Basement Waterproofing Is Easy And Effective
A flooded basement can be a costly nightmare, which can take many thousands of dollars to drain and repair. Some home insurance policies do not even cover it, so it's important to check in advance before buying a policy. In this short guide we will look at some of the basement waterproofing methods available and how effective they are.
Basement flooding can cause a lot of festering problems like faulty French drains and window well drains. These are easy repairs. What most don't know is that the common cause of basement flooding is a joint on the edge of the floor and wall. This is most evident during heavy down pour or snow melt. Water commonly seeps through this joint contrary to the belief that water comes directly from the floor's foundation.
You can fix a lot of the problems yourself before something drastic like a flooded basement happens. In the majority of cases, these types of preventative maintenance do not require professional or basement waterproofing services. Check the outside of your house for defective or leaky gutters that may drip water on the outside walls - a simple and easy solution to stop problems before they start is to just replace the gutters.
Excessive condensation on the walls of a basement can be caused by water pipes, so it's important to insulate them where ever possible. Condensation and too much water vapor leading to wet basements can be caused by shrubbery and other plants in the garden by the outside wall and windows, which leads to poor ventilation. These should be trimmed at regular intervals.
Some detective work may be required while waterproofing the basements because the most of the times the problem is not immediately obvious. Taping a strip of aluminum to the wet wall and leaving it there for a few days is the best method to determine the source of flooding
On your return, if you discover dampness on the outer side of the foil, it is due to condensation, However, should the moisture be on the foil's inner side, you have water oozing inward from outdoors. This is a method used regularly by professional waterproofers and basement waterproofing firms.
Basement flooding can be an expensive nightmare, sometimes costing thousands of dollars to have the basement drained and repaired. Home insurance policies don't always provide coverage so it's important to ask before buying a policy. This brief guide will walk you through some of the basement waterproofing methods available and examine their effectiveness. When you are looking into issues regarding waterproofing basements, the source may not be apparent to the naked eye. One method of locating the origin of the trouble is to affix some aluminum foil to the damp surface, and let it sit for several evenings. This test is frequently used in wet basements.
Published February 16th, 2008
Filed in Home