A damp basement can wreak havoc on your life. Think mold growth, ruined items, and the weakened integrity of your home’s foundation – all potentially expensive problems to solve.
On the other hand, waterproofing your basement can minimize or eliminate these issues. Furthermore, it can help you turn what was once a place of horrors into a livable extra space. Now, your only problem becomes figuring out what you will do with an additional room.
Breaking Away from the Norm
The current trend is to turn the basement into an extra room, like a man cave, rec room, extra bedroom, etc. But what if, you didn’t want to do any of those things? What if you simply wanted a storage space that’s not damp and drafty?
Some may laugh at this idea but, the truth is, turning your basement into a storage space has many advantages. In fact, if you come up with a plan before you start storing things randomly, it’s possible that you can still use your basement as an extra room. If this sounds like something you would be interested, consider the following tips to help you get started:
- Built-in shelving is a visually appealing and practical way to display personal items
- Store items by season to make them easier to find
- Use
Continue reading →
Did you know that getting your basement professionally waterproofed can help reduce your energy bills? The waterproofing process helps to seal cracks in your basement and by doing so, effectively blocks out moisture and cold. Furthermore, it keeps your warm or cold air from seeping out. In this way, your AC and heating unit don’t have to use as much electricity to keep your home at a comfortable temperature, which will help you keep more money in your pocket every month.
But, this is just the beginning – as a consequence of lowering your energy usage, you are also helping to protect the environment. How is this possible? Check out our concise explanation below:
Saving Money Isn’t Always a Good Thing
Reducing the amount of energy your home uses helps cut down on power plant emissions. To create electricity, most power plants burn fossil fuels like crude oil and coal. And, while this method of creating energy is relatively inexpensive (in terms of cash money) our planet is the one that loses. Nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide are just a couple of the harmful byproducts that come from this conventional way of generating electricity.
All That Glitters is Not Gold
Carbon dioxide, believe it or not, makes up the majority of air pollution. When it is released into Continue reading →
Many people think that basements are drafty, damp places that are only good for storing their junk. But, like a diamond in the rough, there’s more to them than meets the eye.
Many basements are as large as the downstairs level in your home. In fact, when considering square feet, they can make up as much as 1/2 of your home’s total space. Don’t let all that room go to waste.
The best way to take the scary out of your basement is by getting it professionally waterproofed. This will help remove any water in it as well as keep it protected from future leaks, which will greatly increase its comfort factor. This begs the question, what will you do with the clean extra living space?
Uncover Your Basement’s Potential
Waterproofing your basement will open up a world of possibilities. Some options for the extra space include:
- Guest room: Whether you use it as a guest bedroom or to house your teen coming back from college, adding an extra bedroom is always a good idea. You can even add a full bathroom and kitchen. But, don’t blame us if all your kids decide to stay with you after graduation.
- Home office: If you work from home, even for a couple hours a week, you will need a quiet-as-possible workplace. This
Continue reading →
Humans need water to survive but, it can mean murder for your home. The presence of this element can weaken the foundation of your home and creates the optimal environment for mildew and mold growth.
If you notice that your basement is damp or wet, swift action must be taken to prevent expensive water damage. And, since it probably isn’t an easy fix, you will need the help of an expert basement waterproofing contractor. He or she will examine your basement and provide you with several methods to solve the moisture issue. Some of them include:
Crack Injections: This option is perfect for homes with a poured concrete foundation. If the seepage is coming from the walls, the contractor will use polyurethane or epoxy injections to stop the leaks and solve the problem. It is not ideal for major water-related issues.
Sealants: If water is coming into your basement through cracks, the contractor can use a special waterproofing coating/sealant to seal the cracks. This is a relatively inexpensive option and it’s great for small problems.
Interior waterproofing: Most homeowners consider this to be an excellent solution because it doesn’t require exterior excavation and it’s relatively affordable. But, it’s important to note that, this method does not prevent water from entering the basement, rather it keeps it Continue reading →
Unless the basement has been converted into a living space, most of us don’t spend much time down there. So, when the walls start to crack or moisture starts seeping into the concrete, we don’t usually find out until it’s too late.
Benefits of Waterproofing
Basements are literally the foundation of our homes and, as such, are very important to maintaining their structural integrity. Making sure that this space is waterproofed can go a long way towards this goal but, many homeowners worry about the cost. In other words, does the cost outweigh the advantages? For the answer to this question, consider these points:
- Protection: When water seeps into your home, it can put the foundation’s integrity at risk and your loved ones in danger. Waterproofing is one of the best ways to keep the foundation of your home intact. And, if you use your basement for storage or as a living area, it will keep items (like gadgets, appliances, furniture, etc.) safe.
- Healthier living space: Many homeowners have converted their basements into spare bedrooms, rec rooms, and more. And, to ensure you get maximum enjoyment out of these spaces, it’s important that they remain dry. If not, they become the perfect breeding grounds for mildew and mold. Not only does this create a nasty smell, it can also endanger
Continue reading →
If you have found excess moisture in your basement, you may be tempted to do a little DIY solution. The most common DIY solution is waterproofing paint. Hardware stores will often sell waterproofing paint as the ultimate cure for basement moisture issues. Though waterproofing paint can act as a thin barrier, in most cases it is not enough of a solution to deal with the presence of basement moisture. Continue reading →
All sump pumps eventually fail, and if you are not prepared with a back-up system in place you will not realize your pump has failed until it is too late. Having a back-up sump pump to help you guarantee your basement and valuables are taken care of is simple and smart. If your primary pump fails or is overwhelmed, your back-up sump pump steps up and automatically takes over. Here in Maryland where the threat of flooding is a real issue, it is important for you to be prepared so you and your belongings are not left hanging out to dry. Continue reading →
Basement floors are often overlooked when it comes to basement waterproofing. Generally, when we refinished our basements, we choose our flooring based on design or style. However, before picking out a flooring we need to keep in mind that the wrong flooring choice can lead to excess basement moisture. So here are our recommendations for great flooring that will look good and can stand up to any water water damage. Continue reading →
It isn’t uncommon for the sump pump to be described as the ‘heart’ of a basement waterproofing system and it isn’t far from the truth either. A sump pump allows water move through a drain tile system and out of your home similar to what the human ‘heart’ does for our bodies. Continue reading →
Who doesn’t love saving money? There is rarely a shopper who isn’t attracted to a sale or who doesn’t love a good coupon. Continue reading →
