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When Is Basement Waterproofing Required?


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Basement Waterproofing 

basement

basement

Basement waterproofing is one thing that many homeowners should keep in mind because a leaky basement is something that causes a string of problems. A basement with a water problem can develop mold and mildew, which is harmful to people. If your family wants to have access to the basement, you have to make sure that there is no water seepage in the concrete walls. If there is then you need to have your basement waterproofed first before you can make comfortable use of that part of the house.

If you want to contact a professional team, services like Oriole Basement Waterproofing can help you with basement waterproofing. Unsure whether your basement needs waterproofing? Read on below to see whether your basement needs waterproofing or not:


It Rains Outside And You Notice Pools Of Water In The Surrounding Soil

After a rainy spell, go outside and examine the soil surrounding your home’s foundation. If it is accumulating water, your basement could be at risk for water seepage. Go inside your basement, then place your hands against the walls. Does it feel very cold?  Does it feel damp? If yes, these could already be warning signs that your basement might be penetrated by water sometime soon. So, it would be best to get a professional to examine your house, especially to inspect the outside and inside areas of your basement.


 


You Notice A Pool Of Water On The Basement Floor

Walking into your basement, do you notice a pool of water on the floor?  If there is, that is another red flag because it only means that water seepage has already occurred. You need to call a professional immediately to come in and determine the source of the seepage. There may be cracks in the concrete walls that are allowing water to enter your basement. The source could also be water accumulating underneath the foundation itself. One reason for these is that the water level within the soil immediately surrounding your basement might have gone above the level of your basement floor. This leads to water seepage into your basement. This is a very serious problem since you will first have to remove the water that has already seeped into your basement, which is definitely a hassle, before you attempt to do any basement waterproofing. Consult a professional about this right away before the entire basement is swamped with water, especially if there are impending storms on the way in your part of the country.


 

Metal Parts Of The Basement Start To Rust

Even though rusty metal parts in your basement don’t automatically mean there is water seepage, such an issue could still be a strong indicator. You may examine metal surfaces simply by touching them and determining whether or not they feel damp. If they do feel damp, then you should have your basement checked for a water seepage problem right away. You can mark the rusty areas with some tape so you don’t forget where they are, before calling in a professional to examine the rust in your basement.

Messy basement in old house interior

Messy basement in old house interior

Wooden Parts Of Your Basement Start To Rot

There could be water seepage in your basement if the wooden parts are starting to show signs of water damage. You might notice some discoloration on them, and these may also be damp to the touch. If you fail to address these issues early on, these wooden parts could rot completely. If the affected wood is just the door to the basement, that can be easily replaced. The risky part is when it is the beams and posts that support the rest of the house that are affected because if these rot the whole house could eventually collapse. If you feel that the problem is really water seepage, get professional help so you can save your house. 

 

The Basement Starts To Smell Weird

Due to water condensation on the walls or on the floor, the basement might develop unpleasant odors. The foul smell could be due to appliances occupying the basement, such as your washing machine and dryer, which add to the humidity within the room. When there is too much humidity, water droplets fail to evaporate, especially if the basement has no windows, is sealed off, and there is only one door. The bad odor could also be due to fungi starting to grow on surfaces since the excess moisture encourages fungal growth.

 

People Start Developing Skin Problems

Basement waterproofing also becomes a necessity when there seem to be some fungi populations established and colonizing your basement walls. This could be quite dangerous as fungi on walls send out spores, which may land on your skin and cause fungal problems. Make sure no children or pets gain access to the basement while this fungal growth remains unchecked because they might get a skin fungal infection that can be difficult to eliminate. If you don’t want anyone in your household developing fungal infections, have your basement waterproofed.

 

You Notice Color Changes On The Concrete Surfaces

You should closely check your basement if there seem to be some color changes on your basement’s concrete surfaces. For instance, if there are surfaces that appear to have white powder on them, that is probably the lime of the cement that is having a chemical reaction to the additional moisture. There might also be some red stains on the concrete surfaces. You should probably invite a professional to examine these discolorations to determine if they are caused by water seepage or if there are other reasons for the phenomenon.

 

Conclusion

Ideally, your house’s basement should have been waterproofed during the construction of the house itself so that water seepage problems don’t develop. However, sometimes, basements of older houses were not treated for waterproofing during the construction phase, so seepage problems may occur. In such cases, you need an expert to help you combat water seepage and humidity. They can provide you with a list of possible solutions, including basement waterproofing. Be sure to inquire about the cost of having this done and the length of time necessary to fix the problem as well.

 

 

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