Basement Waterproofing: Everything You Need to Know

March 24, 2023

Waterproofing the basement is one way to protect your house from damage and mold growth. Moreover, waterproofing serves to shield your home against leaks and cracks.

By waterproofing, you can keep the basement dry and guard against mold growth and foundation degradation brought on by extended water absorption.

You’ve come to the right website if you’re looking for everything you need about basement waterproofing. In this article, we will go over everything: why waterproofing is essential, what happens to water-damaged basements, and is it better to waterproof the basement from the inside or the outside.

Why is basement waterproofing so important?

Everyone needs basement waterproofing due to where they live; those who live near rivers, streams, dams, or beaches are not the only ones.

Residents of waterlogged areas are more likely to experience this issue, although it is still essential for dry land people to exercise caution.

This is due to the fact that when it rains, water doesn’t merely fall to the ground and vanish forever. It seeps through the ground and accumulates somewhere. Depending on the kind of soil surrounding the house, it often stores unevenly around the perimeter of the property.

Water damage is too common of a problem in most areas. Thus, is basement waterproofing worth it? Keep reading to find out.

What happens when you don’t have your basement waterproofed

One of the most common forms of basement waterproofing is using waterproofing cement on the basement floor. However, some homeowners do not even want this layer of protection for their homes.

Here we will discuss what prolonged retention of water can do to a basement that has not been waterproofed:

Bowing wall

The basement wall supports the weight of a structure either directly or indirectly. The stability of the structure is in jeopardy if any of these walls become brittle or bent.

A lack of basement waterproofing can cause the wall to bend, especially when hydrostatic pressure restricts water pressure. This is a major contributing factor in the development of bent walls.

When the soil in the area surrounding the home is saturated with water, they frequently rise out of nowhere because the expanding earth pushes up on the foundation.

Sagging floor

Your structure loses stiffness and begins to bow when the region of the foundation becomes soaked, and there is no basement waterproofing. Due to the pressure and weight of the materials above, the floor subsequently starts to droop.

It can be avoided by waterproofing the basement area, which will keep the foundation stiff by preventing water from penetrating the foundation and corroding the blocks.

Mold and mildew problems

You can count on the growth of mold if there is dampness under your building.

It’s easy to understand how mold develops on concrete. Concrete does not provide mildew with food, but the dust in your basement provides them with a sufficient quantity of food and nutrients. Also, because there is water in the basement, they have everything they need to survive, making it a perfect home.

Sagging walls are the result of the building’s walls losing their structural integrity as a result of this.

Molds are capable of wreaking havoc. Some are particularly harmful to structures, while others are helpful to people in edible varieties. They appear to move slowly, but as soon as you let your guard down, they can destroy the whole structure of your home.

Interior vs exterior waterproofing

While external waterproofing is more of a preventative measure to keep basements dry, interior basement waterproofing is frequently used as a corrective option when the water has already entered the property. Interior systems, which help direct water away from your property, sometimes involve a French drain installation and excavating a water collection trough.

To ensure that water never gets into your basement in the first place, exterior systems are put on the outside of your foundation. Also, exterior waterproofing requires a little more effort than interior waterproofing methods. Excavation of the soil around your property is necessary for exterior waterproofing to access the foundation.

Conclusion

Basement waterproofing is an integral step to ensuring the security and safety of your home. Why not let experienced professionals handle this job for you? Contact Zavza Seal LLC ( https://zavzaseal.com) today. You can click here for their website or call them today for a free estimate.