Damp Musty Smells? You May Need Basement Waterproofing.
No doubt you are here because like me (in the past) you are having a problem with water getting into your basement.
You know you need basement waterproofing but are ignoring it in the hope it will go away - it won't, and this is your most valuable possession you are playing with here. It is obvious, but you basement supports your home. No basement, no home.
I left my damp basement for years, mainly because I knew what the cost of getting professionals in would be, and I just didn't have the money at that time.
You can get research for free, from the internet, from articles such as you are reading, the library and advice from your home handyman shop.
Once I started reading up on this information I thought wow "I can do this myself".
I did research in a big way, and now feel confident and competent that I can give advice to anyone in the same situation. Whether you have and old home, a new home, a large walk around basement, or just a basement with crawlspace you too can waterproof your basement as long as you are willing to put in a bit of hard labor, have the right tools and the "can do" spirit.
All leaks are different but there are some fundamentals that can help solve where the problem is originating from. Let's get into the basement waterproofing problem.
Any home built below ground, or at ground level needs to be waterproofed. The water table can rise and if that excess water is not diverted away from your house huge pressure, called hydrostatic pressure, can build up such force against the floor and walls of your home, that it can breach the weakest points, usually a joint.
Crack's in your basement floor can be caused by hydrostatic pressure. Over time, more water table rises will obviously make the matter worse.
Your basement will smell of mildew and damp and you will start to see evidence of mold. Your most major asset is now at risk.
When it comes to basement waterproofing, it can be done externally or internally. Externally is not always possible as the home may not have access to be able to dig a drain.
If you want to make your basement waterproof from the outside, so as to prevent water from coming in when it rains, or the water table rises, then you have to waterproof the entire building envelope.
Below is a brief description of the 3 main basement waterproofing systems.
1) Barrier System: A good barrier system will work in all climates and is designed to block entry of the water from the outside.
2) Drainage system. This type of system, as the name suggests is designed to collect water and divert it away from the house so no water can then penetrate the building.
3) Diversion system. This system is used externally, and works by putting a structure on the roof so rainwater is diverted away from the house.
This system will not work if you have a high water table and moisture is penetrating from below.
As I mentioned all water is not the same so more research is needed to choose the options that best suit you.
The choice will come down to home and land design, your budget, and the amount of time you have to undertake the project of waterproofing your basement.
You know you need basement waterproofing but are ignoring it in the hope it will go away - it won't, and this is your most valuable possession you are playing with here. It is obvious, but you basement supports your home. No basement, no home.
I left my damp basement for years, mainly because I knew what the cost of getting professionals in would be, and I just didn't have the money at that time.
You can get research for free, from the internet, from articles such as you are reading, the library and advice from your home handyman shop.
Once I started reading up on this information I thought wow "I can do this myself".
I did research in a big way, and now feel confident and competent that I can give advice to anyone in the same situation. Whether you have and old home, a new home, a large walk around basement, or just a basement with crawlspace you too can waterproof your basement as long as you are willing to put in a bit of hard labor, have the right tools and the "can do" spirit.
All leaks are different but there are some fundamentals that can help solve where the problem is originating from. Let's get into the basement waterproofing problem.
Any home built below ground, or at ground level needs to be waterproofed. The water table can rise and if that excess water is not diverted away from your house huge pressure, called hydrostatic pressure, can build up such force against the floor and walls of your home, that it can breach the weakest points, usually a joint.
Crack's in your basement floor can be caused by hydrostatic pressure. Over time, more water table rises will obviously make the matter worse.
Your basement will smell of mildew and damp and you will start to see evidence of mold. Your most major asset is now at risk.
When it comes to basement waterproofing, it can be done externally or internally. Externally is not always possible as the home may not have access to be able to dig a drain.
If you want to make your basement waterproof from the outside, so as to prevent water from coming in when it rains, or the water table rises, then you have to waterproof the entire building envelope.
Below is a brief description of the 3 main basement waterproofing systems.
1) Barrier System: A good barrier system will work in all climates and is designed to block entry of the water from the outside.
2) Drainage system. This type of system, as the name suggests is designed to collect water and divert it away from the house so no water can then penetrate the building.
3) Diversion system. This system is used externally, and works by putting a structure on the roof so rainwater is diverted away from the house.
This system will not work if you have a high water table and moisture is penetrating from below.
As I mentioned all water is not the same so more research is needed to choose the options that best suit you.
The choice will come down to home and land design, your budget, and the amount of time you have to undertake the project of waterproofing your basement.