Professional Basement Waterproofing Is Worth the Investment
Professional Basement Waterproofing Is Worth the Investment
Your basement is the one area in your house that is the most prone to water damage. The sub-ground level of most basements makes the lowest levels in homes susceptible to water flows or accumulation of water from other areas of the home. If your basement seems to be damp all the time there are several possible causes.
If your home is old and consists of a basement made of stone walls and mortar, water can easily seep through gaps and cracks - especially during heavy rains. If areas around your home have become flooded these conditions can aggravate the situation resulting in water accumulating along your basement's foundation and walls and eventually that water will make its way inside. Even newer homes can have wet basements if water flows downhill from driveways or lawns toward the basement's outside walls. The wet earth pushes the water into the walls and sooner or later it will end up inside.
Failing to have basement waterproofing done professionally could very well lead to some serious structural damage to your home. Also, if you allow your basement to remain damp you are opening up the possibility of mold and mildew of growing which could cause some serious health problems for you and your family. The proliferation of mold can not only harm your health but it can also decrease the value of your home by as much as twenty-five percent if you do not hire a basement contractor to come in and do the necessary waterproofing.
Do not believe what you may have heard about repairing cracks yourself by applying liquid sealer to the walls because it does not work. If this so-called solution did indeed work, there would be no basement contractors in business. Instead of spinning your wheels chasing do-it-yourself solutions you see advertised on TV and in newspapers you should simply call in a reputable basement contracting company so that your particular problem can be assessed and dealt with properly.
One word of caution: Do be careful when selecting a basement contractor as some are much better than others. Some large companies actually send sales people out to make assessments whom are unqualified to do so. One smart thing you should consider doing is to first hire a home inspector who will come and make an unbiased assessment of what needs to be done. The $150 to $200 may seem like a lot of money to spend for some advice, but it is a real bargain compared to spending a few thousand on the wrong solution.