Victoria BC service is tailored more towards landscape design , although we can do forms of landscape planning where needed, as we often use plants and materials native to Vancouver Island to make our landscapes more sustainable. If landscape planning is precisely what you need, however, there are many great landscape architects to choose from in Victoria BC, but we might still be the team they call when it comes to actually constructing and installing the planned landscape and its features, as we have experienced landscape designers in our company.

If after this explanation you're still unsure what the difference is, feel free to call us as we strive to be as helpful as we can to our fellow Victoria locals - (250) 896-3478.

If you are in Vancouver and are looking for professional and reliable landscaping services head over to Blossom Landscaping

5 Common Warning Signs of Basement Water Damage

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 17:00:01 GMT

Stormwater Management Experts in Victoria BC Explain the 5 Common Signs of Water Damage

#1: Mold or mildew

Mold loves moist environments. It grows rapidly on drywall, paneling, floors, cupboards, furniture, carpet and even clothes. But keep in mind that mold could also be caused by trapped humidity and poor ventilation. Get a professional to help you track down the cause.

#2: Efflorescence

When water penetrates into your foundation and dries, it leaves a white mineral deposit on the inside of your wall. This is an early warning that you’ve got too much water coming into the walls – the time for action is now.

#3: Musty smell

Many older homes have a distinctive earthy odor associated with mildew and mold growth. Look for the source of the mold, clean it (or hire a professional if it’s a big job) and search for the source of moisture or water leaks.

#4: Wet concrete wall or floor

The most obvious sign of a problem is a damp wall or a pool of water seeping from a corner joint, hole, crack or drain. Paint will bubble, flake and fall off a masonry wall it is chronically wet, so signs of discoloration are usually symptoms of water leakage.

#5: Cracked foundation or slab

Cracks can occur during the curing and settling phase of your basement foundation or floor slab. Water pressure (hydrostatic pressure) under the floor and outside the foundation can make these cracks even bigger, creating an entry point for moisture. Cracks can occur in horizontal and vertical directions, and should be dealt with promptly.

How to deal with a wet, leaky, damp or flooded basement in Victoria BC

Sat, 24 Feb 2024 18:37:49 GMT

Victoria Leaky Basement Experts Explain How to Deal with a Wet Basement Problem in Victoria, BC, Canada

Water is five times more likely to cause damage to a home than fire, yet most Victoria homes aren’t covered for it. While sewer backups are covered in most policies, unless you have a specific inclusion, water damage from a drain tile or cracked foundation isn’t. That means you’re on the hook for costly repairs when rain or ground water leaks into your basement.

The fact is that basement flooding is a common, and usually, preventable problem. That’s the view of insurance companies, and why you should be proactive. If the threat of property damage isn’t enough for you to take action, maybe the respiratory and immune system risks your family faces from a chronically wet basement where mold, mildew and dry rot roam freely like a gang of thugs will convince you.

The first step is to educate yourself. Too many home owners make the mistake of trusting someone else to tell them what’s going on, resulting in stop-gap approaches that don’t address the cause of the problem. Interior drainage systems, sump pumps, and painted-on sealers typically fall into this category.

Make sure you properly diagnose the problem first before you decide on a ‘solution’. For example, water on the basement floor could be coming from a leaky window well, rather than a foundation failure. Or a sewer drain backup could be caused by a clogged weeping tile, instead of a backed up city sewer line (yes, it happens).

Once you identify the source of the problem call in a leaky basement repair professional like RainTek. Our trained technicians will use diagnostic tools ranging from infrared cameras to closed circuit drain cameras to hand-held moisture readers and test holes to confirm the cause of your wet basement problem. Then, and only then, will we talk to you about options to resolve the problem.

The best time to call us is when you see early warning signs of water infiltration. Before the crisis of a flood or drain backup. Scheduling regular preventative maintenance to your drainage system – both inside and outside – is a simple and cost-effective way to identify and resolve problems before they occur.

Check our website for more details on how to get help. If you have an urgent need, one of our drainage experts will be happy to answer your questions right now.

