Doing Your Own Basement Waterproofing. Basements are a great space to enjoy for the whole family as long as there is no water problem. They can be a living space, amusement room, or storage space. Prior to enjoying the use of your basement or start any renovation or remodelling project, to enjoy any of those functions, it must be waterproof. Waterproofing prevents excessive indoor humidity that can result to a space that is damp, musky and unpleasant to occupy, and there is also the possible hazard to your health due to the mold or mildew growth. Excessive moisture can also affect the structural stability of your basement, wood will start rotting once it reaches 20% moisture level. Many homeowners prefer to attempt waterproofing their basement themselves to save money.
Can the average homeowner waterproof the basement without professional help? There are steps that you as a homeowner can do to to help waterproof your basement and prevent the infiltration of water and moisture. For example, make sure that the land surrounding your basement has adequate drainage away from structure for at least six feet. Also, to help with water drainage you should keep your downspouts and eaves clear of leaves and debris and ensure that discharge is directed away from home. However, these are not adequate as waterproofing strategies, they are only methods to reduce water build up around your foundation walls. Generally, to waterproof your basement effectively, you need to work with a professional.
Why employ a professional when waterproofing your basement?
Waterproofing is not a project that most homeowners have the knowledge, expertise or equipment for. It needs expertise, experience and a knowledge of various skills to successfully waterproof a basement. An trained and experience basement repair expert can also recognize with greater accuracy the problems that cause seepage and leakage into your basement. If you overlook the cause of the water problems you can waste money and time and may even make the problem worse. Quick fixes are never a lasting solution when it comes to wett basements. An expert can offer you long-term waterproofing solution and will back up his work with a written guarantee. Working with a professional can be more pricey than carrying out the project by yourself, but it will usually be worth the investment.
How to find a Water Proofing contractor
There is typically a large number basement-waterproofing contractors operating in your area, it can be somewhat a daunting task to choose which one to hire for your basement. The easiest way to hire a reliable contractors is by asking people you know, especially those who waterproofed their basement in recent years. Also, you may use Google or HomeStars to find contractors. Prices can fluctuate by quite a bit when comparing different waterproofing contractors, but make sure you don’t base your decision on price. Rather, you should look at their reputation and references when picking a waterproofing contractor. Last but not least, make sure that the one you’re going to hire has the required licenses and enough insurance coverage to compensate you if project goes awry.
Your Professional Home Inspector – Barrie Home Inspector will advise you of any water problems when you buy a new or existing home.