With school starting soon, many families around northeast Ohio are concerned about buying school supplies instead of fixing their homes. Vacations are over, and maybe so are the funds for investing in the repairs your home needs. Fixing any leaks in your basement is not only advisable for the upkeep of your home, but for the health of your family as well. Water in your basement can lead to mold and mildew that can eventually pose a risk to the health of those living at home. Waterproofing your basement should be an investment you do as soon as possible, and at Pioneer Basement Waterproofing we can offer a solution for you that makes sense for you and you wallet. Our rating with the BBB speaks for itself. Check us out.
Waterproof your basement before it’s too late
On those dry, sunny days of summer, a leaky basement is probably the last thing you’re thinking about. On those rare occasions when you venture down to the lower level of your home, it feels cool and comfortable – or does it? Perhaps what you’re experiencing is condensation hanging in the air or moisture permeating the foundation walls. Just because you don’t see water pouring into the basement in the middle of July, it doesn’t mean you don’t need a foundation repair. But it does mean it’s the perfect time to prepare for the wet seasons ahead.
When to call an expert
Hydrostatic pressure is constantly pushing dirt against your exterior foundation walls. Settling, plus seasonal freezing and thawing, can form cracks in the concrete that may eventually leak. If your basement is finished, you may not be able to easily see problem areas, but you’ll probably notice a musty smell or feel unusually damp air as you walk down the stairs. You may also notice discolouration on concrete walls or floor where water may have entered. Even worse, you may notice extra ground water around the perimeter of your home or flooding inside. This could be a sign of blocked or broken weeping tiles, and a definite sign you should contact the experts at Royal Work Corp. Waterproofing. With over 25 years of collective experience waterproofing Toronto homes, their licenced professionals will inspect your basement, and provide an honest assessment of any work that needs to be done.
What You Need to Know About Waterproofing Your Basement
Need to get rid of moisture? Here’s a primer on the complicated language of waterproofing.
Sump Pump [sŭmp pŭmp] noun
1. A pump used to remove water that has accumulated in a pit dug through the basement floor. Sump pumps are common in Washington and are often incorporated into new-house construction.
2. If your house doesn’t already have a sump pump and your basement floods, you probably need one. In a basic version, ground water naturally collects in the pit and is discharged by the pump out of a pipe through an exterior wall. If you need to direct water to the pump more rapidly, you may need to install an accompanying water-management system.
Water-Management System [wŏ´-ter măn´-ij-mĕnt sĭs´-tem] noun
1. A broad term that can be used to describe any type of waterproofing. However, if you hear a waterproofing company—such as Mid-Atlantic or B-Dry—using the term, it’s referring to a drain-age network installed along the perimeter of the basement (typically in both the floor and the walls) that carries water to a sump pump.
In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva explains how to seal cracks in your foundation and other basement flooding problems.
Steps:
1. Fill cracks and holes in concrete walls and floors with hydraulic cement.
2. Apply a coat of waterproof masonry cement to inside surface of basement walls.
3. Attach flexible extensions to ends of downspouts to carry water away from foundation.
4. Dig trench directly below downspout for 4-inch-diameter PVC pipe.
5. Connect downspout to PVC pipe.
6. Install a drywell at opposite end of pipe to catch and disperse rainwater.
