A dry basement could quite possibly be a homeowner’s most prized possession. In the same way, a wet basement can wreak havoc on a homeowner’s home.
Humidity, flooding, and dampness are all signs that your basement isn’t exactly an asset as much as it is a risk to your home’s value and your health.
These wet conditions can be perfect to grow mold and mildew. Black mold can be very dangerous and cause severe health issues in children and adults, especially those who already have asthma, respiratory or breathing difficulties. This mold has also been known to cause red, irritable topical allergic reactions.
Black mold silently and slowly attacks your home, eating away at its surface and attacking both wooden and concrete fixtures. In the end, you’ll have decaying wood and structural weakening, putting you and your home in jeopardy.
Here are a few things to consider when transforming a wet basement into a dry basement:
How Rain Gutters Influence Your Basement
Your home’s rain gutters play a very important role in achieving a dry basement. Although rain gutters don’t always work properly, sometimes leading water to spill over, they’re used to prevent rain from falling directly onto your home’s concrete foundation.
Rain should be kept away from gathering on or around your foundation because over time it can seep through the concrete foundation of your home and create serious, ongoing issues.
Make sure you not only have a rain gutter system, but that you have a proper drain pipe set up and that the system is cleaned regularly.
How a Slanted Landscape Works For Your Benefit
Creating a slope in the ground around the foundation of your home is another way to stack the cards in your favor. A sloped angle is a small and simple task, and naturally directs water away from your foundation—thus protecting your home from water damage.
Weatherproof Windows and Doors
Want a dry basement? Weatherproof the windows and doors. Through simply purchasing a tube of caulking you can have this project ready to go. This procedure should be done twice a year to reinforce both the windows and doors. However, make sure you choose the most secure sealants on the market to protect your home.
Maintain Outdoor Spigots
If your home has an outdoor spigot, check it regularly for drips and leaks. With little effort, a drippy, leaky spigot can create a concrete-eroding puddle. You’ll never achieve the benefits of a dry basement if you can’t control small leaks or drips.
In the event you discover a leak, contact a professional plumber; it’s less expensive to have a leak repaired than it is to repair your foundation. Moisture in a basement can come from a large variety of sources, but a leaky spigot is relatively easy to spot and fix.
The French Drain
Consider installing a French drain around your home; this, too, will allow water to flow freely, away from your foundation. A French drain is a small ditch around the foundation of your home, covered with gravel that redirects ground water.
These procedures must be done properly, so do-it-yourselfers it might be time to contact a basement waterproofing expert that can examine your basement, determine your specific needs and discuss your options. This professional will also recommend the best and most cost efficient way for you to achieve your dry basement.
Contact Regional Waterproofing, Inc. today for a free estimate for basement waterproofing in Raleigh, NC and all local areas.
