If you have a problem with mold in your home, it is necessary to find out the root of the problem. Excess water or moisture in your basement is most likely the result of leaky plumbing or other sources of water. If your basement floods after a rainfall, it s necessary to call a waterproofing company to look at the problem and offer you solutions and the cost associated with fixing it. Waterproofing your home not only brings you peace of mind but also can save the structure of your home. For more about this follow the links below.
Drying out, waterproofing a basement
Jon and Alexis Sherman are expecting their first baby, and after heavy rains earlier this year, they had to hurry to waterproof and finish their basement in advance of the little one’s arrival.
“We bought the house as our first home, and we didn’t want to overstretch ourselves,” said Jon Sherman, a filmmaker at two companies in Philadelphia – Video City, of which he is president, and Expo Films, which he co-founded. (Alexis Sherman is assistant director of human resources at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.)
Although much of the basement had already been finished, there was dampness generally and the beginnings of mold. The sump pump was no longer doing its job during big storms, and water was creeping under the door of an unfinished crawl space into the rest of the basement, even under the washer and dryer.
Basement Waterproofing Is the Key To Preventing Mold and Promoting Air Quality
Mold can be a serious problem if it develops in your home. Mold will gradually destroy the area where it colonizes, and has the potential to create health problems for your home’s inhabitants.
Molds create allergens (substances that cause allergic reactions), as well as irritants and even toxic substances, called mycotoxins. Anyone inhaling or touching mold or mold spores can develop allergic reactions. Exposure to mold can irritate the skin, nose, throat, eyes, and lungs. Molds can also trigger asthma attacks in people with asthma. People with respiratory problems, allergies, or immune system deficiencies are the most susceptible to the dangers of mold. But mold can have an adverse effect on anyone.
Mold grows from tiny spores that are not visible to the naked eye but exist in both outdoor and indoor air. Mold can begin to grow indoors if it lands on a wet surface. The only thing mold requires to grow is moisture or water, and it can begin to grow indoors if it lands on a wet surface. That should tell you something about the hazards of a damp or wet basement.
Long winter, wet spring impact Western Pa. basements
A sodden spring and a sloppy start to summer has saturated the soil. But foundation experts say the problem that’s impacting homes goes back months.
“It’s really a double whammy,” said Tom Gallagher of Aquaguard Systems in Forest Hills.
He said the long winter and its variety of precipitation filled up the water table, and recent wet weather put it near the edge.
Though there wasn’t a great deal of precipitation through the end of June, basements are being tested in two ways.
The results can be simple or ghastly. Angie’s List, the subscription contractor’s clearing house, reports basement waterproofing jobs can range from $500 to $20,000.
Amber Fisher of West Newton-based Advanced Basement Solutions said her firm has received more calls about bowing walls and water coming through the floor.
Gallagher said his company received 60 inquiries about problems through May 2013. This year, he said, there have been 83 such calls. They go “about 50-50” on wall and water problems.
