Maintaining a well-maintained basement is essential for preserving your home’s structure and value. Proper care and preventive measures help reduce moisture exposure, which can lead to mold and mildew problems.
Waterproofing is a key step in keeping your basement dry. Exterior waterproofing involves a coating that’s applied to your foundation walls to seal cracks and prevent further damage. Contact Basement Repair Naperville IL now!
Waterproofing basement walls prevents the penetration of moisture that can lead to mold, mildew and structural problems. It is a relatively inexpensive way to keep your home safe from damage and to maintain its value and livability. The process involves using specialized materials to seal and protect interior and exterior walls. It can also help insulate a home, reduce health hazards and lower energy costs. Typically, this is a job for a professional contractor.
Getting a little water in the basement is fairly normal, but it should be addressed as soon as possible to prevent further damage. The first step is to figure out the cause of the problem. Often, this is obvious such as damp streaks on the wall cracks or puddles under leaky pipes. But sometimes, the source may be more elusive. If the issue is excessive humidity, this can be fixed with a dehumidifier.
However, if the water is seeping through the concrete or masonry walls, this can only be corrected by waterproofing from the outside. A professional like Erie Home can conduct an inspection to determine the root cause and recommend a solution.
If the source of the moisture is from outside, the basement must be cleaned thoroughly before waterproofing. Standing water must be pumped out, and porous materials such as carpet or drywall must be removed and disinfected. In addition, the grading and drainage around the house must be corrected to ensure that water is flowing away from the foundation rather than toward it.
Once the area is clean, it should be sealed to protect against moisture and improve energy efficiency and indoor air quality. A concrete sealer is one option, but this cannot be used on painted drywall or other wall coverings and must be applied to unfinished basement walls. A vapor barrier is another option that can be installed over the floor and walls to encapsulate the space and prevent moisture from migrating through the concrete.
If the water is coming from inside, epoxy injections can be used to fill and seal cracks in the foundation. This is generally a job for a professional and is not recommended for homes with young children or pets.
Insulation
Basements are a common area where water leakage and excess moisture can cause structural damage, mold growth, and health problems. Correcting moisture and insulating basement walls helps prevent water from entering the house, decrease energy consumption, improve indoor air quality, and reduce health risks associated with mold and mildew.
Basement wall insulation differs from the system used on upper floors of the home. On upper floors, wood stud walls enclose soft fiberglass batts faced with paper and stapled to the studs. While this is an effective insulating method for above-grade walls, it isn’t suitable for foundation walls. Fiberglass readily absorbs moisture and loses its R-value once wet. When moisture is allowed to enter basement walls, it can destroy drywall and wood framing, and lead to the formation of mold and mildew.
The ideal solution for insulating basement walls is non-water sensitive insulation. This type of insulation prevents interior air (which is often full of moisture in the summer) from contacting cold basement surfaces, such as concrete structural elements and rim joist framing. The interior surface of the foundation wall must be dry before attempting to install any insulation. A basic dampness test can be performed by taping a piece of plastic sheeting to a bare concrete wall. If the sheeting remains dry for 48 hours, the wall is likely to be a good candidate for insulation.
Several different types of insulation are available for use in basement walls, including spray foam and rigid foam boards. The most popular choice is rigid foam board insulation, which comes in sheets that can be cut to size and are easy to apply. This type of insulation is also more affordable than spray foam, and is just as effective at sealing air leaks.
Leaky basement windows can contribute to water infiltration and may result in costly repairs. One way to address these issues is by installing a window well structure that diverts water away from the basement window and toward your sump pump. Alternatively, you can also replace existing basement windows with new, more durable models that are designed to be waterproof and airtight.
Painting
Painting your basement walls is a good way to make the space feel like an extension of the rest of your home, and to make it look more aesthetically pleasing. However, painting a basement should only be done after addressing moisture and crack issues. Paint will cover up and mask the cracks, but it won’t fix the issue of water seepage through the wall. Water and vapor can still seep through hairline cracks, and the moist paint will supply some nourishment to mold colonies. To avoid this, you should ensure that the basement is well-drainaged, which could mean investing in a sump pump if necessary.
Painting concrete basement walls is not the best solution for long-term moisture problems, as it can exacerbate moisture problems. Concrete and masonry are porous, so a fresh coat of paint will trap moisture against the basement walls. This moisture can lead to mold growth and further deterioration of the walls.
Paints also contain organic compounds and binders that provide food sources for mold colonies. If these materials come into contact with the moisture that penetrates porous basement wall surfaces, they will release toxins that can encourage mold growth. This can be particularly harmful to occupants of the home, as some types of mold are toxic.
When you do decide to paint your basement, it is important that you use a low or no-VOC paint that will reduce indoor pollution and prevent the stains caused by mold. You should also choose a waterproof paint to help prevent damage from moisture.
It is also a good idea to use a primer before you apply your desired paint color, especially when using a light-colored paint on a concrete basement wall. This will improve the adhesion of the paint and will also enhance the color. You can also use a masonry sealer, which will fill in the pores of the concrete and create an even surface to paint.
Before you begin painting, remove any furniture from the basement and lay drop cloths along the floor. This will protect it from the viscous primers and paints that you will be using. It is also important to prepare the wall before you paint by cleaning it thoroughly and removing any peeling or blistering paint. It is a good idea to use an all-in-one primer and paint, which will save you time.
Drainage
If you are experiencing flooding or standing water in your basement, it is critical to prioritize safety and call a professional immediately. Start by identifying the source and removing it. This will help to reduce the amount of water damage, save you money, and keep you and your family healthy. Before entering a basement with standing water, you should take the proper safety precautions and turn off electricity to the area via your breaker panel. This is important to avoid the risk of electrocution and will also make it safer to work with the specialized equipment needed for waterproofing, crack repair, or basement drain installation.
Often times, wet basements are the result of poor drainage. When the ground around a house doesn’t drain correctly, it will build up and flood into the foundation. This is most commonly caused by a change in the slope of the fill dirt around a home’s foundation. This is caused by erosion over time and can cause significant problems when it comes to flooding, leaking walls, and even structural issues over time.
To solve this problem, a French drain can be installed to collect water and direct it away from the house’s foundation. However, this solution is invasive and requires the digging up of shrubs, flower beds, walkways, porches, decks, driveways, buried gas pipes, and electrical cables. The most effective long-term solution is to regrade the soil around your home’s foundation. This will eliminate the need for invasive excavation and ensure that all areas of the property are properly draining.
If a floor drain becomes clogged, it’s best to use a plunger and a combination of baking soda and vinegar to clear it. If this does not work, a professional damp proofing specialist can snake the drain to remove any severe clogs.
In the event that your basement walls are bowed or leaning, carbon fiber reinforcement is an affordable and highly effective basement repair technique. This process is quick and non-invasive and will strengthen your walls against future movement and buckling over time. This method can be used in conjunction with other more invasive repair techniques such as wall anchors or braces, depending on the severity of the bowing and leaning.