Basement waterproofing

How to keep your basement dry

Basement Waterproofing

Basement remodeling adds a bunch of extra living space to
your home but you have to be cautious about water leakage &
excessive dampness. Any problems now have to be corrected
before finishing the basement.

There are two conditions you must take care of for a dry
basement, water leakage and condensation. Water leakage is
certainly a concern to a homeowner but many are not aware
of the problems that high humidity can cause.

Humidity Problems

Because a basement is below ground, it will be cooler than
the floors above. When warmer air from upstairs or outside
enters the basement, it shrinks in volume of air as it cools.
This shrinking or condensing of the air results in higher
humidity. Everything that is porous in the basement will
absorb the extra moisture in the air and probably cause a bad
odor. Dehumidifiers will remove the unwanted extra humidity
from your basement. A good dehumidifier is a must if you plan
on remodeling your basement. Even a basement that doesn't
leak will benefit from using a dehumidifier.

Basement waterproofing comes first:

Water Leakage

No question, water leakage into the basement must be fixed
before you start your remodeling. First, start by finding an
obvious source of the problem.

1. Look at broken or non-existent rain gutters & down spouts
that empty next to the foundation. Gutters that are filled with
debris will overflow & spill excess water next to the foundation.

2. Look for ground around the perimeter of the foundation
that slopes toward the foundation. This is the cause of a large
percentage of foundati0n water seepage. The grading must
slope away from the foundation

3. Look for unprotected basement windows & window wells
that are not draining properly. Clean out any leaves or other
debris that might prevent water from seeping in the soil.

4. After you exhausted all obvious preventative measures
outside, Identify areas inside where you are experiencing the
leakage. If it is a corner of the basement take another look
outside at your rain gutter downs pouts. the water must spill &
drain away from the house.

5. If you see cracks in the foundation walls leaking, some of
these can be repaired with hydraulic cement or crack injection.

6. If water is coming in from an isolated area, installing a sump
pump below floor level can lower the water table and
underground hydrostatic pressure in that area.

7.If you are not sure or your problems seem to be
widespread, it might be best to call in a engineer or other
professional to help you identify and solve your problem.
There are plenty of services available to solve your water
leakage problems.

Other solutions: Outside excavating, re-parging your walls,
interior or exterior drainage systems, interior cove systems,
grout or epoxy injection and others. Most of these options will
require a professional.

Consider these popular basement waterproofing
products include DryLok, Thoroseal, B-Dry, Xypex, Everdry,
Drycore, Vandex. All are quality products.

If you are looking for a local waterproofing contractor?