Home Basement Waterproofing

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You should perform annual maintenance of your rain gutters, including cleaning them out. While performing this task you should inspect your downspouts to ensure that they are in good condition and moving water away from your foundation. A splash block at the end of your downspout will help avoid soil erosion. You should not burry your downspout lines unless they can be emptied out to daylight.

A dehumidifier that is the correct size to work in your basement can help lower the humidity of the space. A model with a drain hose will be more convenient as you will not need to empty the collected water each day. A unit that has ice build up on the coils will not function properly so it is a good idea to get a model with a built in deicer. Keeping your basement doors and windows closed, no matter what the weather, will also help reduce moisture. Condensation tends to build up much faster when the doors and windows are open.

Waterproofing Paints and Sealers There mare many good quality waterproofing paints and sealers on the market today. Those people with minor damage to their basement walls and floors will find these to be the perfect solution. Carefully follow the directions for the product provided by the manufacturer as each product works slightly differently. These products may not fix the original source of the leak, but they will help to keep your basement clean and dry.

When You Need Professional Help You will often get different solutions from different waterproofing contractors, so always be sure you are dealing with a well qualified professional. Epoxy coat systems, interior drainage systems, and outside excavation and drainage tile installation are just some of the options that will be offered by waterproofing contractors these days.

Conclusion Prevention is always the best way to prevent basement water problems. Carefully inspecting and cleaning your gutters and downspouts is a simple way to prevent damage. A dehumidifier can help reduce humidity and moisture. You will need to call a professional waterproofing contractor if you have tried everything you can and still have moisture in your basement. When hiring a contractor always check their references and get proof of insurance. It is also a good idea to check with your local Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints which have been filed against them.

Homeowners may not be aware that sometimes their insurance policy may cover a necessary clean up.

You may want to hire a plumber or other qualified professional to give you more of an unbiased second opinion. Leaky pipes from your kitchen or bathroom are other common cause of moisture in your basement, and both are much less expensive to fix than waterproofing your basement.

Should leaky pipes be discovered as the source of the moisture your insurance company will most likely not pay to repair the pipes. They will, however, often be willing to foot the bill for the jack hammering needed to find the source of the leak and the clean up that will need to occur at the end of the job. It is also a good idea to get bids for alternative ways of fixing the problem so that you can present a comprehensive look at the issue and its costs to the insurance company.

If you can offer your insurance company a less expensive alternative for repairing the problem they may even be willing to pay the entire bill. You can save money for both you and your insurance company and have the work completed in a cost effective manner.

A key part of this strategy is working with an experienced plumber who is willing to look for most cost effective alternatives when it comes to repairing a problem. You will have a much easier time justifying your insurance company paying the bill when you have a qualified contractor who has identified at least two different legitimate repair options to your problem.

Another key is having a good insurance company for your homeowners policy. You want a company that will quickly review the information you provided and make a fair decision about how much they are willing to pay.

Many of the common repair tasks that a basement requires can be done by the homeowner without the assistance of a professional.

One of these important tasks is foundation crack repair and waterproofing. To prevent foundation cracks from getting larger they should always be repaired as soon as they are noticed. It is very simple to find a high quality repair kit.

Many of these products can be injected directly into your basement wall from the inside and do not require you to dig up your yard around your foundation. You want to make sure you keep your concrete waterproofing intact when you are repairing these cracks. You can even find concrete repair kits that are safe to use on cracks that are still wet or leaking.

Radon testing is another important basement maintenance task that the homeowner can do themselves. Radon tests are an important part of protecting your familys health. The web site for the Environmental Protection Agency has additional information at www.epa.gov/radon. These tests are simple to complete and often cost as little as ten dollars. You can find inexpensive tests that give you a one time snapshot of your homes radon levels or more expensive tests that will continuously monitor the home for radon.

You will want to think about installing a sump pump if you are faced with constant water in your basement. Sump pumps are especially needed in those areas with a high water table. When the water is at the same elevation as your basement you will quite likely need a sump pump to remove unwanted water from the basement. While some sump pumps are plastic and can be glued into place most will require that you cut though the concrete slab floor with the use of a jackhammer. These can usually be rented at your local tool rental store or home improvement center.

There are two basic types of sump pump on the market today: pedestal sump pumps and submersible sump pumps. Pedestal models feature a column which supports the open motor attached to the pump casing. Many people find the motor which sits above the basement floor to be somewhat unsightly. Submersible pumps have a watertight motor which can be totally submerged. You will not notice this motor as it is completely within the pump casing.

