Basement Waterproofing. What's True and What's Not
When you live in an area like Massachusetts or in Connecticut, where it rains and snows, one of your main concerns as a homeowner is the likelihood of dealing with water damage. You may be thinking of getting basement waterproofing services, but the problem is that there are many myths surrounding this particular service.
It’s not easy to make a decision because you are going to spend money on this project. Hopefully, this article will give you a clearer idea of what is fact and what is not when it comes to basement waterproofing:
Myth #1: "It is a long and expensive process that involves the company digging up the foundation, and it's not even worth it."
Truth:
A reliable waterproofing company never makes assumptions about what a particular project is going to require until the house is thoroughly assessed. Only then will the team be able to determine the cause, which could be one of these:
- Leaky drain spouts that are driving water from your roof that gets too close to the foundation
- Incorrectly graded shrubbery bed that could be bringing water towards the foundation walls
- Window wells that are sloping downwards, pouring funnel water into the wall
- Malfunctioning sump pumps
- Dryers or other appliances that are not properly venting
As a reminder, you shouldn’t be swayed by fly-by-night contractors who claim to be experts and already know what to do without even doing an inspection. This is a significant red flag that you must keep in mind.
Myth #2: "You can fix any basement wall crack from the outside."
Truth: Most cracks are the reason water seeps into your basement, so a waterproofing company will definitely know how to fix them best. Thanks to new industry advancements, cracks that are non-structural risks can be fixed from the inside of your basement. What the waterproofing technician will do is inject sealant that will fill the crack so that there won’t be any space for the water to seep through.
However, this is not always applicable. For more extensive cracks or if the wall is porous already, the experts may decide that it’s better to address the problem from the outside. It may also be necessary to install a waterproofing membrane around the home’s exterior.
Myth #3: "Your mold basement wall only needs a layer of waterproofing paint and all your mold and moisture problems will be gone."
Truth: Painting over a wall with mold growth is not a solution at all. In fact, all you’re doing is concealing those molds but they’re still there and can still cause health problems.
You can try bleaching and scrubbing the wall, but that’s still just a temporary fix. Unless the underlying cause of the problem is addressed, you can expect those molds to grow again and spread even more. A professional mold removal service is needed to ensure that the mold is completely gone. Our team at Advanced Basement Waterproofing will also find the cause of the moisture in your basement and solve that before all else.
Conclusion
It’s important to know what’s true and what’s just fiction when it comes to things that involve your home's safety and integrity. After all, you don’t want to risk facing water damage in the future and put the whole family’s safety at risk.
However, you wouldn’t want to make hasty decisions either, especially when it comes to choosing the company that will handle your basement waterproofing and mold removal. A simple search for “wet basement repair companies near me” wouldn’t suffice. Make sure the company has a good reputation and positive client reviews before you hire them!
Advanced Basement Waterproofing is here to provide reliable basement waterproofing and mold remediation services in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. No matter how big or small the problem is, our seasoned technicians will look for the cause of the problem and deal with it before it gets worse. Contact us today to learn more about our services!
