When it comes to protecting your home, your most important investment, many people focus on exterior elements like the windows and roof. But what about the basement? A leaky basement can do devastating damage to your home unless you take the proper waterproofing precautions. No one understands this better than the team at Landworks Excavating, and they’ve put together this list of 5 tips for waterproofing your basement.
Why waterproof your basement?
It’s important to waterproof your basement to avoid any damages to your home. Consistent basement moisture can damage the foundation or drywall, costing you thousands of dollars in repairs. A lot of water can present health issues like the growth of black mould and mildew.
Waterproofing your basement protects your investment, increases your home’s resale value, and increases your house’s livable space by making your basement an enjoyable place to spend time with your family.
Exterior Methods of Basement Waterproofing
The exterior of your home is where you place the first line of defence against rain, melting snow, and other elements that may threaten to invade your basement.
Focus on Window Well Covers
These plastic bubbles go over the top of your basement windows to keep out driving rain and melting snow.
This moisture may rest against the windows and leak into the basement causing mould growth and drywall damage.
Waterproof to Seal Foundation Wall
Digging up around your home’s foundation allows crews to install a special membrane that creates a strong shield between the base of your home and the soil.
So no matter how moist your basement gets, your home’s foundation will stay nice and dry.
Work on Gutters and Downspouts
Your downspouts and gutters have a lot to do with keeping your foundation dry. They collect all the water that falls onto the roof and push it away from the home’s foundation.
If you have a leaky downspout then you’re just asking the water to collect up against your home.
Interior Methods of Basement Waterproofing
Just like the exterior, it’s important to take extra safety measures to protect the interior of your basement, in case your exterior measures fail or humidity is abundant in the room that can evade the other waterproofing measures that you’ve already taken.
Sump Pump
A sump pump is connected to drains in your basement’s floor and weeping tile that circles the perimeter of your home’s foundation.
Any overflow of water is directed into the pump’s well and ejected outside and away from the home.
Use Dehumidifiers
If you have too much moisture in your basement, the best way to remove the excess water in the air is to set up a dehumidifier in your basement.
They trap moisture in the air and collect it in a bucket that can be emptied daily. Alternatively, you can run a hose from the dehumidifier to a drain for constant action.
Contact Us
Do you need professional waterproofing solutions from a reliable company? From basement sealing to basement waterproofing, trust the Landworks Excavating team to deliver high-quality service when you need it. Contact us today to book your free consultation!
