Imagine that your basement flooded right now. What would be destroyed? How much would it cost to get the water out? Would it cause mold growth – or even possibly damage the entire structural integrity of your entire home?
All of that sounds expensive, right? Potentially very expensive, especially if the structure of your home is damaged. That is why waterproofing your basement is important.
Why Isn’t My Basement Already Waterproofed?
Most building codes do not require any waterproofing elements when building a basement. Therefore, most builders do not include them in order to save time and money on the building project. This means that homeowners are often stuck with a surprise bill later when it comes to repairing damage from flooding or at the very least, waterproofing a wet basement.
How Waterproofing Works
There are mainly two types of waterproofing your basement. You can take waterproofing steps on either the interior of the basement or the exterior of the basement. Exterior waterproofing uses techniques to excavate water at the bottom of the foundation. Then, new drainage pathways are created. Lastly, the walls are treated to prevent water from entering the basement.
Interior waterproofing relies on water control techniques to remove moisture after it has already entered the basement. Drainage channels lead to a pump that pumps the water out.
In areas that are especially prone to flooding, a combination of interior and exterior techniques may be used to protect the basement fully.
Adding a Dehumidifier
While a dehumidifier won’t protect your basement from severe flooding, it can help remove humidity from the air in your basement. This prevents your basement from unwanted condensation and mold growth. Even if your basement has been “waterproofed” – adding a humidifier can help protect your belongings.
How to Get started
If you have moisture or a leak in your basement, it is critical to contact a waterproofing professional. They can help evaluate the true cause of the problem, and will recommend a combination of the waterproofing techniques mentioned above. Any water damage in your basement is serious, and fixing the issue is critical to a dry, damage, and mold-free home.
Baystate Mold Removal: Trusted throughout Greater Boston for over 20 years.
If you live in the New England area, Baystate Mold Removal is an excellent waterproofing professional to consider. We have been waterproofing basements across New England for over 20 years.