Basement Waterproofing FAQ

Besides the obvious signs of puddles on your floor or water trickling down from your wall there are several different indicators where you will know there water damage in your home:

• Musty odors
• Mold and / or mildew
• Damp spots on the walls
• Dry Rot
• Cracked walls
• Cracks in the floor
• Peeling paint
• White chalky substance on walls
• Rust on appliances or furniture
• Warped paneling
• Browned stains on the wall

• To utilize the space as an increased living area (family room, extra bedroom, game room) or for extra storage space
• To ensure a structurally sound foundation
• To prevent termite and insect infestation
• To prevent electrical shock hazards
• To ensure the best health for your family and maintain a health home environment
• To prevent the deterioration of your property value
• To prevent mold and mildew growth and the problems that arise from the two
• Because it is less expensive to fix and maintain your basement than it is to add an addition on your home.
• To avoid further damage or future damage to your stored belongings
• To increase the value of your home

• The settling or shifting of your house
• A low landscape
• A poorly installed drainage system, not pitched correctly.
• Neighboring yards sloping towards yours
• A neighbor added an addition or installed a swimming pool.
• Chemical breakdown of concrete walls

Water can enter a foundation many ways; the most common source is through the cove area (where the floor and the wall meet). The cove area is a natural seam where the water can most easily penetrate your foundation. A second common source is through hydrostatic pressure. This will cause water to penetrate through cracks in your floor and/or walls. Many other sources are common, though not as easily visible. Call us today at 1-800-STAY-DRY® for your free inspection and consultation!

Unfortunately, the water you see in your basement is the least of the problem. This water will evaporate into the air eventually. The water that is not escaping through the foundation wall is the source of trouble. This water that can’t escape will cause lower wall deterioration, cracks, efflorescence, and many other concerns. Our licensed basement waterproofing inspectors are trained to notice these signs and convey their knowledge to you in an understandable way so you know what is best for your situation.

We don’t seal the walls on the inside. If your roof were leaking you wouldn’t nail shingles inside your attic. It’s sort of the same thing. We’ve inspected hundreds of basements over the years and over 90% of them will already have tried sealing the interior walls with no success. Trapping water inside block walls can cause excess pressure on the walls, deterioration of the block and increases the chances of mold growth on the organic paints. If you want to solve a basement water problem you have to get rid of the water. All of our basements waterproofing systems are designed to do that.

Obviously, the musty smell you have is much more than just a bad smell. Most musty odors in the basement or crawl space are caused by moisture. It could be mold growing on some organic surface in the basement. Solving a moisture problem in the basement will usually solve the odor problem. Our basement waterproofing experts will inspect the effects of the mold situation, mildew, and musty smells in your home and come up with a mold removal solution.

Most stains are caused by moisture. The white chalky stains are efforescence, which is a deterioration of the cement as the water passes through the block. The brown stains could be mold or they could be acid stains from water passing thru a highly acid soil. The black stains could be mold and mildew. Mold will grow on painted surfaces more so than it will on a bare block because most paints have organic properties which gives the mold something to feed on. Any of the stains indicate the presents of water.

Cracks in your walls can be caused by several sources, resulting in several different effects. Cracks can be a sign of settling in the foundation. However, cracks can also be caused by pressure built up of water around and/or under your foundation. A crack in a foundation wall is a sign of movement. With an average of 47 tons resting on your foundation walls, the integrity of your walls must be maintained.

Depending on the situation, correcting the problem yourself is not a good option. You want a trained professional basement waterproofing expert to take care of the problem. If our trained inspector feels the problem is minimal, they will give you tips and idea as to how you can take care of it yourself. However, if the problem is one that would need professional services, they will review all of the options available to you so you know your home is in the best condition possible.

Absolutely! If you sell your house, you can offer a clean, dry basement, warranted for the life of the structure, regardless of ownership. Money spent for a permanently dry basement will pay off in an immediate increase in the market value of your home. The large investment in a home dictates that you protect it by waterproofing a wet basement. It also makes sense to utilize the square footage of your basement as additional living space. It’s the least expensive area for you to improve.

The cost depends on the method of repair that is best to correct your basement problem. For this reason we offer our inspections and estimates free of charge. This way you can get the information you need to make a knowledgeable decision that you can feel good about.