The Fundamentals of Basement Waterproofing

Many homeowners face different problems like water leakages and the moist basement that can lead to serious and costly repairs. Water trickling and small puddles are the warnings of some expensive house repairs. Water or any type of moist in your basement can be a serious problem if it remains unsolved because it can cause a variety of structural damage. Plumbers also play an essential role in building and maintaining these structures. An expert plumber will surely use quicker and best ways to keep it dry and prevent it from toxic moulds. That’s why you can hire a plumber from reliabledp.com that will give you a cheaper and faster solution. Doing the right thing and maintaining your basement should be your first priority. In this article, I will show you some fundamental rules of basements waterproofing to keep it dry and safe. 

Reasons for basement moisture:

Before going into the solutions to this problem, it would be best to understand what causes the basement to become moist and damp? Unfortunately, during the construction of a house, some spaces remain and later on, these spaces become prone to wetness. Through these spaces, water enters your homes and later on enters your basement. These are some important causes of moisture in the basement, and these causes are given below:

Improper Drainage Systems:

If there is no proper drainage system of rain and underground water in your home, then this water can make its way into your basement. Improper soil bases in the basement and poor drainage systems are the most common reasons for water leakage. If water is not getting out from the house and starts accumulating, ultimately, it will enter in your basements and cause moisture.

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Wrong Slope:

Another important reason that is also common in most houses is that these are improper slopes in the houses. Many slopes accumulate water into the house instead of moving it out of the house. It usually depends on the constructor how the constructor is making this slope with full expertness. If the slope is wrong, water will definitely start accumulating rather than moving away from it.

Improperly installed Gutters:

Gutters are the vital source to direct the rainwater and use water away from it. Water will move around rather than going away from it if the gutters are improperly installed or there is a blockage due to certain reasons.

Cracks in Your Basement:

Sometimes cracks occur in the walls, floors and around doors that provide a vacant space to water that enters in your house. Some spaces also remain empty during the construction. It provides a path to the water to enter and accumulate in your home easily. This will ultimately cause moisture in your basements.

Waterproofing Methods:

As now we have enough knowledge about the reasons for water leakage and moisture in the background, we will be better able to understand the methods to prevent these types of house problems. There are generally three methods to stop it: 

  1. Interior solution: This method will help you keep water out of it from inside. This method is applicable when the problem has been identified. It includes sealants and coatings, as well as some vital tips to prevent condensation.

It is typically the most affordable method of preventing wetness. First, you have to check for any crack, hole or anything of that type in your house walls, floors and windows. Because water usually makes its way into our houses through these cracks. So, the first and foremost step is to seal these cracks and holes. Sealants are used to fill these cracks and spaces. It ensures that any new moisture or water is coming inside through these cracks.

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Some people also use wall coatings that are also very effective in blocking these vacant spaces. The coating material works as a water barrier and keeps the humidity level down and thus prevents the condensation. 

  1. Exterior solution:

This method will help you keep your basement dry by preventing the water from getting into the home from outside. It means that you have to cover the outside of your home to keep the rainwater away. It can be done even if you are not facing this problem. It includes managing gutters and coating the exterior walls with a waterproof barrier. 

Basement waterproofing can also be done by coating the exterior walls because exterior walls can also cause water leakage that will cause dampness. Exterior waterproofing is something more complex than just a simple sealing process we use inside the home. That is why it would be best to consult a professional constructor when considering exterior waterproofing methods. The exterior solution includes the excavation of the soil around the basement that is quite a time-taking and labour-intensive process. It also requires heavy tools and machinery that are very costly to manage. First, you have to remove all the soil around it and after that, add a waterproof sealant to make it harder and waterproof. You can also use this coating on the exterior walls. There are many types of coatings available in the market according to their effectiveness and price. 

  1. Drainage:

As I discussed earlier, drainage systems are the most important reason for basement moisture. Because if there is no proper drainage system, water will definitely accumulate and enter inside it. This method includes managing a poorly functioning drainage system or adding one or more drainage system or gutters if there isn’t one in place.

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Proper drainage system ensures complete removal of water from the home, and having a proper gutter around your home is vital to keep it dry. Drainage systems direct the rainwater and underground water away from your home.  

These are the main reasons and some important methods that will help you understand the causes of moist and humidity. It will also help you understand the proper methods to keep the moisture and water away from the basement and make it waterproof.

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