Basements and foundations are the most common areas for flooding to begin. As homeowners, we don’t often think about waterproofing our basements or foundations any more than they already are. However, adding a few improvements to the lower levels of your home can have a lasting effect by helping to prevent long-term issues related to water damage.
Let’s learn more about waterproofing the basement and foundation of your home.
Waterproof to Prevent Flooding
No one wants a flooded basement. Flooding is a very real problem in Kansas, and Lamunyon Dry Out & Foundation Repair has been assisting homeowners with their waterproofing needs since 1973. It only takes one summer storm and a cracked foundation to have water seeping into your basement, causing major water damage that can ultimately lead to costly home repairs.
Waterproofing will lead to reduced chances of flooding. At Lamunyon Dry Out & Foundation Repair, our specialists will identify the problem areas and fix the damage before putting preventative measures in place. Once we’ve identified the problem areas, we will do any necessary clean up including mold and mildew removal and restoration.
4 Reasons to Waterproof Your Basement and Foundation
- Floods and leaks will be less likely to strike your home and cause lasting damage. Flooding is a real risk to Kansas residents. Waterproofing your basement reduces the risk of flooding. When a professional waterproofs your basement, they install a variety of ways to keep water away from your basement, redirecting it away from your home.
- If water finds its way into your foundation, it can begin to cause cracks and shifts in your home’s structure. Waterproofing your basement can keep the foundation of your home from shifting and causing these cracks, leading to foundation issues and, eventually, larger structural problems.
- Where there is excess water, there is mold. Keeping the water out of your basement means you are taking the right steps to keep mold away from your home. Mold loves to grow in dark, wet, warm places – which is exactly what your basement provides. If water seeps into the cracks in your basement due to lack of waterproofing, you could have a major problem to deal with – and potential health hazards for your household.
- Waterproofing your basement keeps any personal items safe and dry. Most people use their basements as extra storage space. Keeping water and moisture out of the air and off the floor means your file boxes and personal belongings will remain safe and dry.
Steps to Waterproofing Your Basement
Basements are waterproofed during the building process, but like most things, tend to settle over time and require repairs. That’s where Lamunyon Dry Out & Foundation Repair comes in. Getting your basement ready for waterproofing is dependent on the level of seepage taking place in your home. Seepage is the slow leaking of water inside your basement. You may notice this as water runs down your walls and moisture becomes visible on walls, flooring, and other areas of your basement.
When you hire Lamunyon Dry Out & Foundation Repair, we will take care of everything needed to waterproof your basement and keep the moisture out. Here are some of the steps we take to get your basement walls prepped for waterproofing.
Step 1: Start With Dehumidifiers
A dehumidifier is a common household appliance that pulls excess moisture out of the air, trapping it in a basin attached to the unit. Dehumidifiers range in size and power – and our experts will take a look at the size of your basement to make sure we have the right size, or sizes, for your space.
Step 2: Search For Actual Cause
From here, we start looking for the actual cause of the water in the basement. Common issues that are easy to spot tend to be downspouts for gutters that are leaking too close to the basement walls. Improper grading in landscaping is also a cause for flooding and leaks, along with blocked drainage pipes. This is the biggest part of the dry out process. Once we find the issue, we can begin the repair process.
Step 3: Sump Pump Installations
We will also look at any sump pump installations to ensure they are working properly. If you do not have a sump pump, we may recommend that you install one. A sump pump helps handle excess water on particularly wet days. Its sole purpose is to draw water from precipitation and draw it away from your home, keeping flooding and water damage away from your basement.
How to Waterproof Your Home Against Flooding
We always recommend that a professional restoration team evaluate your home before you begin any work. It’s incredibly important to know what issues could potentially arise and how to prevent them from turning into larger problems down the road. If you cannot bring in a professional to waterproof your basement, you can take the following steps to hold you over until the professionals arrive.
1. Add In A Floor Drain And Sump Pump
A simple floor drain is perfect for a basement. This is located below the basement floor (get ready to do some digging if you haven’t already installed one of these!), and water that comes from the soil around your home is routed to this drain rather than accumulating into a puddle on your basement floor. A sump pump keeps water out before it even arrives, and if water does find its way into your basement, it will automatically remove it.
2. Keep Your Gutters Clean And Well-Maintained
Gutters are something that needs to be cleaned regularly. If you allow debris to gather in your gutters, rain, and water, you have nowhere to go other than into your home. Typically, gutter cleaning should happen once a year, but you may be able to push it to bi-annual cleanings. While you’re removing the leaves from your gutters, verify that the drains are not too close to your home. If gutters cause water to drain against the foundation of your home, this can lead to basement flooding.
