In the United States, about one in every fifty homes will make an insurance claim because of water damage. This includes water getting into people’s basements after heavy rains. It’s a common issue that any homeowner with a basement needs to think about before it becomes a problem.
But what is the best basement waterproofing solution? How much does basement waterproofing cost? Where can you get basement waterproofing services?
Basement waterproofing can be done from either the interior or exterior of your home. It just depends on how you want to resolve the problem.
Read on to learn the best waterproofing solutions for your basement.
Interior
The first way that you can make your basement waterproof is from the interior. There are two main systems that this involves.
Vapor Barrier or Waterproof Liner
A vapor barrier or waterproof liner is made of waterproof material such as vinyl. Any water that gets behind the barrier, then it’s redirected downwards into subfloor channels and back out.
If you plan to finish your basement later, then these barriers are highly recommended. Without them, any water that gets into the basement goes through your insulation and drywall. This eventually leads to mold and wood rot, which are expensive issues to fix.
With a vapor barrier, the water never touches the insulation, framing, or drywall. Instead, it goes straight downwards towards those subfloor channels and out of your house. Lumber and insulation never get waterlogged, so there’s no more risk of molding or wood rot in your basement.
Even if you don’t plan to finish your basement later, vinyl vapor barriers are a great way to ensure that your basement floor and foundation are protected from water damage. You’ll never even notice water in our basement because of the subfloor channels and vapor barrier working together to guide the water out of your house.
This method is extremely effective and is one of the easiest to install, so it’s highly recommended by most basement waterproofing professionals. Here at Armored Basement, we also offer a lifetime warranty on all of our vapor barriers.
French Drain and Sump Pump
The vapor barriers work best in tandem with subfloor channels that direct the water out and away from your basement. This consists of a French drain and a sump pump.
A French drain is a perforated pipe buried inside a gravel channel. When water runs over it, it flows through the gravel and into the pipe. Here it is carried away where the water won’t cause problems for your home’s foundation.
In short, the pipe allows for an easier flow of water away from your home and yard. Sometimes these empty into a drainage ditch outside or onto the street. The pipe needs to be angled so that the water flows downwards and away.
We install French drains into the subfloor around the walls of your basement. Then the vapor barriers on the walls guide the water into the French drain, moving the water out of your basement and keeping your home dry.
The French drains connect to a sump basin around the lowest point of your house. Depending on the size of your basement, you may need more than one of these.
At this point, a sump pump in the basin pushes the water out of your home entirely to a place where it won’t be an issue anymore. In some cases, this connects to a city storm drain or a dry well on your property.
The vapor barrier, French drain, and sump pump together cost about a fifth of what an exterior service might cost and come with a lifetime warranty.
Exterior
The idea behind exterior basement waterproofing is to prevent water from getting inside in the first place rather than direct the water out once it’s there. We do this in three steps.
1. Digging Up the Foundation
The goal is to give your home’s foundation a watertight seal. To achieve that goal, we need to have access to the foundation first.
Therefore, the first step to waterproofing a basement is to dig up the foundation. This requires digging a deep trench around the entire foundation of your home. After that, we can put a waterproof seal around the foundation.
2. Tar and Seal
Next, the foundation needs a waterproof seal. This requires going around the entire foundation of the home and tarring and sealing the whole thing. We treat every inch of the foundation so that there are no gaps in the waterproof barrier.
This ensures that no water gets through and into your basement. Water will never get through the tar and seal that we put around your home, so you never need to worry about water damage, mold, or wood rot inside of your basement.
3. Backfill
The seal is strong, but if a massive puddle of water forms against your foundation, that’s still not great for it or the seal. Water likes to pool in trenches like the one that was made before sealing your foundation, so this needs to be fixed before the work is complete.
This is a process called backfilling. The same dirt that was removed from the house is now replaced and the foundation reburied, protecting your home from pooling water in the future.
The exterior service to basement waterproof cost is between $20,000 to $40,000. It comes with a warranty of 10 years. These services are recommended if you need extra help keeping your basement dry after storms.
Get the Best Basement Waterproofing Service for Your Home
No matter which type of service you choose, you deserve the best basement waterproofing service possible for your home. You want to protect your home and furniture from water damage, so it’s important to make sure your basement is water-tight.
And the best place to get reliable basement waterproofing services is right here at Armored Basement Waterproofing. We’re the best in the business for keeping your basement clean and dry.
Contact us today and see how our services can help you.
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