Water In Basement

It’s a sad reality, but at one time or another you are bound to have water in basement issues.  A wet basement is no fun at all, but it’s not the end of the world.  It is common for the water in your basement issue to be caused by something very simple, but as with all things, we can’t fix it unless we know what it causing it.

Let’s take a look at some things that can cause water in basement and see what we can do about them.

Water In Basement – Causes

In order to correct your water in basement problem, you first have to figure out where the water is coming from.

Some possible sources of the water in your basement are:

- Clogged Gutters

Yes, something as simple as clogged gutters can make for a very wet basement.  Take a look around your home and see if your gutters are working properly.

- Ground around house is saturated

Has there been a lot of rain lately?  Is it possible that the ground around your home is saturated?  If the ground around your house is already saturated with water, there is nowhere else for the excess water to go other that IN your basement.  Check into drainage solutions for your home.

- Sewer back up

Yes, this one is kind of disgusting, but it causes water in basement more times than we like to talk about.  When your sewer backs up it will look for the easiest place to go.  This could very well be a sink or some sort of drain in your basement.

- Storm Water

Again, has there been a lot of rain lately?  If so, how are the storm drains in your neighborhood working?  Do you notice them backing up or not doing there job properly?  That water has to go somewhere, too, and odds are good that this will cause water in your basement.

These are some simple things that can cause water in basement.  Take a look and evaluate your particular situation to see what steps you need to take next.

DIY Project: Waterproofing the Basement

Waterproofing the basement may sound scary especially if you’re a newbie but everything will flow smoothly if you have the right information and of course the right materials. Before you do the actual waterproofing job, make sure you check your basement thoroughly for any cracks or leaks. Repairing them at first hand will save you from a lot of troubles in the future.

Once you’re done with that, you are now ready to apply the waterproof mix. The first thing that you have to do is moisten the basement wall with a fine spray before you apply the waterproofing mixture. You can just use a garden hose with nozzle set to a fine spray. While the walls should be damp when you apply the waterproofing mixture, keep in mind that water shouldn’t be standing on the wall’s surface. In other words, it should only be moistened and not watery or floody.

On waterproofing the basement, you can make use of epoxy or latex waterproof mixtures for the treatment of basement walls and floors. Make sure to read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully especially regarding the ratio of water and the compound. A lot of waterproofing mixtures do not adhere well to painted walls. You can remove old paint by sanding, wire brushing or sand blasting and then apply the waterproofing mixture.

If you want to make your own wall coating mixture, you can do this by mixing plain cement with water. The mix should have a slurry consistency just like that of a cream. Make use of a stiff brush in a circular motion to pat the mixture into the wall. Take time in filling every pore in the wall.

When applying the coating, start at the bottom of the wall because this is where the water pressure is likely to be greatest. After that, brush the waterproofing mix to the top and then move back to the bottom while slowly applying additional layers of the mixture. Brush the waterproofing mix only over the areas where there are leakage problems. Once the coating has dried, spray the area with water and soak it thoroughly and let is set overnight. You want to do this to keep it from rubbing off. Spray the area again with water the next day and then go ahead and apply a coat of the waterproofing mixture while the wall is wet. Always use two coats when waterproofing the basement to get optimum results.

How To Waterproof Basement Walls

A lot of homeowners don’t realize how important it is to waterproof basement walls. A waterproofed basement will not only protect your home from flooding and water damage but it will also prevent mold and mildew to infect your area. Waterproofing contractors get bombarded with calls every after a downpour of heavy rains. The cause thereto is because people don’t invest in basement waterproofing. We need to realize that shelling out money now as a measure of prevention will let us save money on costly repairs in the future.

The first thing that needs to be done before you waterproof basement walls is to check for any leaks, cracks or any damage so you can address them. There are several reasons why you have some cracks or leaks and one of them is that the original workmanship is poor. Or it might be simply because your house may have settled causing cracks in either your floors or walls. Lastly, water pressure from outside may have built up and it’s forcing water through the walls. Any cracks which are larger than 1/8 inch should be sealed to avoid future problems. Don’t forget to spray any visible mold or mildew with bleach then you can paint over the area with waterproofing paint. There are a lot of brands that come with mold and mildew killing agent.