Reliable, Prompt, Courteous. This is our promise to you. Call RainTek at 250-896-3478 now.

Our 11 Steps to Repairing Perimeter Drains & Foundations

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 05:19:23 GMT

Need Drainage & Foundation Repair in Victoria BC? RainTek Lays Down the 11 Steps We'll Take to Do It!

Obtain all necessary municipal permits to ensure the highest quality work and code-compliant results. Manage the municipal inspection process, taking the hassle off you.
Lay down plywood to minimize the impact of foot and wheelbarrow traffic on your yard. Excavated dirt and debris is placed on these sheets, preserving your lawn, garden, sidewalk and driveway. Using these sheets also makes cleanup more efficient and cost-effective.
All concrete, stairs, decks and plants are carefully removed by hand.
Dig a perimeter trench either by machine or hand, depending on the home owner’s preference and sensitivity for preserving landscaping.
Clean, inspect and repair the foundation as required. Apply a polypropylene damp-proofing treatment to protect your foundation from future leaks.
Install a PVC drain pipe system (or other municipal-code approved pipe), slope the pipe to ensure proper runoff, and install clean-outs for easy maintenance in future.
After municipal inspection, backfill the pipe with drain rock to ensure water percolates down, followed by properly graded and tamped fill, filter cloth, and fresh topsoil.
Replace previously removed concrete over a compacted gravel base and finish to home owner specifications.
Replace any decking, structures or plants previously removed.
Haul away excess dirt, concrete, and debris.
Rake, sweep and cleanup.

These are the 11 steps we'll take to repair perimeter drains and leaky foundation. If you need drainage Victoria BC service, get in touch with RainTek today.

What’s the best way to waterproof a basement?

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 19:50:51 GMT

Victoria BC's leaky basement experts explain the best way to keep your basement dry.

Making sure your basement is waterproofed is important, but it’s especially important in rainy cities like Victoria BC where having a leaky basement could easily cost you thousands of Canadian dollars in water damage repairs. To avoid these expensive repair costs, our Victoria drain experts will explain the best way to waterproof your basement. Our basement waterproofing service is designed to keep your basement dry for the rest of your life with a free lifetime warranty. So let’s get started.

Firstly, to ensure your basement is waterproofed the BEST way, you’ll want to inspect your existing perimeter drain system and basement foundation for leaks and vulnerabilities . Unlike other Victoria drainage companies who will lazily give you a cost estimate for a full drain tile replacement without even inspecting your drains first, we assess your existing drainage carefully in order to come up with solutions that save you time and money. For example, if you have a leak in just one side of your basement, we may only need to repair that portion of your drains rather than replace the whole perimeter drain system. This is important to know because other Victoria drainage companies may try to swindle you if you’re unaware of this, so never accept a quote from a drainage company if they haven’t even taken the time to inspect your foundation yet.

Next, we come to the actual waterproofing method itself. The best way to waterproof a basement is to (1) dig a trench around the entire exterior of your foundation to repair any cracks, (2) to spray on a waterproofing material, (3) apply a waterproofing membrane, (4) and to install a modern perimeter drain system built to the latest BC by-laws and building codes before the trench is filled back in. Certain types of foundations laid onto bedrock may also benefit from a sump pump, though this is not always necessary and in most cases a gravity pump is recommended. In other words, waterproofing a basement is all about protecting your foundation .

Our sprayed waterproofing membrane will make water penetration in your cement foundation impossible , protecting your basement from leaks . The drainage system is a further step to make sure no underground water reaches your foundation to begin with. We also weatherproof your drain pipes so that they don’t freeze and burst in the winter. By draining the water away from your home with sloping pipes, your basement will remain dry no matter how cold or stormy Victoria gets.

On a further note, hexagonal ceramic drain tile is an old-school type of drain pipe that must be replaced with new PVC pipe due to building code standards. PVC pipes, although we still call them drain tile in the industry to avoid confusion, are less likely to get clogged, and to ensure it never clogs annual drain inspections should be conducted routinely . So long as you have an up- to-date perimeter drain system and schedule your yearly inspections, you can rest assured that your basement will remain dry and waterproofed for good, backed by RainTek’s lifetime warranty.