Mold spores only need the tiniest amount of moisture to grow. People who have respiratory problems are particularly vulnerable to the effects of mold, which can lead to skin rashes, congestions, eye irritation, and coughing. Waterproofing your basement is an excellent way to prevent these problems from occurring.

While many will be tempted to hire a professional contractor to waterproof their basement, they will quickly figure out that this can be an expensive proposition. Many home owners end up deciding to complete the job on their own to save money. If you have determined that this is a job that you want to tackle on your own, the following tips can help you through the job.

The exposed foundation should be covered with a rubberized asphalt sealer. While the sealer is still wet you will then apply some R-10 insulation panels. You can find these panels at just about any home improvement center or your local hardware store.

Placing drain tiles and backfilling around the foundation can prevent water from collecting along the bottom of the panels. Keeping your gutter and downspouts clean and in good condition is another key element in keeping your basement dry.

The Right Waterproofing Product

Liquid Membranes You can apply this liquid membrane with a spray, roller, or trowel. You will have a rubbery coating along your basement walls after it has had time to cure.

Sheet Membranes These are self-adhering membranes that get applied to your basement walls. Sheets are produced by applying rubberized asphalt to waterproof polyethylene film.

Cemenititious Waterproofing This coating adheres well to the wall and is very durable and solid. A long handled brush is used to apply this mixture once it has been combined with an acrylic additive.

Built Up Systems This is a combination of felt and asphalt. A concrete primer will first need to be applied. The next step is to apply a layer of hot tar to the wall. Felt is them laid over the tar while it is still hot. Three layers of felt are usually applied in the same manner and the entire thing covered with one additional layer of tar.

Surface Preparation Before applying any type of waterproofing you will need to ensure that your walls are clean and dry. You will also want to clean and dry the footings. Scrape off any loose material along the walls or footings. Pay special attention to any areas of congealed slurry which have formed around the footings during the basement pour. The waterproofing materials will not stick to walls that are not clean and dry.

Waterproofing Curing Check the instructions provided by the products manufacturer for the ideal concrete curing times. You will not be able to apply a waterproofing membrane to the concrete for at least seven to fourteen days to allow for it to cure. Concrete will always take several days to cure once it has been poured.

Having an experienced guide in this project can really help it become a success. While new construction project will already have the dirt removed from around the foundation you will need to use a backhoe to remove the dirt from around existing homes. While this does complicate the project it is still quite manageable by the handy homeowner.

Moisture brings life to mildew and mold, which is why you will find both of these whenever even a small amount of moisture exists in a space. There are a number of different sources of moisture including leaking pipes and cracks in your walls. When you discover mold remember that your real problem is really the moisture that is nurturing it. Mold can be an indication that you have problems with leaks in your foundation or another serious problem. Below are some ideas for preventing moisture problems.

Check around for plumbing leaks, which may not always be obvious. Some good indicators are stained carpeting or wallpaper. You should look for these same stains in your basement as well. You can often detect leaks by looking for condensation around cracks in any concrete surface. You can also find moisture leaking into your walls by looking for rust and discoloration.

Your nose will often be the most reliable indicator that you have a moisture problem. You will almost always notice a damp, musty smell when mold, fungus, and mildew are present. Whenever you notice the smell in your carpets or walls you should conduct a thorough investigation to find the source of the moisture.

You will need to repair the problem once it has been noticed and located. Once you fix the source of the moisture you will also need to take steps to remove the mold from carpeting, wall panels, etc. Mold spores can be dangerous to your familys health and should be taken seriously.

You need to protect your basement from water damage even if it is empty since water coming through the walls can cause significant damage to your foundation. You can prevent severe problems down the road by using leach lines and proper drainage to keep water from building up around your foundation. The following tips will help you protect your basement and foundation from the threat of water damage.

Keep a close eye on your in ground drainage and rain gutters. Both of these should lead water away from the home, with drainage and grading pulling water at least six feet from your home. Gutters should be clean and in good repair. It is a good idea to inspect them annually before the beginning of your rainy season. You will also need to be prepared to clean them out should they become blocked once the rain has begun. When water is spilling over and you are unable to repair the gutter you should dig a simple drainage ditch to lead water away from the home. Always spend any extra money for soil that is necessary to avoid reverse grading around the home as this small investment can save you both money and hassle down the road.

