Basement Waterproofing is insurance for Basement Finishing

You might wonder, “What does waterproofing have to do with finishing your basement?” however, waterproofing your basement protects your remodeling investment.

Home improvements of all shapes and sizes cost money and the last thing you want to do is to jeopardize the longevity of that project. Not waterproofing your basement and installing moisture control can have serious long-term effects on your finished product.

A typical basement finishing project can run anywhere from $25,000 to well over $100,000 depending on floor plan, details, amenities, and difficulty. There are many different “finishing systems” out there that claim to be “waterproof” or “removable in case of flooding” but what’s the point of spending money on walls in a basement if you have to remove them in order to keep them dry?

Lets say you choose do have wood studs and regular styled drywall in the basement. Both are organic materials that easily soak up moisture and water. Mold and rotting wood are the next logical steps if a flood happens or a small leak gets out of control. You spent $25,000 on that project and you’re going to have to spend at least 1/4th of it just to repair it. Bringing your total project cost to now $30,000.

You wouldn’t buy a car and not protect it, don’t finish your basement without defending against moisture and flooding.

What if you could spend $25,000 to not only have moisture control, dehumidification, air circulation, water and flooding protection, have it all warranted, and have your basement finished? Wouldn’t that be smarter? Having it all done with mold and moisture resistant materials with the look and feel of your first floor is easier than you think.

You would actually be buying a finishing system that has your basement’s health in mind. You would actually be truly finishing your basement. You’d be transforming your basement from a moisture zone to a controllable, healthy, comfortable environment.

With waterproofing your walls, your floor, your whole finished area would be protected. With the proper finishing materials and design your finished space will be exactly what you dreamed it could be, and it’ll all be well protected from flooding and moisture.

Call Pioneer Home Basement Finishing today: 1-800-439-0788
Or visit us online: www.homebasementfinishing.com

Water Coming in through the Foundation of the House.

This is the typical issue that people with wet basements have. Moisture/Water is coming directly through the foundation via a crack or puncture.

Punctures can happen from direct impact on the foundation wall, or through a very long process of micro-pores finally being connected via the concrete separations giving way.

Cracks are a common thing in many homes, especially older homes. Settlement, soil expansion and contraction, hydrostatic pressure, rapid cooling and drying of new concrete, or in the case of concrete block and brick, the mortar breaking up and dissipating.

The first step in correcting any foundation leaks that lead to a flooded basement is to formally address the foundation issues. Re-point the blocks or bricks, correct mortar issues, fill cracks, add FiberLock or Wall Anchoring systems (if one is needed) and then move onto the next step.

After the foundation is secure it’s time to waterproof the basement . Many people think that hydro-sealing the cracks is good enough to repair the crack and waterproof the basement. Sadly, after years of watching such repairs fail, it’s not. It’s a good temporary solution to get you safely to a permanent solution.

Installing an interior drain system in your basement is the only proven, permanent method to keep your basement dry. This will cover the addressed foundation, trap and redirect water to be properly drained and removed from the basement.

All foundations require an amount of water, especially in places like Texas, to stay stable, upright and without major incident. Concrete being naturally porous and absorbent, water will naturally find its way into concrete to fill the holes left behind by the drying process during the curing of the concrete walls.

Questions about your basement or foundation? Contact me on the Pioneer Basement Help Forums and Ask away. Don't forget to leave your comment here or to quote it in your forum posting.


Related Reading and Links

Read about the Top 6 Basement Mistakes that contractors and homeowners make.

Ask Pioneer Basement a question Directly on Pioneer Basement's Help Forums!

Standing water in Basements: What should I do?

Standing water is a common term for any body of water that is at rest on any surface. Commonly seen on the floor of basements (since that’s the lowest point in many homes), this is a clear indicator of flooding, leaks, or pipe damage.

If the level of water is unsafe and possibly coming into contact with electrical outlets DO NOT attempt to come in contact with this water. At this point it would be to your benefit to call your local Emergency Clean up professionals and ask them about the course of action that you should take.

If met with a small puddle or a small leak, this is something that many people can handle. Blotting (with sponge and bucket) can help you to get up the majority, if not all, of the water. Make sure to move any of the objects that were affected by this puddle away to a safe, dry place to evenly dry out. Do not place objects with die such as books, magazines, oriental rugs, or clothing on wall-to-wall carpeting to dry as this will typically end in staining. If the damage feels like it’s more than you can handle call your area Emergency Clean up Professionals.

As I mentioned before, standing water is normally a result of some sort of flooding, leak or pipe burst. Have an inspection done by a basement specialist to determine the entry point of the water. From here you can properly fix and clean your situation.

Updating copper piping for plumbing fixtures to PAX, patching or hydro-sealing cracks in the foundation, and waterproofing the basement can help to protect your space in the future. Water coming from the outside through your sill plate and over your foundation walls is typically caused by major disasters and or improper land gradation near your foundation. All soil around your house should be no higher than 6”-12” from the top of your foundation.

When major disasters occur such as flash flooding, hurricanes, typhoons or other acts of nature much of the flooding get in touch with your town or state to see what the plan is for emergency action in your area. Always make sure to follow the instructions provided to you and always keep your safety in mind