If you see any hairline cracks, you can just use a regular waterproofing mix. To waterproof basement walls, you can purchase special epoxy and latex cement for mortaring small repair tasks and for brushing on as a waterproof coating. Mortar for filling in cracks and holes is usually made by having a mixture of one part cement and two parts of fine sand with just the right amount of water. This will make you come up with a stiff mortar. If the water is leaking through the basement wall, force the mixture into the crack by using an ordinary trowel or putty knife. This should be able to correct any seepage problem.

While waterproofing the inside of your basement will help, remember that it will not totally protect your basement from flooding or water damage. A damage to the inside of your basement will signal you that there is something wrong with your external waterproofing system. While it will cost you more money to do exterior basement waterproofing, it will definitely add value to your home not to mention the peace of mind it will give you during rainy days.

The Importance of Exterior Basement Waterproofing

Waterproofing protects our basements from flooding and water damage so if you’re thinking about skipping this step, just think about the costly repairs you would have to encounter in the future. There are basically two parts of the basement that needs to be waterproofed, interior and exterior. With interior waterproofing, you’re only protecting the inside of your basement basically from water vapor or moisture aside from the fact that it is done for aesthetic purposes as well. With exterior basement waterproofing, you keep your home from suffering destructive flood in the case of heavy rains.

Waterproofing companies get so busy after a heavy rain because the ground becomes full with water and then it turns to exert great hydrostatic pressure against the home’s foundation. This will eventually cause cracks, seepage, water damage, mold and mildew. Fixing the inside will not guarantee a flood-free home.

Exterior basement waterproofing is the best way to completely protect your home from flooding and water damage. Your external foundation drainage system is composed of punched footer drain pipes that surround the basement and move excess water away from your home. The excess water is deposited into a storm drain or other location. It’s supposed to be directed toward the footer drains by overlaid limestone gravel which is known to have excellent drainage capacity.

The only thing that seems difficult with exterior basement waterproofing is the need to excavate using heavy equipment which is of course expensive. Excavation should be performed around the foundation of your home. Both the equipment and the labor add up to an expensive bill. Maintaining your footer drains is something that you have to pay attention to. This will give you peace of mind that your property is protected.

In addition to that, if you are planning to sell your house in the future, this will definitely up the selling price. Another important reason why you want exterior basement waterproofing is because you want to protect your family. Mold and mildew are very typical to grow in areas with little air and little light and yes the basement is the first room in the house we can think of. Mold and mildew can spread through the air we breathe and it can pose serious health problems. Spending your hard-earned money for preventing certain kinds of things from happening is better than spending it to repair costly damages to your home.

How to Choose a Basement Waterproofing Contractor

Basement waterproofing is a vital step that homeowners should put to priority. If you don’t have much experience or you’re not confident enough to do the job on your own then this will tell you to hire a basement waterproofing contractor. This can be very tricky or confusing because there are a lot of contractors out there and learning to differentiate who stands out the most requires a great deal of time. It’s perfectly understandable that you want to get your money’s worth and you want to hire the best contractor. However, always remember that high-priced service is not always tantamount to quality service.

Start looking for potential service providers online or in your yellow pages. List down their numbers and start dialing. When talking to a contractor, make sure you get a free estimate and if possible, make a list of all the questions you have in mind. Basement waterproofing contractors don’t mind answering all of your questions because they understand that you want to invest good money in your property and you deserve the best service that you can possibly get.

Most people will opt for large and well-known companies when it comes to a project like this. We are sometimes skeptical to consider a family-owned basement waterproofing company that will allow us to save a lot of money without sacrificing quality. .

Keep an open mind and ponder about your options when it comes to choosing the best basement waterproofing contractor. Get as much as 5 estimates and analyze why one company will charge sky-high bills compared to the others. Maybe it’s because they have a huge advertising expense so they pass it on the consumer. Be smart in weighing things and I suggest you do a lot of reading.

The internet is a rich source of information and it will really help you estimate your expenses and get yourself familiar with the materials and how much they cost. If you notice that one contractor is trying to overprice materials, you have to drop it immediately. You want to hire a basement waterproofing contractor who is honest, fair and reliable.