3. Check Your Roof For Leaks
This one seems a little obvious, but if you suspect water damage in your home, check your roof for leaks. If there is not an active leak in the roof, verify that there are no signs of leaks on the walls or the floor. Keeping your roof maintained is extremely important to keep out unwanted water.
Equipment That We Recommend
At DIY repair shops, you may notice that sealants and cement are often used to repair cracks and leaks in your basement. We don’t recommend these methods, and we don’t use them in our repairs! Instead, we recommend installing drain tiles (which we offer with a lifetime warranty!), and even different monitoring systems to stay in front of the leaks – all connected through Wi-Fi!
Basements and foundations are the most common areas for flooding to begin. As homeowners, we don’t often think about waterproofing our basements or foundations any more than they already are. However, adding a few improvements to the lower levels of your home can have a lasting effect by helping to prevent long-term issues related to water damage. Let’s learn about the pros of waterproofing the basement and foundation of your home.
How We Protect Your Basement from Water Damage
Every basement is different, which means each waterproofing job will vary as well. Most common causes of basement flooding include:
- Cracks in basement walls
- Broken sump pumps
- Yards that are not draining properly
- Breaks in the foundation
Water seeping into the basement may rush in quickly or occur slowly and steadily depending on the type of damage sustained. When we begin to waterproof your basement, we will look at the above issues and start our fixes!
What We Will Do
- Check that groundwater is not able to seep into your basement. Is your basement floor protected below the concrete? If not, a pressure relief system will help open the floor around the perimeter of the basement, allowing for proper drainage.
- Install a correctly sized sump pump. Sump pumps are necessary when you experience consistent flooding. Choosing the right size sump pump and having it installed properly will remove excess water from your basement and move it away from your home.
- Repair any visible cracks. Any cracks that appear in basement walls, floors, or the foundation will be filled and repaired to keep water out!
- Review landscaping and make sure all drains are pointing away from the home. A fast review of your yard and downspouts/gutters will paint a picture of where water is draining as it arrives. If water is headed towards the home instead of away, a reroute is necessary.
Why Waterproofing is So Important to Your Home Maintenance
When you initially waterproof your home or ensure that your waterproofing is still in place, you are essentially verifying that your home is protected against the elements. We know that water in the wrong place in our homes is not good, but how bad can it really be to find a little water on the floor?
1. The Structure Of Your Home May Be In Danger
If there is water in your basement, it has to come from somewhere. Typically, this means that the soil around your home’s foundation is saturated and also prone to water seepage. This means that this water is pushing up against the sides of your home, which affects the edges and joints – most commonly where the floor meets your walls. The issue with this is the fact that the water is hidden!
You don’t know there is a problem until the water has caused walls to bow, foundations to crack, or even water to come into the home. By this time, the problem isn’t something that can be prevented but instead must be repaired to prevent further damage.
2. Protect Your Foundation
If you have a basement as part of the foundation, most likely, it is made of concrete, and it can be prone to cracking under the pressure of groundwater that presses against the thin floor. This can cause cracks and standing water. When this happens, it leads to mold and mildew, two things that can affect the health of you and your family! Repairing your home’s foundation can be a large undertaking, but professional waterproofing teams can assist with projects that may be too much work for do-it-yourself projects.
3. Protect Your Health And The Health Of Your Family
We discussed the importance of keeping the moisture out of the home to prevent mold and mildew. How bad can a little mold be? The answer is incredibly bad. Mold growth may begin as early as 72 hours of water arriving in your home. Mold loves dark, moist areas (like a basement!) and thrives in untreated areas. This area is perfect for harmful mold to grow and get into the vents of your home. Mold spores can cause asthma, breathing problems, infections, and much more.
Once you spot a patch of mold, call in the professional mold removers right away. You may think that wiping away the stain and covering it with bleach will kill the mold issue, but the truth is a professional has more tools and tricks to ensure that the mold is COMPLETELY removed, even from the areas that you can’t see.
How Can Lamunyon Dry Out & Foundation Repair Help
Since 1973, Lamunyon Dry Out & Foundation Repair has served Kansas residents suffering from water damage and foundation problems. We’ve seen every problem and understand how to fix the issues, but more importantly, we know how to prevent the problems before they happen.
If you find that your basement is flooding frequently, call us right away. Our Waterproofing team will begin by evaluating if your home is suffering from water damage and perform mold testing to ensure your home is not at risk of mold problems.
At Lamunyon Dry Out & Foundation Repair, we use the most up-to-date systems to keep water out and away from your basement. Read about our waterproofing services, and call us to schedule your consultation today.
