Prevent Your Window Wells From Flooding Your Basement
Have you heard of the term “window wells” before? If not, there’s still a chance that you’ve seen them before. These semi-circular dugouts surround a basement window, and they’re usually made from a solid barrier of some type. They serve many purposes, including acting as an emergency exit and also letting light into an otherwise dark space. Additionally, they’re often put in place to prevent water damage to basement windows that are at or below grade, keeping soil away from openings in the wall while still letting water drain away from the house. Sometimes, though, window wells are faulty and can then lead to damage to your home through flooding. Continue reading →
Summertime might be for easy living, but it also brings on some of its own issues, too. Just like winter months pose certain problems for your home and your basement in particular, summer can be challenging in different ways. If you’re wondering how in the world water is making its way into your basement, you might be able to blame it on the weather. 
Sometimes problems come knocking at our door at the absolutely wrong time, and we feel tempted to ignore them. Sure, in some cases, the problems will go away—but more often than not, they’ll stay there or even get worse than they were before. 
Basement windows can transform a dark, dungeon-like space underneath your home into a perfect place to live or play. It lets in much-needed sunlight, making the space more enjoyable and welcoming. Unfortunately, windows can also play a part in some of the leaking you encounter in your basement. Water may enter from rainfall, snowfall, or clogged window well drains, causing more grief than anything. 
There are a lot of misconceptions out there about leaky basements and foundation damage. Some people think it’s not really a big deal, and others believe that foundation repair means you need an entirely new foundation (it doesn’t). There are, however, some incredibly sobering facts about your basement and home’s health and how water damage can affect you and your family. 
When people first notice that they have a leaky or flooded basement, the first instinct is to look in the basement itself. After all, how else could all of that water gotten in there? Unfortunately, locating the source isn’t always that simple. Yes, you should definitely look around for leaking pipes, broken windows, or bowed walls, but sometimes the cause of all of your problems isn’t in your basement at all. 
People forgo waterproofing their basement for a number of reasons, but the most common one is cost. It’s not always the cheapest home renovation option on the list, and many people skip it. They think they can simply ignore water damage, or they cross their fingers and hope nothing bad ever happens to their basement. 
A clean and cleared out basement is a beautiful thing that offers up so many possibilities. Many homeowners like to use their basement as storage because it gives them so much more room in the rest of their house. By putting things you don’t need as often down in the basement, you’re allowing the rest of your home to look just how you’ve always imagined it to. But shouldn’t your basement be a nice place, too? Even if it’s solely used for storage, you can still make the space fun and inviting. 
Sometimes even the most attentive homeowners struggle to maintain their home and keep it in top shape. After all, you have a lot to pay attention to! But one thing you should always keep an eye open for is water damage. Water damage can not only mean there are some serious issues such as leaking pipes or a crack in your foundation, but it can also cause serious problems over time when it goes ignored. 
Most people don’t stress out when they discover their crawlspace is damp. After all, it’s not exactly a part of the house. It’s located between the ground and the bottom of the home, so it’s sort of an indoor space as well as an outdoor one. One might think that a little bit of moisture is no big deal, but actually the opposite is true.