Another effective method of keeping water away from your foundation is grass. Tough grass planted in a layer of backfill around your home can keep water from seeping into the ground along your foundation.

You will need to take a few precautions if your home is heavily landscaped with lots of concrete hardscape such as walkways and pool decks. You should remove any concrete which is graded towards the home. If that is not possible you should at least install a gutter system to take rainwater and runoff away from the home. Use caulk to seal the joints wherever the concrete joins the house to prevent water from seeping between the two. Use a high quality waterproof sealer on your concrete and always repair cracks as soon as possible. This includes any walkways around your home as well as your driveway.

One easy solution is making a simple dry well. This is a hole which is between two and five deep in depth and that has been layered in landscaping fabric and then filled with gravel. Dig drainage ditches from around the house that lead directly to this hole.

To prevent water from standing against your foundation you can dig a trench along the side of the home and fill it will gravel. You can also place a piece of PVC pipe which has been perforated in the gravel to take water further away from the home. Fill any holes in your yard as soon as possible to prevent water from building up. It is also advisable to check the areas around your window wells for proper drainage.

You can remove some of the pressure from around your home with the use of a sump pump. To prevent the pump from releasing gases the seal on the cover should be airtight. While you probably dont want to leave all your drainage needs to a sump pump, it is a great addition to other methods you are using. Often your pump goes out when you lose power during a storm and you need other methods to protect your home from water damage.

One of the main causes of concrete damage is moisture. The tricky part is being able to tell whether moisture that you can see is impacting your concrete.

One good way to tell if there is moisture in your concrete is to look for some of the more obvious signs such as rusting, stains, or dampness along your walls. You nose can also be your guide to moisture. You will notice a damp and moldy odor if moisture is present. Another good idea is to check for common problems that cause moisture such as clogged or damaged gutters and downspouts and improper grading around your home.

The first place you should carefully examine for moisture is around any noticeable cracks in the concrete. Use some duct tape to seal a piece of aluminum foil across the surface of the concrete. After about a week you should life the foil up and see if any condensation has formed.

Unfortunately many people view their basement as a dark and smelly place to store items that they do not use very often. They do not dare enter the room unless it is to store away more junk or retrieve things previously placed there.

Think about how wonderful it would be to have a basement where your entire family enjoyed spending time. Remodeling your basement would give you tons of additional living space. You can transform your basement into just about any type or room you can imagine such as guest quarters, family room, exercise room, or craft space.

Below are five steps that are needed to transform your basement.

Repair Any Water Problems Before starting your remodeling project you will need to resolve any water problems, no matter how regular or severe. It pays to hire a professional home inspector who specializes in waterproofing issues. While this step may take some time, it is well worth the effort.

Choose a Function for the New Space Turn the tables on the disadvantages of the space and use them to your advantage, for example a dark basement may make a perfect media room. This isolated spot could be the perfect place for your teenagers band to practice. Think about the activities your family loves and how this space could accommodate them.

Consider Hiring a Professional This new space could really increase your homes value, as well as give your family years of fun and entertainment. Hiring a professional designer or architect can really help you get the most out of the space. They will listen to your needs and design a space to match.

Air Circulation This is one of the most important things you will need to think about when designing the space. To make the space comfortable and enjoyable you will most likely need to add registers and vents. To protect your family from venting problems with the furnace or other appliances it is a good idea to install a carbon monoxide monitor as well.

Natural Light How you choose to use the space will determine whether or not you will need to add natural lighting. You can add natural light as well as provide emergency exits with the addition of enlarged windows. In areas where your home is vulnerable to the entrance of thieves you can use glass bricks instead of regular windows to allow light to enter the space. To give natural light to the interior of the space it is a good idea to install windows in the interior walls as well.

What is the cause of those dreaded basement leaks? Often it is water from storms which remains in your soil. You will get more water accumulation if you have less dense soil. You will often see a build up of this water right along your foundation and basement walls.

The pressure created by this standing water will eventually force water right into your basement. The concrete of your foundation expands and cracks in response to minerals and alkaline materials contained in the water. Small pores in the concrete are made larger by the continual pressure from the water. The larger the pores grow, the more water they will be able to hold onto.

Water sealing membranes placed around the outside of the structure can be broken down by these same materials in the water. The cracks will continue to grow larger as the water sealing barrier is broken down. Eventually this will lead to large fissures and leaks.

Properly waterproofing your basement is one preventative maintenance task you just cant afford to skip. Making a small investment of time and money today can save you time, hassle, and money down the road.