subject: 3 Reasons Why You Must Have Basement Waterproofing Done, Now! [print this page] 3 Reasons Why You Must Have Basement Waterproofing Done, Now!
Why Residents of New Jersey, PA, Delaware and Maryland Must Have Their Basements Waterproofed
Allowing your basement to become flooded can cause enormous damage to your house! Get your basement waterproofed now before its too late.
Basement waterproofing is becoming a must for every homeowner in America. Your health, property value and living space can all be directly affected by the state of condition of your basement.
If you have a damp basement, musty odors, efflorescence ("white powder"), or minor water leaks, fix it now before it gets worse and much more expensive. Have a qualified basement services company come in and do it right...or run the risk of thousands of dollars of damage!
It is important you, the homeowner, identify the problem as soon as possible. The longer these problems are left unsolved, the worse, and more expensive the problem could become.
Most new homes built today routinely have a French Drain and Sump Pump installed as it built. Most give a significant warranty and the cost for the installation is much less expensive.
Obviously million of homes across the country were built without French Drains or Sump Pumps.
According to radonseal.com over 60 percent of all basements have some kind of water issues.
According to their research, wet basements are the most frequent complaint of homeowners. Most new homes develop basement leaks within 10 to 15 years.
The health issues are many. The most common are related to mold and mildew buildup in the basement.
From the Rhode Island Department of Health website:
"Exposure to a large number of mold spores may cause allergic symptoms such as watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, itching, coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, headache, and fatigue. Repeated exposure to mold can increase a person's sensitivity, causing more severe allergic reactions. These problems are worse indoors, where mold causes indoor air quality problems. Certain molds, such as Stachybotrys and Aspergillus, can produce toxins called mycotoxins under certain conditions. Exposure to mycotoxins can cause more serious illness."
Also from the Rhode Island Department of Health website:
"If you can see or smell mold, it is present and must be cleaned up. You also need to fix the problem causing the mold to prevent it from growing again. It is important to make sure that sources of moisture are eliminated before mold is cleaned up. If this is not done, the mold will grow again. If an area of mold growth is larger than 10 square feet (3 feet x 3 feet), it is recommended that a contractor with experience in mold remediation clean up the area."
Selling your home? A property with basement issues reduces the seller's position of strength in the sales process.
Read what Elizabeth Weintraub, of About.com Guide had to say about the process:
"Throughout my real estate career, I've encountered more problems with wet foundations and basements than any other physical problem in a house. Therefore, it's important when buying a house with a basement to check for signs of dampness in the basement. It's better to find out before you buy than afterwards, especially since you can't rely on seller disclosures. Why can't you rely on seller disclosures? Because the sellers might not know about it. If the sellers did have knowledge, however, and failed to disclose the water problems in a basement, it could be:
Difficult to prove in court
Take years to get into court
Expensive to sue
Very expensive to dry out the basement
This is why you should always, without fail, get an independent home inspection by a qualified and accredited professional."