What is drain augering? Victoria rooter experts explain

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 22:43:42 GMT

Augering vs. Rootering - How drainage Victoria BC experts remove tree roots from your clogged pipes.

Augering is a more aggressive version of the jetting process that uses mechanical clearing in place of hydro flushing and is intended to clear major blockages such as heavy root intrusion that would not be cleared by hydro flushing. Augering is also known as rootering, therefore a drain auger and a rooter machine are the same thing.

Due to the aggressive nature of the process it is heavily discouraged that this augering or rootering ever be used on clay or concrete tile systems.

Our Victoria drainage experts hope this info answers your question. If you wish to learn more about augering or rootering, please visit our drain cleaning page .

What is hydro-jetting? Victoria jetting experts explain

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 22:39:14 GMT

Victoria jetting experts explain what hydro-jetting is and how it cleans your drains

Hydro-jetting or jetting is one of the various methods we can implement to provide drain cleaning service in Victoria BC. Hydro-jetting entails inserting a high powered jet nozzle and snaking it through the pipes via an access point to displace minor sediments and minor blockages via hydro flushing . This promotes water flow and prevents minor restrictions from becoming major blockages resulting in expensive, invasive remediatory action.

Due to the nature of the jetting process, it is generally not recommended for clay or concrete tile systems as it can cause damage to the pipes. It is however safe for PVC systems.

To learn more about hydro-jetting or to order drain cleaning service in Victoria BC , contact the experts at RainTek today - (250) 896-3478. Also, feel free to visit our FAQ page where we touch a bit further on answering the question "What is hydro-jetting and drain-snaking?" as well as answer other related questions.

What is a drain scope? Camera scoping explained

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 22:54:17 GMT

Our drain scope service in Victoria BC

Our scoping service entails feeding a small high definition camera through perimeter drain access points. These include cleanout openings and rain leaders.

This allows us to visually inspect the interior of the pipes for damage and blockages as well as give us a linear foot distance to any damage or blockages that we may find to allow for more precise excavation and suggestions for any repairs if needed.

If required a “locate” can be performed as part of the scoping service to give an even more precise location of the camera as well as depth.

Along with this service we provide a high definition 4K video for you to review and an inspection report commenting on the general condition of your system and any recommendations for maintenance or repairs.

To order a drain scope service or learn more about camera scoping in Victoria BC , contact RainTek today by dialing (250) 896-3478.

Why is water pooling on your driveway?

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 19:14:20 GMT

Victoria Drain Experts Explain Why Water is Pooling On Your Driveway, The Problems It Raises, And How to Solve It

Rainwater pooling on driveways is caused by a lack of drainage. If the water has nowhere to go, it will pool up. In a heavy rainfall the pooling could spread and begin to swamp your yard. Some people without a proper drainage system might not notice the pooling until a significant storm, but this doesn’t mean the problem is only intermittent. If you have water pooling anywhere on your property, especially if it’s close to your home or any buildings, it’s a sign that you should speak with a professional drainage contractor as soon as possible, because most of the damage is taking place underground where you can’t see it.

Pooling water that has nowhere to go, when it collects around your home’s foundation, can create water pressure against the concrete causing damage which can lead to cracks. Even when the water seems to be pooling innocently on your driveway far away from the house, there may be other areas on your property where the water is collecting underground. The best way to fix water from pooling on your driveway is to install a California drain or other drainage system that will let the water flow safely away from your home. If left untreated, the water pooling on your concrete can create damage to your driveway over time and even make it crack and sink in. Certain types of driveways like brick paving are what we call permeable surfaces because they allow rainwater to seep underground which also prevents pooling.

Just remember that even after your driveway pooling problem is solved, it’s still best to inspect your entire perimeter drains to ensure there are no other problems hiding underground.

What is RainTek?

Sun, 07 Jan 2024 22:07:10 GMT

The short answer and the long answer...

