Save the Basement

The pride that comes along with buying or owning your own home can be quite immense. Caring for your home for long term use and maintaining a good resale value now begins. Shall we start with the basement?

The structural integrity of your home can be affected by a ‘wet basement’. The most common causes are condensation, run- off and groundwater swelling. These can be easily tested with the following methods :

– Condensation, occurs when moist heated air hits a cool surface. Tape plastic wrap onto the suspicious damp spot, seal the edges , wait a few days. Moisture found inside the wrapping indicates a leak and moisture on the outside of the wrapping indicates condensation.

– Run- off, refers to water from the roof and/or yard surfaces that accumulates around the perimeter of the house and eventually seeps through the foundation walls or cracks in your basement from snow and rainwater. Prevention is with the use of ensuring the ground slopes away from the house, check for leaky down spouts, ensure down spouts are not pooling near the house. Tell tale signs are usually growths of mold and algae.

– Groundwater swelling, refers to the soil surrounding your home is unable to hold extra water causing run-off. Many homes are not built with protection from high groundwater and can be quite costly to combat. Again, signs will be mold and algae and a musty odor.

Popular methods to combat the ‘wet basement’ are as follows:

– Concrete sealer, coating for basement walls and floors quickly and can be applied to wet surfaces. Cost effective and can be decorated. (Keep in mind that water may still collect within or behind the wall and still affect the structural integrity). Recommended to be applied after testing for a year through normal weather conditions and exterior fixes are done.

– Polyethylene membrane, it holds back water but may require channels and a sump pump to remove water build-up behind the membrane. Requires professional advice and money.

– Exterior, add drains or swales on sloping areas to divert water flow away from the house.

– Gutters, make sure all drains and gutters are clear of debris. Use splash blocks or leaders with down spouts.

The prevention of mold growth requires that the air is dry and flowing. Use of a dehumidifier will help in the care and upkeep of your basement and it doesn’t necessarily require you to have it running 24/7/365 but a routine schedule will help keep your basement dry and the foundations stable. Read related ---> here.

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