To understand why basement waterproofing is a good idea for any building with a subterranean basement, you need to know a little bit about fluid dynamics. Hydrostatic pressure is the main culprit when it comes to a leaky basement. In fact, hydrostatic pressure may result in rotting floorboards, mold, bacteria, a cracked foundation or flooded basement. There are a lot more causes to home foundation problems, but first, it is a good idea to understand what, exactly, the home is built on.
The ground around the house isn’t just dirt, which holds a ton of moisture. Dirt and rocks are at the whim of the water that it is suspended in. The water that suspends the ground around the home is called the water table. The water table is the line at which the water ends, much like where the water ends in your glass. In this case, the ice comes up above the water in your glass, creating a solid top. But the foundation of your home is like the walls of a glass. It holds back both the ice and water.
The submerged basement walls are in direct contact with the water table and the dirt. The builders of your home constructed your basement walls powerful enough to hold back the earth and ground water. But over time, Continue reading →
Flooded basements are a hazard in so many different ways. Sometimes it seems like you need a military barricade to keep the water out, or that the flooding is inevitable. If flooding is a hazard where you live, then it may be a good idea to learn how to properly clean up after an event. Knowing how to clean up a submerged basement can add years to the life of your home, and it may just save your life in the process.
The first mistake people make when cleaning up after a flood, is that they go charging right into the water. This is the last thing anyone should want to do. Most houses keep the fuse box in the basement. That means you actually have to go into the basement in order to turn off the electricity. Everybody knows what happens when you have electrical outlets contacting water, you risk getting zapped, which could be fatal.
If there are only a few inches of water, you may want to use a fiberglass ladder, some scrap wood or a plastic stool to traverse the lagoon to the electrical box. But if your basement is under significant water and the outlets are covered, then it is a serious electrocution hazard. At this point, it may be a good idea to Continue reading →
Condensation in the basement poses a risk to health, the integrity of your home and your personal belongings. Moisture breeds all sorts of nasty molds and bacteria. These harmful organisms can get into your respiratory system and in the framing of your home. It can also cause the premature decay of any items you have stored in the basement. There are steps you can take to prevent condensation moisture, mold and bacteria.
Attack the many causes of a humid basement, one at a time. Follow these steps on preventing mold in the basement.
Seal All Basement Pipes
Most of the hot-water pipes are probably already sealed, but you can also cover the cold-water pipes. Hot-water pipes are insulated for safety; so you don’t touch a hot pipe, but insulating every pipe reduces the amount of moisture wicking off the pipes into the air. You can buy foam sleeves at a home improvement store, apply them and seal them with duct tape. The joints and turns in the pipes will have exposed areas.
Pick Up Duct Mastic or Sealant
Sealing the ducts that come from your air-forced heating and cooling systems can reduce the amount of moisture in the basement. Most heaters use humidifiers that can become leaky into the ducts. Duct tape will wear away. Mastic and sealant will seal Continue reading →
Few scenarios are as disheartening as walking downstairs into your basement to start the laundry or work on a project, only to realize that the entire area is underwater. This can happen slowly over time, as water creeps in through cracks or drips in from a leaky pipe. Or the water can come in very quickly, due to a catastrophic flooding. Either way, no matter how it happened or how much or how little water is actually present, the truth remains: not only are you most definitely not getting anything done down there any time soon, but you are also going to need to have a plan to get this whole mess taken care of ASAP to minimize the damage.
Mold:
Water may be a purifying force of nature most of the time, but left in a wet basement, which is devoid of proper air circulation, it stagnates. This turns your basement into a veritable petri dish for nasty things you do not want anywhere near your home. This environment is the ideal growing condition for several strains of dangerous mold, mildew, and fungi that could put you and your family at risk.
This is especially true of the mold called Stachybotrys chartarum. Its distinctive black coloring makes it easy to identify, and it is extremely dangerous to both Continue reading →
Flooded basements are no good. Not only is it dangerous when it comes to exposed electrical connections, but it ruins everything you keep down in the basement. The fallout from a flood continues up into your home. The wooden frame of the house now sits on top of a swamp. Mold and bacteria need that swampy atmosphere to thrive, so you may have a frame full of mold, rot and bacteria. Water can literally bring your whole house down. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to prevent basement flooding.
You might not pay attention to the gutters and drainage from your roof when you think of water in the basement, but some drainage pipes will pool water right into the foundation. This can seep into the basement and cause a flood. The goal is to push the water three feet from the house, and extenders can help do this.
Check for Cracks
Take a stroll around your house and inside your basement. If you see any visible cracks, even tiny ones, epoxy can help. Water from the ground can actually press on the walls of the foundation and push its way in. Just a little bit of water can cause a humid environment, promoting mold and bacteria. Plus, given enough time, eventually a little bit of Continue reading →
To understand why basement waterproofing is a good idea for any building with a subterranean basement, you need to know a little bit about fluid dynamics. Hydrostatic pressure is the main culprit when it comes to a leaky basement. In fact, hydrostatic pressure may result in rotting floorboards, mold, bacteria, a cracked foundation or flooded basement. There are a lot more causes to home foundation problems, but first, it is a good idea to understand what, exactly, the home is built on.
