Basement Waterproofing
What used to be just an eerie, dusty, cold and seemingly uninhabitable environment, the basement has now turned into a destination of leisure and comfort. Thanks to basement waterproofing.
But, hey, you might think it’s just a 1-2-3 or an A-B-C thing. There is more to sealing and patching up chores, which you need to know why your basement needs to be waterproofed.
You have to find out the must-knows to basement waterproofing. “Oh, waterproofing is like making something insusceptible to wetness” … if it only was as easy as that.
Waterproofing basement is not new … at least to modern houses built after 1970. Houses before then were so poorly constructed. ‘Poorly’ since the building standards of that time was of the lowest quality. That is why homes that were built in that era and still stand today are most likely to have water seepage in their basements.
Construction quality is not to be blamed alone as some other factors like geography can contribute to the severity of basement dampness. Houses built on softer and muddy soil, near ponds or rivers, and houses that lay on grounds that used to be swamps are super-sure subjects of water seepage. Water in highly soaked ground can definitely penetrate through tiny holes and cracks in the basement’s foundation.
Worst is if the house has experienced quakes in its history, fracture and leak in basement columns and floorings will allow in moisture. A short review on geography will show everyone that earth is constantly moving and this shakes the house that leave marks of cracks on the walls of the basement. The unnoticeable movement of the earth will create pressure on the walls of the basement. Even contemporary houses and those that were built later than the 70s will need thorough basement waterproofing. Years of wear and tear can absolute tear out a basement.
If left untreated, horrifying results will take place that might trigger the owner to vacate his own habitat. The first symptoms of caring less for this underground part of the house is dampness. The owner will start to see some stains that reveal traces of water coming in through small holes and cracks. The floor loses its polished surface. And the air down below starts getting smelly.
If basement waterproofing is still not applied, this heightens the severity of the wetness as it now invites bacteria and fungi evidenced in the formation of yellowish molds and mildew. And the worst thing that could happen is your basement will become the breeding ground of virus carrying insects like mosquitoes, cockroaches and even other bugs.
As a first aid treatment, locate cracks, holes, and leaks that you can find in the basement, search inch by inch. Then purchase a waterproofing mix that you can apply and patch on these gaps on the basement walls. However you must find a good quality of these waterproofing compounds. Be aware of cheap and substandard products as they will only worsen the situation. It is important to know that these waterproof products will not work well over paint, so you need to rip off the old paint.
Basement waterproofing may also mean checking out on damaged pipes in your drainage. This might be a contributor to water dampness in your basement. Check to see if there are leaks.
In order for the waterproofing to be long lasting and effective you must apply with adequate amount especially if your area has more rainy days.
As a rule of thumb then, always check the entire condition of the house. Because you might be spending too much on waterproofing the floor and walls of your basement and still end up frustrated. The culprit may not always come from the ground as it could be a problem in your kitchens sinks, flooding in bath room floors, and improper liquid waste disposal.