Nearly 98% of U.S. homeowners will deal with water damage to their basements at some point during their life. That is why waterproofing your basement is an essential preventive measure that everyone should take.
If you just bought a home or want to protect your newly remodeled basement then there are some things you should know about basement waterproofing.
Read on to find out how it works and what steps to take.
Why Waterproofing Your Basement is Important
Waterproofing a basement prevents even small amounts of water from getting into your home. It can also keep moisture out of your basement.
Both instances of water and moisture will damage your home in various ways, from mold growth to cracks in the foundation. Your basement also has valuable appliances like a water heater, furnace, washer, and dryer. You don’t want these things to get wet and break or cause electrical issues.
Causes of a Water Damage
If you don’t waterproof a basement then there are several ways that water can cause damage to your home, including:
- Bad Landscaping Design: Flat or sloped earth that leads rainwater into your home.
- Malfunctioning Window Wells and Covers: Wells around your basement windows that fill up with water if not properly designed or that don’t have well covers.
- Clogged or Broken Drain Tile: The pipes surrounding your home underground that will prevent proper draining if clogged or broken.
- Clogged or Broken French Drain: An underground drain covered with gravel or rocks that can get clogged or broken, causing water build-up.
- Foundation Cracks: This will allow water to leak into the basement.
- Obstructed or Missing Drainage Gutters and Spouts: Gutters collect rainwater from your roof while spouts direct water away from your home. Both can get clogged or not function properly if parts are missing.
- Sump Pump Issues: Some homes have a sump pump to collect water buildup and drain it out of the basement. It could get backed up and not suck the water or water can drain inside through the pump.
Other conditions that lead to excess water include a heavy rain storm or a pipe bursting the basement.
What is Basement Waterproofing?
To waterproof your basement you need to focus on three separate areas: the house’s surrounding area, the exterior structure of the house, and the interior structure of the house. All three areas require specific waterproofing tasks.
The surrounding area of your house includes the lawn, which can contribute to water flowing toward your house. Proper landscaping by creating a slope away from your home will help prevent flooding.
Your home’s exterior includes the outside structure, including the foundation, windows, gutters, and drain pipes. This area is about moving water that has built up on your house away from it.
Inside your home is the interior structure. This includes your basement floor, drywall, and sump pump.
How to Waterproof Your Home
You will want to search for basement waterproofing near me to find a professional like Armored Basement Waterproofing to perform most of these tasks. It requires expert knowledge in plumbing, construction, and electrical grids to properly and safety waterproof your home.
However, you should know what is required to waterproof your home so that you can detect if something is broken. This will help you call a professional before major damage to your house occurs.
Surrounding Areas of Your Home
Changing your landscaping will increase your basement waterproofing cost because you need to move large amounts of land. You should only hire someone to restructure your lawn if it is causing your home to flood. An expert can assess your yard to see if it has reason to lead water into your home during a rain storm.
Adding plants, shrubs, and trees near your home may also help with water absorption.
Another method for keeping water away from your home is by using barriers. These are placed in front of basement windows or openings. They are called earth berms and masonry barriers, which can be installed by a professional waterproof company.
Home Exterior
Your exterior can be safeguarded against water in several ways, one of which is by installing a proper drainage system.
First, you need basins to catch the water. Then lie drain-spouts and pipes to drain the water as far as possible up until the end of your property. Keep them free of debris to avoid clogging and overflowing.
Specific drain types can be used like a French drain to keep the pipes under the ground. This will keep them hidden from view so you don’t have drainage pipes all over your lawn.
Seal the foundation wall with a waterproof or damp-proof coating to close small cracks. Damp-proofing is a faster technique that uses asphalt-based sealant on the outside wall of the foundation. Water-proofing is more complex as it uses a thick impenetrable material like liquid rubber that is applied several times so it bonds to the foundation.
Home Interior
Tactics to use inside your home include basement waterproofing paint, indoor foundation seal, and the addition of a sump pump and dehumidifier.
Waterproof paint help prevent damage to walls and stop the growth of mold if something does leak. A foundation coating takes this a step further by stopping the water from coming inside.
Basements that are prone to flooding because of environmental conditions should have a sump pump. If water does enter the basement, it can be pumped out before it rises, causing serious damage.
A dehumidifier is a moisture control appliance. It reduces the risk of mold and mildew growth, plus it helps dry the basement if a leak does happen. Humidity levels should be left at 25% in the winter and 50% in the summer to keep your house in good condition.
Getting Help With Basement Waterproofing
Basement waterproofing takes a lot more work than the common homeowner hopes to tackle. Luckily, there are experts who can evaluate the specific needs of your home. They can even let you know if your house is in danger of flooding.
Contact us today for a free inspection of your home.
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