There may be different reasons why your basement leaks. For whatever reason your basement is leaking, though, it results to nothing but frustration on your part. This is because you probably know that basement problems should not be taken lightly. Once basement leaks are spotted, it is imperative to do something about it right away. To ready yourself from leaks, familiarize yourself with the root cause first. Individuals who reside in areas that are wet the majority of the year should definitely consider this.
Rainwater or any water that reaches the surfaces around your house is usually referred to as surface water. So if your home is enclosed by soil that is slanting downwards to your house, then this is not a good picture. Even water that reaches the pavement or driveway could easily travel into your basement.
Another root cause is faulty roof drainage"the issue begins during the building of the house when the roof gutters are not situated appropriately. Moreover, loosely compacted soil allows for more water to travel through.
Once water gets into your basement, this is already a huge problem in itself. Moisture, dampness and flooding is not even the only problem here. The domino effect results in mold and mildew growth as well. These can result in breathing problems and generate an unhealthy environment for your family. Thus, even with a finished basement, the space can be unlivable and once again unused. So what can be done to fix basement leaks? Definitely, the task at hand will be more than just filling in a hole. Waterproofing your entire basement is extremely important.
There are some things you can do to deal with basement leaks. For one, recognize the root cause of the leak. The next thing you have to do is to establish the reasons for water existing outside (or around) your basement. Then, ascertain water is being appropriately drained from your roof and from your homes surroundings. Finally, make sure the basement drainage systems are clear and sufficient for your homes requirements. These are basically the fundamentals of dealing with leaks in your basement.
As mentioned earlier in the article, rain can result to building up of ground water. Because of extended exposure to high levels of groundwater, inappropriately applied or poor quality of footer tiles, and feeble basement pipes, concrete shrivels in the basement. Due to this effect, cracks can emerge in the basement and this causes water sipping through. The materials you will need to fix this sort of problem will include a good quality hydrophobic liquid polyurethane, crack seal glue and peel-off port, and cartridges.
The first thing is to tidy up the basement and to get rid of all molds and algae. It is quite important to have an unpolluted basement for appropriate employment of the polyurethane. Clean and fill all the cracks by using crack-seal glue and peel-off ports. Utilize cartridges to insert the polyurethane into the crack. Allocate some time for the polyurethane to merge with the water and harden. Take off the peel-off ports and crack-seal after the polyurethane has entirely developed a mass and covered up all the deepest spaces.
And there you have it, some ways to deal with basement leaks. Keep in mind not to drill the cracks as this will result in more seepage. Its important to fix the cracks before they worsen.
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Is your basement suffering from the damaging effects of basement leaks and basement mold ? Check out practical solutions in dealing with basement problems.