A finished basement has become a must have for many families. The extra space, the cool rooms and the value it adds to your home is an expense many homeowners see as inevitable. Finishing the basement of your home requires that your basement is dry and that there are no leaks that will jeopardize the work done to it, also the foundation of your home has to have structural integrity before any work can begin. Having a foundation repair and basement waterproofing specialist talk to you before you begin finishing your basement can save you a few headaches down the road.
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A major structural problem with your home is probably every homeowner’s worst nightmare. Structural problems left unattended decrease your homes value and only worsen over time.
So if you are seeing signs of foundation problems around your home like cracks in your drywall, or if you have doors that do not open or close properly you probably need to have an evaluation done.
Is your home suffering from foundation problems?
If your home is exhibiting symptoms of foundation problems like cracks in walls, sticking and swinging doors, or uneven floors it may need foundation repair. Experienced professionals can give you an accurate analysis of your home and design a foundation repair solution.
Can you sell your house for a reduced price rather than repair the foundation?
If you are financing the sale yourself, this poses no problem. Loaning institutions generally will not close a loan without repairs being done or scheduled. However, beware as some state laws impose severe penalties for fraudulently concealing a structural problem from a buyer.
A Closer Look: Lack of snow this winter may spell more basement water
Though we may not have experienced as much snowfall this winter compared to last, the lack of snow, which acts as an insulator, may result in a deeper frost in the ground around your home’s foundation that will take longer to lift.
When the ground is frozen, water will lie on the surface until it’s either absorbed into the air or finds a way to penetrate the surface, possibly into cracks or other openings into the foundation of your home. This may mean that once the spring rains begin to fall, homeowners may experience problems with water in their basement, especially if there’s a drastic change from freezing to warm outside temperatures over a short period of time.
A major cause of basement leaking is deficiencies in how water is drained around the exterior of the house. Factors such as type of soil and slope of the land around the foundation may help prevent or cause water to leak into the basement.
Tips to prevent water from entering through your foundation:
• Make sure the roof, eavestroughs, downspouts and grading direct water away from the house.
One of the main reasons people renovate their basements is because they’re looking for more usable space. Whether you’re interested in adding a new game room, wine cellar or bar, a newly renovated basement can offer you ample space for many of your needs. But before you tackle such a project, bear in mind the challenges inherent in basement renovations. Here are some things to consider before you go underground.
1. Inviting elements. It’s difficult to draw people downstairs to a basement, especially when it doesn’t get a lot of natural light. It’s great if you can use its dimness and coziness to your advantage. Putting in elements that create atmosphere, like fireplaces or large flat-screen televisions, works well.
2. Digging deeper. Digging out your basement to give you higher ceilings is an expensive endeavor. You’ll need to make structural changes to your house to gain ceiling height. Depending on the size of your basement, the cost of digging it out and underpinning it could cost $50,000 to $90,000. But you’ll gain an entire floor. For many people, it’s worth the investment.
