Basement & Foundation Waterproofing

Basement waterproofing is a topic is very dear to my pocketbook. We bought a wonderful old house, built in 1913, the foundation is solid, perfect for our needs. However, after completely redoing the basement with new wallpaper we realized about 6 months later that the paper was wet. We have a slight leak problem on our south concrete wall. The wall is buldging a little and there are half a dozen blue tinted damp spots in the wallpaper. That led to a massive research project on how to deal with this problem.

What would cause a basement leak problem? Unfortunately a multitude of things can cause it.

Cracks in the walls or floor, missing footer tiles, leaky or sweating pipes, leaky windows, and hydrostatic pressure build up from improper lawn grading. Have mold or mildew? You're almost certain to have a leak or at least a condensation problem. Even if you can't see the problem it can be there. I remember an episode on TV from a remodeling show where the homeowner had wood floors and when they pulled up a section there was water standing 3 inches deep underneath the wood slats. Water can sit and get stale anywhere. Don't mess around with mold, have a professional take care of it. Mold can cause a lot of health problems for members of your house.

Maybe the roof leaks. Sheesh I hope not. I know it did before we had it entirely reshingled. One alternative is to use a spray polyurethane waterproofing system. It has a lot of benefits. Even professionals have done it. It has insulation value, improved leak prevention and compressive strength, its lightweight (more important than you'd think), and it last a long time due to its durability.

What about foam? Yes, that's an option, too. You would spray it in the cracks and creases of the roof. The foam will expand many times its extruded size and then dries into a very hard substance. This is also long lasting and usually quite weather resistant.

Be sure to prepare whatever surfaces you are waterproofing before applying any treatments. Not taking the proper prep steps can cause you to waste valuable time and money, potentially have to redo the job. If you hire a professional they will likely take all the necessary steps. For the do it yourselfers out there, be sure the roof is clean and dry (try to do it on great weather days with no liklihood of rain for a while) and also free from contaminants. Most treatments last between 10 and 15 years. Since most homeowners move within 5-7 years that should be plenty of time for your own needs and still have good resale benefits for the next owner.

Signs of a problem:

• Mold and/or Mildew
• Musty Odors
• Damp Spots on Walls
• White Chalky Substance on Walls
  

Sign of possible structural deterioration

• Cracked Walls
• Peeling Paint
• Rust on Appliances or Furniture
• Dry Rot
• Warped Paneling

Why bother fixing it?

• Peace of mind
• improved home value
• Protection of your foundation
• more comfortable basement/warmer/dryer
• clean and healthy environment

The Effects of Damaging Black Mold - Damaging black mold thrives on moisture and prefers darkened corners because of this. In a house this can include many unseen areas that you wouldn't normally think to check. Behind washing machines, under the sink, in the attic, even behind the wallpaper and in the walls is where damaging black mold really likes to hide.... read more.