Is Your Basement Prepared for Spring?

Spring weather has arrived sooner than we were expecting.  Temperatures in northeast Ohio are some of the warmest in more than a hundred years according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration NOAA, it also predicts cooler and wetter temperatures for the northeastern part of the United States.  If we are taking South Carolina’s weather as an example as what’s to come in northeast Ohio, we are going to need a lot of umbrellas for this spring season.

Keeping the water away from the foundation of your home and basement can be a very inexpensive fix. Checking the perimeter of your home is a good idea. It can give you a clear view of where water is sitting, and not draining away from the foundation.  If you have an old sump pump, check to see if it’s in working condition. You may need it when you least expect it, only to find out that is not longer serviceable.

For more about this and other stories, follow the links below.


Solving basement problems

 Basements and crawl spaces are often a home’s “dirty little secret,” problems put off until homeowners grow weary of leaks, flooding, cracks, buckles, undesirable smells and vapors emanating from below, or want to get the best price when they sell. Often I’ve conjured making my basement a “Halloween horror maze,” but usually more sobrietous moments prevail.
Years ago, after sweeping too much water after downpours toward my basement drain, I conferred with colleague Larry Gilliland, a tree-stump removal contractor, whose son Brad had launched Brad Gilliland Excavating & Basement Waterproofing. I invited father and son to my dungeon and never will forget Brad’s innocent remark that I apparently used my basement “for storage.” “Junk pile” might have been more apropos.
“When a home is put up for sale, I strongly recommend any basement problems be fixed before it’s listed,” notes Bloomington Realtor Henry Nethery. “Otherwise, the sale might be jeopardized, or the homeowner wind up paying more for repairs.

Governor Henry McMaster has declared March 5-11 “South Carolina Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week.”It is all to remind residents to be prepared for potential sever weather across the state, specifically focusing on tornadoes and flooding.
There will be a state-wide tornado drill March 9, to include all public schools and a few other entities.South Carolina Emergency Management is also teaming up with the National Weather Service to release a number of reminders for before, during, and after these severe weather events, listed below.
Prepare for any Emergency·

Develop an Emergency Action Plan for your home, place of business or other that includes what you would do in case of major emergency or disaster.· Develop a communication plan that enables you to reach out to family members when normal lines of communication are not functioning.· Have an emergency kit for your home, place of work and vehicle. Remember, “The First 72 are on You.


With spring right around the corner, the timing seemed to be perfect when I heard from the folks at U.S. Waterproofing, a basement waterproofing service company.“We get the most calls in the spring, when people sell their home or from people who just bought one,” said Matt Stock, president of U.S. Waterproofing.
“It’s those calls from buyers — who have a surprise, undisclosed and expensive basement leak — that break our hearts. We know they weren’t prepared for that kind of expense upon moving into their new home.”

A third-generation family member in the basement waterproofing business, Stock said he began assisting his family in all-things-basements when he was 12.In 2012, Stock launched the U.S. Waterproofing Learning Center, to educate homeowners, real estate agents, home inspectors and others concerned with home improvement, waterproofing, and repair. Below, he dishes out some good, sound advice.


 

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