Large basement waterproofing companies are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and they usually have a lot of workers which means they can get the job done in no time. However, if you can’t afford to hire an expensive contractor, you might want to consider hiring a smaller waterproofing contractor. Yes the job might take a while to finish but what these companies lack in equipment and speed, they compensate in quality and pricing. These companies are usually dependent on years of experience and expertise. Whoever you choose, make sure that you’ll get the most value for your money.

Basement Waterproofing Company Or DIY? Should You Do It Yourself?

Why it’s better to look for Basement Waterproofing Companies than pull off a DIY

When we talk about basement waterproofing companies, we immediately think about the cost it will entail to hire a contractor to safeguard your basement against flooding and water damage. Learning how to fix your home without any help from a professional is a smart way to save a lot of money and I must say that there numerous home improvement projects that are better off being done by the homeowner. Unfortunately, exterior basement waterproofing isn’t one of them. First of all, it’s not practical for homeowners to buy expensive tools and equipment that they will only use once. These heavy equipment will be mainly used for excavation.

Basement waterproofing companies are directed and managed by professionals who have done these kinds of projects for years. And if you’re worried about safety, it’s good to know that the equipment they use require for certification and experience. Interior basement waterproofing is not too difficult even if you do not have enough experience of some sort because it normally just involves crack sealing, replacement or repair of floor drain and the application of waterproofing paint.

Almost everyone can pull off a DIY when it comes to a task like this. Remember that waterproofing the interior of your basement will not save you from flooding, water damage and warping. Having your exterior basement waterproofed is still your best defense. You need a professional to do this for you because the footer drain tiles that encircle your home’s foundation cannot be accessed without the use of heavy excavating equipment. In addition to that, you also have to use a high-pressure water jet system to remove clogs from exterior drain pipes.

Hiring a professional is still your best option if you do not want to deal with costly repairs in the future. Those heavy excavating equipment used by basement waterproofing companies can be dangerous unless you are well-trained and you carry a certificate with you. Smaller excavating tools can also sometimes be a cause for expensive damages especially if we’re talking about your siding or roof overhangs. Also, because basement waterproofing trenches have to be close to the home’s foundation, it’s always best to leave the task of operating the equipment to an expert. Keep in mind that while doing a DIY project almost always lets you save a lot of money, there are some things that you want to leave to a professional.

Treating Wet Basement Walls – Six Steps to a Dry Basement

Six Steps to a Dry Basement

A dry basement might be its own reward. If your basement is free of leaks, condensation and cracks, it’ll be more amenable to a major basement remodeling effort (and you know you’ve always wanted a foosball table down there). It’s a safer place to store old records and clothes (your kids need something to make fun of during your old age, right?). And a dry basement is inhospitable to toxic black mold, which can eat away at porous surfaces like wood and concrete, and cause serious health problems for you and your family.

While most of us might think of the underground sections of our homes as dark, dank places suitable for the third-act climax of a bad horror movie, avoiding a wet basement is probably easier than you think. Here are a few relatively simple steps to keeping your basement dry.

Make sure your rain gutters are completely free of debris. Rain gutters that can’t carry rain away from the house tend to spill rain right out near the foundation, creating puddles that can eat away at the porous concrete over time. And if gutters empty themselves from a great distance in one spot, the falling water can create a depression in the ground that speeds wear and tear on the foundation. A good basement waterproofing contractor can install a French drain – a type of drainage system that draws water away from the house. A good French drain can’t guarantee a dry basement, but it’ll help eliminate one of the primary causes of leaks.

Keep the ground around your foundation sloped away from it. Obviously, this isn’t the simplest thing to do; if you live on a hill, you’re going to have to deal with water rolling downhill toward your home. But it’s easy to find depressions near the foundation and fill them, so they don’t fill with water when it rains.

Keep an eye on window and door seals. If these are caulked, go around at least once every six months with a caulk gun to reinforce them. Ideally, however, they should have a more secure sealant.

Keep a dehumidifier handy. If you hang clothes to dry in the basement, humidity might be a problem – and humidity in such an enclosed space can cause condensation. Keeping a dehumidifier isn’t a magic bullet, but it can help if your basement moisture is coming from condensation and not seepage. But how can you tell the difference? It’s fairly easy: If you have wet basement walls, find a spot that’s particularly wet. Tape a section of aluminum foil to the wall, with tape around all the edges so it’s airtight. Check in on it after a day or two: If the side on the inside is dry, you’ve got seepage. If the outside is dry, condensation is the more likely culprit.

