There are no one-size-fits-all solutions for a leaking basement. If you’re looking to get ahead of water damage, however, or prevent moisture from making its way into your home in the first place, then you’ll want to explore what waterproofing systems are available to you and why wet basement repair is so important.
Reasons to Address Your Wet Basement
When you have issues with a wet basement, you might feel like it’s not really a big deal. After all, isn’t a wet basement just a natural part of owning a basement? Even though wetness in a basement is common, it’s certainly not a good thing to just ignore. Addressing your wet basement can be a helpful way to improve your home in a variety of ways.
Home Value
A wet basement lowers your home value overall. When you put your home on the market, people are going to come and take a look at it. Of course, people are going to feel like the well-maintained basement is on average more worth their time.
Even if you’re not expecting to sell your home anytime soon, it’s still a good idea to start investing in your home’s value as early as possible. People consider real estate an investment for a reason; a well-maintained home will often pay you dividends. On the other end, if you haven’t maintained your home, you’re more likely going to have to invest in more expensive fixes once you do go to sell the home, which can be frustrating and cut into your profits significantly.
Family Health
Even if you don’t plan on selling your home, you should still fix a wet basement because of the potential for serious health concerns. Your family’s health should be one of the most important things you consider when you’re thinking about what you want to do with your home. Unfortunately, humidity is one of the most potentially harmful things that can infest a home, and that includes your basement.
Humidity provides the perfect growing spot for mold and mildew; these can be hugely irritating for your lungs, causing respiratory issues akin to allergies every time you walk into your home. Plus, if you have puddles of water in your basement, you’re more likely to have issues with pest infestations, which can carry diseases to the entirety of your family. Keeping your family safe starts with keeping your basement healthy, and a wet basement isn’t a healthy one.
Structural Integrity and Future Concerns
A wet basement can negatively impact your home’s overall structural integrity. Humidity is one of the most difficult things to deal with in a home; it can cause sagging floor joists, create the ideal growing space for wood rot, and allow mold to start growing and weakening your home’s organic material. These things can all have a serious impact on your home’s structural integrity overall.
When you fix wet basement problems, you’re setting yourself up for success in the future as well. Wet basement problems will only get worse over time; when you think about your current wet basement problems early on, you’re going to be able to fix them with as little time, money, and energy as possible. With these successes, you’re making your home issues easier for your future self.
Available Basement Waterproofing Measures
There are many basement waterproofing measures available. Determining which can best help you protect your home can be a challenge, and that’s where Innovative Basement Authority professionals can help. After evaluating your home during a free inspection, our experts will recommend the solutions best suited to repair your wet basement and protect your home.
Some of the most effective basement waterproofing options include:
Interior Drainage System
If persistent leaking seems to be a problem in your basement, you need an interior drainage system to intercept that water before it makes its way to the rest of the basement to damage your belongings and supports. This system is installed throughout your basement’s perimeter just underneath your basement floor to catch leaking water from your walls and floor. The water is then channeled to a sump pump system so it can be removed from your home.
Sump Pumps
As noted above, it’s essential to pair interior drainage systems with a sump pump. Should your basement start to take on water, these pumps can kick in and forcefully remove that seepage from your space. If a storm knocks out your electricity, you may have a more difficult time protecting your basement from flooding. However, if you invest in a battery backup sump pump, you can rest easily knowing that your sump pump will continue to pump water from your home while you’re in the midst of a flooding event.
Vapor Barrier
Vapor barriers are thick plastic-like sheets that can be installed on your basement walls. While most often used in crawl spaces, these materials are dense enough to keep liquid and gaseous moisture out of your home. Our basement vapor barrier system is completely waterproof and has an added antimicrobial layer of protection. It can easily be paired with our interior drainage system and help with waterproofing by allowing any leaking water to flow behind the sheet and down into the perimeter drainage system.
Dehumidifiers
If you’ve found yourself contending with damp walls and higher levels of humidity throughout your home, a dehumidifier is an effective measure for you. Dehumidifiers pull unwanted moisture out of your air. Courtesy of a system of pipes and coolant, that water will transform from a gas into a liquid. Our self-draining unit automatically drains into your perimeter drainage system or sump pump. While a dehumidifier might not prove the most effective waterproofing measure if you’re faced with flooding on a regular basis, they can help you get ahead of potential basement damage while also lowering your risk of leaking pipes, not to mention your electric bill.
Effectively Repair Your Wet Basement with Professional Assistance
Basement waterproofing measures don’t have to be difficult to install. You can work with the professionals in your area to determine which of the available solutions might suit your home best. After a home inspection, Innovative Basement Authority’s team can provide you with a free comprehensive quote on the services that will not only restore any of your home’s lost value but keep it from succumbing to water damage in the future.
