Which Basement Waterproofing Solution Should I Have Installed?

No basement is completely waterproof until all possible bases are covered. There should be multiple ways in which water can be drained out since water can seep into a basement in different ways. There also should be different ways to stop humidity and water vapor. All in all, your basement will look and function radically different once you have all the waterproofing solutions put into place. If you aren’t able to get all the solutions installed at the same time, then you can start with the most pressing issues first.

Every basement is different, which means that the solutions you’ll need the most are suggestions that a foundation expert is better suited to give. That said, due to the climate of the region and the soil, we can recognize what the most common problems are and give our recommendations with those in mind. Fargo, ND, is covered in soil from the Fargo series, which are poorly drained clay soils of glacial lake. Hydrostatic pressure is common in regions with poorly drained soils, so to combat this issue, you need a drainage system capable of draining groundwater from the surrounding foundation. A powerful sump pump should be able to do just that, so consider getting one or upgrading the one you already have.

Summers are hot and humid in Fargo, especially because of all the thunderstorms. To ward off the humidity and protect your home from the stack effect, you need a vapor barrier and a dehumidifier. Vapor barriers stop water vapor from entering your basement while dehumidifiers take care of the dampness that’s already there. The water collected by the dehumidifier is automatically sent to the sump pump, so you don’t have to dump it yourself. Once you get these initial waterproofing solutions, most of your basement problems may be gone.