If your house has an outdoor spigot, make sure it doesn’t leak. A dripping spigot can create a concrete-eroding puddle with hardly any effort at all. If necessary, call a plumber to fix the leak – it’ll be less expensive than repairing your foundation if the problem goes on too long.

Fix leaks the minute you discover them. You’ll never have a dry basement if there’s a constant leak. Basement moisture can come from a variety of sources; a leak has the benefit of being relatively easy to spot. A good basement waterproofing company can examine your basement to determine the type of leak you have, and recommend the best way to fix it. Look for a basement waterproofing contractor who gives a free estimate, and don’t fall for any hard-sell tactics; a quality contractor will be completely honest, and give you time to make the best decision.

Kevin Ott writes on a variety of home improvement topics, including (but not limited to) mold removal and remediation. One of his clients is Right Way Waterproofing, one of the finest basement waterproofing contractors around.

Visit Right Way here:

http://www.rightwaywaterproofing.com

Wet Basement Walls? Here’s The Lowdown on Waterproofing

The Lowdown on Waterproofing Basement Walls

Waterproofing basement walls should be a standard thing to do when finishing a basement. Most basements have high moisture levels, and much of the moisture enters via the basement walls. Cracks, leaking windows and pipe condensation are probably the most common reasons basements have water build-up problems. Too much or prolonged water retention in the basement can cause a variety of problems.

Basement Wall Options

There are numerous ways of waterproofing basement walls and these include:

- French Drains
- Hollow Baseboard Molding
- Sump Pumps
- Waterproofing
- Damp Proofing

French Drains - Interior drainage systems installed below the wet basement floor to collect underground water and wet wall seepage. A trench is dug round the inside perimeter of the wet basement floor. A perforated plastic drain tile pipe is installed and surrounded by gravel. Some wet basement waterproofing and repair contractors re-cement the floor over the French drain system leaving a 1″ to 2″ gap in the floor along the walls to allow the web wall seepage to drain below the floor into the French drain system. A French drain usually connects to a sump pump.

Hollow Baseboard Molding and Cove Systems – A hollow baseboard channel is adhered to the joint where the floor meets the wall using a waterproof epoxy. The hollow molding collects wet wall seepage and water rising at the cove area. Usually connected to a sump pump.

Sump Pumps – Installed in a plastic or fiberglass tank below the wet basement floor. Sump pumps can collect underground water through perforations in the sump well in the immediate vicinity of the sump pump. Sump pumps can also act as a good floor drain or be used to drain a variety of underground drainage pipes.

Wall Sealers - Varieties include spray applied basement wall sealers, brush or roller applied basement waterproofing sealers, or panel type basement waterproofing sealers for wet basement walls.

The truth is even with a good drainage system, it can’t assure a dry basement wall. Lets look at damp proofing and waterproofing as these are the cheapest and easiest methods of stopping moisture getting into your basement through the walls.

What is Damp Proofing?

Damp proofing products are typically a tar based material in a solvent base. They are cheap to apply but their effectiveness is limited because they are only to designed to ‘retard’ moisture penetration, not prevent it. The main problem is that it becomes brittle once it cures and as the foundation settles and hairline cracks appear, the tar based coating will not stretch to bridge the cracks and this allows moisture to penetrate into the basement.

What is Waterproofing?

Waterproofing products are designed to ‘prevent’ water penetration even under wet conditions such as hydrostatic pressure in the soil after heavy rain or spring thaws. Advanced Waterproofing Technologies products contain rubber which provides superior waterproofing protection and allows the product to remain flexible even when it dries. This flexibility allows the waterproofing membrane to stretch as the foundation settles and bridge small hairline settlement cracks that can occur in the concrete or block.

How to Apply

Clearly waterproofing is a better option and since there is not a huge price difference between that and damp proofing, it seems a more sensible long term choice, especially when it often has a 25 to 30-year guarantee.

Builders, many times in the past, paid little attention to waterproofing basement walls. So now is your chance to rectify that with simple-to-use products. Most of the products are safe and easy to apply by the ‘do-it-yourselfer’. They come ready to use in for example, 5 gallon pails or 55 gallon drums and do not require heating or special application equipment – anyone who can use a brush or roller can apply them. You can even use a commercial airless sprayer which can be rented by the day. An average size basement of approximately 1,000 square feet can easily be waterproofed by a couple of people using a roller in 2-3 hours. So get to it and start enjoying all that space without the damp.