What is RainTek?

The short answer:

RainTek is a drainage company that's been serving Vancouver Island with drain service since 2009. For fifteen years and counting RainTek has helped thousands of people deal with their drain problems and install their new drainage systems. And drain service isn't the only thing RainTek does. We also offer waterproofing, rainwater harvesting, and landscaping services.

The long answer:

Our full company name is RainTek Drainage & Waterproofing, but we call it just RainTek for short. For over fifteen years we've prided ourselves in serving Victoria and Vancouver Island with commercial and residential drain and waterproofing service that in terms of quality cannot be beat. We value each and every customer we have the honor of working with.

When we're called in to inspect a drain , we do so with the latest and best drain camera inspection technology to correctly diagnose problems and create the perfect, long-lasting solutions. When we're called in to do a drain repair service , we do so with love and respect for our clients, because, as drain experts, we understand how important it is to repair a drain correctly, for drainage systems are vital for protecting homes and commercial buildings against storm water damage. When we're called in to install a new drainage system , the same principles apply; we carefully design a custom-tailored drainage system for each and every project, and install it correctly the first time with free lifetime warranties, love, and care.

And it doesn't stop there. RainTek is also responsible for hundreds of rainwater harvesting systems across Vancouver Island. Our permeable surfaces allow rainwater to seep underground into water tanks so you can make use of rainwater in any way you wish. Speaking of permeable surfaces, we also do landscape paving, as well as paving for all other landscaping projects,. We also provide all your landscape construction services thanks to our partnership with Larix Landscape, Victoria's leading landscaping company for over 25 years. That means if you need a company to repair your drains and construct a pergola and garden design at the same time, we're the company for the job. And it still doesn't stop there...

As Victoria's drain experts, we also do all the plumbing services required to keep your basement dry and your foundation strong. From foundation crack repair to sump pump installation, we do it all. If after this long answer you still wish to learn more about what RainTek is, feel free to contact us today.

We're always happy to answer your questions over the phone - (250) 896-3478.

How drainage systems protect your home

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 01:21:23 GMT

How does drainage protect homes? Victoria drainage experts explain the benefits...

Drainage systems are an essential part of residential homes and commercial properties in Victoria, BC. But why? This question might seem obvious for people who've been living in Victoria for many years, but if you just bought a home here you might be wondering what the big deal is about.

The truth is, Victoria sees a lot of rain. Lately we've been having dry summers , but this typically means more storms and flooding in the winter. Because of Victoria's rainfall, drainage systems are a must to protect your home.

Drainage systems protect your home by creating drains for the rainfall to accumulate. These drains take surface water underground, preventing swamping in your lawn, and take the subterranean water through pipes away from your home's foundation. In parts of the world where rain isn't a factor, drainage systems aren't as common. But in Victoria they're necessary to prevent basement flooding and lawn pooling.

If your home doesn't have a drainage system, or if the drains are clogged and the system can't work correctly, heavy rainfall will pool in your lawn and there will be nothing to stop if from seeping toward your home's foundation. If you have cracks in your foundation, the water will gradually leak into your basement and subfloor crawl spaces.

Properly placed storm drains can also prevent rainfall from pooling in your driveway and garden. Water is one of the strongest forces of disaster in the world. Without drain pipes leading water away from your foundation, you also run the risk of soil erosion. With a quality drainage system built by RainTek, you can sleep soundly during the stormy season knowing your home's foundation is dry and safe from water erosion.

If you wish to learn more about how a drainage system can protect your home, feel free to call us and speak with a Victoria drainage expert . We're excited to take your call.

Times Colonists Talks Drainage with us

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 01:25:39 GMT

(originally Published 13 FEB 2017)

With the recent bout of snow and wet weather, we’re seeing a large influx of calls from homeowners with flooding basements and other drainage issues.
The Times Colonists sat down with us for an interview on how homeowners can deal with these emergencies.

View the full article here.

