Rain and strong winds have made spring show its presence in Northeast Ohio at last, and with the rain come the problems of a leaky basement and damp walls in your home. Having leaks in your basement for long periods of time can be detrimental to the foundation of your home. Molds and mildew can damage the health of your family, and the quality of air you’re breathing. There are many solutions to fix your leaky basement and hiring a reputable company to do an important job in your home is of the utmost importance. Contact us to discuss your basement issues and to offer a solution that makes sense to you and your wallet.
4 Signs You Might Need Basement Waterproofing
With the arrival of the spring thaw and the anticipated rainy season, basement waterproofing becomes a primary concern for Toronto homeowners once again. Even if you’ve never experienced the unpleasantness of flooding, many homes have perpetually wet basements as a result of:
- poor workmanship
- aging infrastructure
- the use of inferior materials
So how do you know whether your basement needs professional attention? Here are X signs to watch out for:
Bowed Walls
“Bowed” foundation walls can usually only be seen from inside the basement, unless your home is on a split-level and has a walk-out from the basement. Often, the first time you’ll notice them is if you actually look for the problem, or if you strip them down before painting or renovating.
Bowing is most often caused by the inward pressure of soil around the home, which increase in weight due to the presence of water from heavy rains, poor drainage or inadequate grading. As the water content builds up in the soil it increases the pressure, to the point that your basement walls can possibly collapse if you don’t rectify the problem by repairing the walls and performing quality basement waterproofing.
Cracking and Chipping
Cracked walls may accompany bowing, or they may simply be a sign that the soil around your foundations is unsettled and shifting. The movement results in the appearance of cracks and if you have a finished basement, you may find chips of paint and plaster falling off as the damage spreads.
The Importance of Basement Waterproofing
Most homeowners are advised to get economical basement waterproofing these days. Many people are starting to recognize the utmost importance of making that part of the house free from flooding and leaking. No one certainly wants the hassle and mess brought about by such problems. Unfortunately, almost all builders have not been designing homes and buildings with basements that are free from accumulation of water. Such structures are also not appropriately designed to cope with leakage and moisture problems, which could happen inevitably.
There is imminent danger if waterproofing is not made part of building design and construction. First, there could be a possibility that the foundation of the structure would be shifted due to presence of cracks and unlikely membranes that could occur over the course of time. Waterproofing is very much necessary especially when your building is constructed at ground level or more particularly when it is built below it. You need to waterproof your basement to effectively safeguard your entire building.
A moist or wet basement could serve as a cause for the proliferation of bacteria, mildew, and mold. Such organisms could serve as threats to your family’s overall health. Chronic colds and other respiratory problems could be generated by the presence of molds and mildew. Termites and rodents could come through the existing cracks right there at the foundation of the building. The entry of such pests could further bring about additional and considerable damages to the building.
Spring is officially here, and the snow is beginning to slowly disappear. With the bitter cold weather starting to finally break, the ice and snow is starting to melt away, making way to the law you forgot existed. Without proper waterproofing in your basement, all that wet and messy runoff can potentially lead to severe basement leakage and foundation damage.
As the snow melts, it immediately sinks into the soil. Typically, the ground is dry enough to absorb the wetness, but since this winter has been exceptionally cruel, the water may begin to seep into basements or cracks within the foundation. This happens when the ground cannot handle the rapid pace of snow melting and evaporating, due to warmer temperatures.
Water running into your basement can lead to a multitude of problems. Excess water and moisture affects both the inside and outside of your home. This runoff will seep into every nook and crack that is available for it to land. Mold and mildew can also become apparent within your basement walls, causing your basement to smell musty and sickness to attack your family.