Make it easier to start waterproofing basement walls, quickly & easily. Learn the essential steps and get a problem-free environment with minimal outlay. Start learning by visiting: waterproofing basement walls website.

Basement Remodeling Tips For a Damp Basement

Tips on How to Finish a Basement That is Damp

There is nothing worse than a damp basement especially when you want to know how to finish a basement. There can be many causes for a wet basement but the one we will discuss here will be water leaks caused by broken water lines or by rain or water sprinkler systems.

Broken water lines can be cause by old pipes that rust through or temperature changes that cause pines to freeze and break. The other cause can be rain that is not properly drained away from your house or sprinkler systems that also cause water to sit around the foundation. This is many times cause by improper sloping of soil away from your house or a poor job of back fill around your foundation.

The poor sloping condition can be solved by adding additional soil around the foundation and in the case of rain, adequate down spouts and gutters will direct the rain away from the house. There are many web sites that can help you in determining the right slope you need. How to finish a basement can be an easy undertaking with the right training and you can educate yourself by checking on web sites that address this issue.

Waterproofing the inside of your basement wall can be done after you solve the problem of the outside water coming inside. A good way to protect your basement and how to finish a basement that becomes damp from outside water coming in is one very important thing you need to work on with the help of the internet.

Want more ideas on how to finish a basement? Discover practical basement remodeling ideas online and turn cheap basement ideas into dream basements at a budget.

Basement Remodeling Ideas Start With Waterproofing

Basement remodeling can add lots of extra living space to your home but beware; basement water leakage could put a real damper on your hopes if not properly corrected.

There are two conditions you must address for a dry basement, actual water leakage and condensation. Water leakage is a pretty obvious concern to homeowners but many are unaware of the problems that high humidity can cause to a finished basement.

Humidity Problems

Because a basement is below ground, it will be naturally cooler than the floors above ground. When warmer air from upstairs or outside enters the basement, it shrinks in volume as it cools. This shrinking or “condensing” of the air volume results in higher humidity. Everything porous in your basement will absorb the extra moisture in the air and cause a foul odor. Dehumidifiers are appliances which mechanically 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.

Water Leakage

Without doubt, water leakage into the basement must be permanently corrected before you start your remodeling project. Start by correcting obvious sources of the problem; broken or non-existent rain gutters, down spouts emptying next to the foundation, ground outside sloping toward the home, uncovered underground windows, etc.

After you exhaust all preventative measures outside, try to identify areas inside where you are experiencing the leakage. If a corner of the basement seems to be a particular problem, again, look outside at your rain gutter downspouts. If you see cracks in the walls leaking, some of these can be repaired with hydraulic cement or crack injection. If water seems to be 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. If you are unsure or your problems seem to be widespread, it might be best to call in a building inspector, engineer or other professional to help you identify and solve your problem. There are a variety of services available to solve your leakage problems. These include; 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.

Basement Remodeling Begins

I like studding the walls out with 2X4s. If you can spare the extra space, 2X6s are even better because they allow room for more insulation. Never, under any circumstances, nail furring strips onto the walls. Penetrating the foundation will compromise its barrier against water.

Use construction adhesive rather than nails or screws to adhere your bottom wall plate to the floor. It’s ok to nail the upper wall plates into the upper floor joists.

Don’t glue down your basement carpet. Carpet is something that is going to wear out and eventually need to be replaced. Glued down carpeting creates a real problem later on when trying to remove it. Tell your carpet installer to use construction adhesive to install the carpet tack strips around the perimeter. Do not allow them to drive nails into the cement floor.

Summary

With some common sense construction techniques, a reliable waterproofing system and humidity control, you can enjoy a lot of extra living space by remodeling your basement.

Robert Clarke has owned B-Dry System NEPA, a basement waterproofing company, for the last 20 years. Visit http://b-drybasementswaterproofingnepennsylvania.com/basement-remodeling.html for more information. He has also served as President of the B-Dry Owners Association, a nationally recognized group of basement waterproofing contractors. Visit http://www.b-dry.com/ for details.