We love to help homeowners, which is why when the Times Colonist reached out to us for advice on helping their readers deal with flooding and other drainage emergencies, we were quick to help.
Geoff Styba sits down with Times Colonist to provide some sage advice on how you can best deal with a drainage emergency before we get there.

View the full article here.

How to keep your basement dry in Victoria

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 01:24:22 GMT

(Originally published 08 OCT 2014)

An in depth article and secrets to keeping your basement dry in Victoria's wet climate.

Reprinted with permission from Mike Holmes

Prevent basement flooding with perimeter drain maintenance

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 01:21:44 GMT

(Originally published 25 JUL 2014)

“Waking up to the sound of rushing water in the house can be pretty unnerving. For Madeleine Bragg and her husband Mike, they faced a flooded basement.

“Mike gets up at 5 a.m. to go to work and he heard this sound like a waterfall. He opened the door to the stairs and it was a waterfall going into our basement,” says Madeleine.

The couple had been in the process of finishing the basement of their Fernie, B.C., home, including digging out and waterproofing the entire foundation in hopes of including a third bedroom, TV room, workspace and storage in the future.”

“In the past three years, we’ve had some minor weeping here and there through the concrete, but this year it kept snowing, like 20 centimetres, and then raining on top of it,” she says.

“When it rains on top of snow it turns into ice and then it runs down the ice into our back walkway, and then under the back door, down the stairs and into the basement.”

The couple had installed a sump pump to aid with any potential water buildup from the perimeter drains and ground saturation, but due to the amount of water the pump couldn’t keep up.

According to Geoffrey Styba, owner of Victoria’s Raintek who deals with drainage inspections, cleaning, repair and replacement, perimeter drain maintenance is one of the most important things a homeowner can do to prevent basement flooding.

“It all boils down to perimeter drain tile maintenance,” says Styba. “The main thing is they are out of sight and out of mind, so a lot of homeowners don’t recognize them until they do have a problem, and a lot of times when people call us with a flooded basement they have no idea what has happened.”

In cases where basement flooding may have been caused by prolonged rainstorms, Styba says the first thing he tells homeowners to do when they see flooding is to disconnect their downspouts feeding into the perimeter drain tiles and divert all the water coming off the roof away from their house.

“When somebody’s basement floods that is the worst-case scenario. It can only get better from there,” he says.

Styba says a common mistake homeowners make when trying to dry their space following leakage or a flood is applying heat.

“That’s not the best idea because if you put heat against something moist in a humid environment, it will start to grow mould on it,” he says. “To start drying things out the best things to do is dehumidify and increase air circulation.”

While the destruction of a basement caused by flooding is devastating for homeowners, the cost to restore their home can also be upsetting. Even though insurance can cover some of the damage, Leonard Sharman, senior media relations adviser for The Co-operators, says a lot of homeowners don’t know what is covered by their policy.

“When you talk about flooded basements, if it is an overland flood like we saw in Calgary, generally if water is all over the ground, is coming through windows and doors, that is not covered by any policy in Canada,” says Sharman.

“What is typically covered, and often you have to buy this as an endorsement to your policy, is what we call sewer backup.”

Sewer backup includes any water that comes into the home through pipes into the interior of the home.

Sharman says many insurance companies like The Co-operators encourage homeowners to install sump pumps and a backwater prevention valve to help reduce the possibility of sewer backup.

“It used to be that fires were the most expensive thing home insurance covered, and over the last 10 years or so what we call water damage for the first time ever is becoming the most expensive for insurance companies,” he says.

“Back then you may have had a couple buckets and a bag of hockey gear down there, but these days we often see hundreds of thousands of dollars of finished basements.”

(Reprinted from CanadianUnderwriter.ca ) January 2014

Raintek Drainage & Waterproofing Is On Youtube!

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 01:19:04 GMT

(Originally published 22 MAY 2012

We do a lot of waterproofing and drainage jobs, but sometimes it’s hard to explain to our customers EXACTLY what is going on under their driveways, foundation or yard. So what better way to than to show you some video of common drainage and foundation problems than to have them all on youtube? We’ll be documenting a variety of projects over the next little while so that you can get an idea of what goes into every Raintek Drainage Job.

