Having a basement is convenient, until it isn’t.
If you’re currently dealing with a wet basement, you’re not alone because over 60% of American homes deal with the same issue. The worst part is that close to 40% of them run the risk of basement mold, a category in which you don’t want to be a part of. Mold is increasingly dangerous, which is among the top reasons why you need to waterproof your basement.
Apart from mold, overlooking a wet basement will only lead to serious issues and damage your walls, floors, and valuable items. The thing is, waterproofing your basement will neither be easy nor cheap, and there are tons of mistakes you could make in the process. The optimum question is, should you hire professional basement waterproofing contractors or make it a DIY project?
Professional vs. DIY Basement Waterproofing
When waterproofing your basement, you can either opt to do it yourself or hire a professional. There are several considerations that go into it, like the skills, expertise, and the time you will put in to cover all bases. It may take you a lot longer to complete a job that will only take a professional a short time.
Even worse, if you end up making mistakes, you will spend a lot more on repairs because you’ll eventually need to call a professional contractor to rectify those mistakes. This means that hiring a professional waterproofing contractor would be a better idea, but if you’re handy enough, you can do it on your own.
Let’s look at the step by step guide that will help you waterproof your basement on your own.
How to Waterproof Your Basement
There are several basement waterproofing methods, both interior, and exterior. Some may be super easy, and others not so much, so it’s still advisable to consider professional help. That said, let’s check out some of the steps you can take to waterproof a basement.
Exterior Grading
When you have a basement, it’s important for you to understand that the ground surrounding your home should slope away from the house. Proper ground sloping is critical because it determines the direction any water exits away from the foundation. If not, standing water will pool around the foundation and infiltrate the basement, causing leaks and, ultimately, flooding.
This problem is a lot worse if you have paved driveways and sidewalks adjacent to the house because they shed water a lot quicker, and the pools close to the foundation will be larger.
Ensure that all paved surfaces are sloped away from the house and that any cracks close to the foundation are patched immediately. Closely search for uneven ground like ridges or bumps that prevent the water from draining properly.
Check Your Gutters
You may be wondering what gutters have to do with basement waterproofing but, it’s a lot. You see, proper drainage depends on your gutters, and if the system is compromised, rainwater is forced to run off the roof. This means that the water will have nowhere to go and will collect close to your foundation.
The ground surrounding a foundation is known as an excavation ring, and the dirt around that is usually very loosely packed. For this reason, the soil is easily saturated. It’s imperative that you minimize the amount of water that comes in contact with that area and have a working drainage system that prevents pulling.
Start by cleaning your gutter system to prevent rainwater from running off the roof, then extend the drainage past the excavation ring.
Check for Shrub Overgrowth
You may have flower beds along your house with shrubs and beautiful plants, but what you may not know is that they could cause basement leakage problems.
If you planted your shrubs too close to the house, the roots will grow close to the foundation. Given that water follows the roots, the water will flow to your foundation, leading to basement leaks.
The best thing you can do in this situation is to remove plants and shrubs that have overgrown too close to your foundation. Make sure that all plants are within a reasonable distance away from the house.
Crack Repair
Now that you’re done with the exterior basement waterproofing, it’s essential to check the interior as well and ensure that no water can infiltrate from anywhere. Interior basement waterproofing starts with crack repair because cracks in the foundation can cause significant water problems. It’s advisable to periodically check the walls in your basement for cracks and repair them as soon as possible.
You need to understand that cracks or serious business, and could create a lot more trouble than letting in some water in the basement. The foundation is the integrity of your whole property, so foundation cracks can compromise the structural integrity of the entire house.
Once you find cracks, you should investigate how deep they are to make sure you perform the right kind of repair. When you decide that the cracks do not pose a threat to the property, you need to patch them up appropriately.
Install a French Drain
If you have serious water issues in your basement, installing a French drain can go a long way. A French drain is a system of pipes that will run beneath your basement floor and along the perimeter. The pipes encourage water to drain to the sump pump, and the pump will, in turn, remove the water from your basement.
How to Waterproof Your Basement
Should you waterproof your basement of call in the professionals? You should gauge your skills as a handy person and gauge the extent of the work ahead to make the decision. A professional understands all the safety requirements, all the equipment required, and will conduct an inspection and offer quality services.
That said, if you feel that hiring a professional basement waterproofing company, kindly get in touch with us today.
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