Supervisors explore sealant option for annex building

An alternative water-proofing solution for the annex building basement was presented to the Jasper County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

Jason Hartman, of Des-Moines-based Basement Stop Leak, uses a liquid sealant that is injected into the ground at high pressure to find all of the hidden crevices that lead into the basement, he said. Once it is in place, Hartman said it hardens like concrete, fully sealing every pocket of loose dirt and leaking cracks in the foundation.

Hartman, who has operated the business for three years, wouldn’t commit to a cost estimate. He said the project would be one the largest his company has taken on.

“I had a property that I needed water-proofing in and I did it, I had him do it and I thought maybe he needs to come make a presentation to the board just to give us the information so we know,” supervisor Doug Cupples said.

Hartman said the product seals up the routes the water is taking to get to the leaks. He said the annex building would require him work six to eight feet away from the building because the backfill from when it was built is disturbed ground.

"It goes down clear to basement depth, down eight to 10 feet, right down there where it is coming in," Hartman said. "(The injection,) that pushes clean water out of the ground first that is already in there and replaces it with our material, then that sets up."

The findings of the investigation by engineering firm Shive-Hattery presented in June recommended extensive excavation work and waterproofing to the building foundation. To complete the excavation work, the east stairwell would need to be removed. The report also recommends removing the south dock area and adding a new entryway and ADA-accessible ramp. The project estimate is more than $600,000.

The board made no decision on the sealant option but supervisors said it would have further discussions.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com