Check out our youtube channel – www.youtube.com/drainagevictoria

Home inspections in Victoria (Why they are important)

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 01:16:29 GMT

(Originally published 20 MAR 2012)

Buying a home can certainly be a challenging and anxiety filled experience if you don’t have a proper home inspection done. Even traditional home inspection companies don’t always know what to look for when it comes to inspecting you homes exterior and foundation for signs of water damage and potential problems. As recently seen on CBC, this Victoria home owner did not disclose the problems with flooding and other water damage to the home previous to the sale.

View the CBC Video here

What’s the take away from all this?

If you are concerned or have doubts about your own homes foundation, it’s best not to wait for serious problems to happen. Rather being pro-active about maintenance can go along way to saving you thousands of dollars in the future. If you are considering purchasing a home, be diligent about getting a quality pre-purchase inspection on the foundation and exterior drainage.

RainTek’s top 5 tips for winterizing your home.

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 01:11:19 GMT

(Originally published 08 NOV 2011)

The wet and cool season is quickly falling upon us, which means it’s time to winterize your home. There are many different things you can do both on the interior and exterior of your home to achieve this. We’ve put together a checklist of essential “to-dos” around your home before the first cold snap and heavy rains hit. Feel free to review our recommendations and call us with any questions you may have.

1) Clean & flush your gutters & downspouts.

Your roof is responsible for directing heavy rainfalls into your gutters, which, if clean, will flow into your downspouts and into your perimeter drainage system. Once the rain water flows into your drainage system, clean draintiles will direct the water away from your home and into your municipal storm system. Unfortunately, as fall comes, gutters and drains become clogged with leaves and other foliage, leaving your gutters or surface drains blocked or severely restricted. This results in rainwater overflowing your gutters and getting into areas that it shouldn’t possibly causing rot and exterior damage.

2) Camera Inspect and RotoRoot / Power flush your drainage system.

Your drainage system is one of the most critical systems in your home, but often neglected due to the “out of sight, out of mind mentality”. Perimeter drain tile safetly directs all the water away from your home that would otherwise be left free standing against your homes foundation. A simple and economic drain tile camera inspection can be a cheap and cost effective peace of mind to ensure that your drainage system is functioning correctly. This is especially important in older homes with clay/concrete tiles that are susceptible to cracking, movement and other natural degradation. Contact us today to have a RainTek drainage technician book and appointment and give you peace of mind.

3) Cleaning & Sweeping your chimney.

It’s definitely that time of year where we all like to place a few wood logs into the fireplace and enjoy a warm and cozy fire. Unfortunately and neglected fireplace and chimney can be more of a hazard than most realize. If left unchecked a few sparks can quickly lead to a full on flue fire. Give us a call and have one of our helpful staff recommend a reputable company to suite your masonry needs.

4) Shutting off exterior water supplies

It’s an easy thing to forget about, but exterior hoses and taps that are left on (with a supply running to them) can be susceptible to freezing during the cold winter months. In a worst case scenerio, a freezing pipe can actually burst in your home, leaving you with costly repairs. Check your home to make sure all exterior taps have their water supply shut off.

5) Irrigation System Flush .

Just as you shut off your exterior water supplies, making sure you “winterize” your irrigation system is a must as well. Properly pressurizing and clearing the lines with compressed air will help ensure you trouble free use of your system come spring.

RainTek receives our official trademark certification recognition

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 01:04:20 GMT

(Originally published 08 NOV 2011)

We are proud to announce our recent completion of the Trademark process for our brand. One happy customer and dry basement at a time, we have built a rock solid foundation as Victoria’s most recognized name in drainage, foundations and leaky basement restoration. Our acceptance as a registered trademark brand helps establish and protect RainTek as one of the industry leaders.

We want to thank all of our loyal customers, suppliers, partners and employee’s that have helped propel us forward in this industry. We take great pride being in a position to provide unparalleled service to the community of Victoria for many more years to come.