A home is only as sturdy as its foundation. And your home's foundation isn't always easy to take care of - particularly during the rainy season. The average rainfall in the Delaware River Valley, for instance, is about three and a half inches. And while this may not seem like much, it's enough to make basement waterproofing a priority for many homeowners.
But too many homeowners don't make basement waterproofing a priority until it's too late. They wait until they have a wet, leaking basement, or until they find a crack in the foundation caused by years of expanding and contracting water.
But keeping your foundation dry doesn't have to be a nightmare. In your basement, waterproofing can be accomplished in any of several ways.
Basement Waterproofing Via French Drain. A French drain, or dual pressure relief system, is a system that helps your basement resist water damage by directing rainwater into a sump pump. To install a French drain, you'd dig a trench around the perimeter of your basement floor, then embed a perforated pipe in a bed of crushed stone. Water trickles through the stone into the pipe and is fed to the sump pump, which pumps the drainage safely away. The system is built within the interior of your foundation, keeping your home safe from the dangers of a wet basement.
Basement Waterproofing Via Exterior Gravity System. This is similar to a French drain, except the entire system is laid in the ground outside your foundation. The installation process involves laying a perforated pipe in a bed of crushed stone around the problem areas in your home's foundation. The pipe collects water, which flows into a second, non-perforated pipe, which carries it away from your foundation.
Basement Waterproofing Via Basement Finishing. Not looking forward to basement waterproofing? A good way to convince yourself to do so is to turn it into a finished living area. Basement remodeling can turn a darkened storage area into a cozy media room, or library, or family game room. A quality basement waterproofing contractor will inspect your basement for mold, begin a mold remediation process if your basement needs one, and tell you everything you need to know about keeping a dry basement.
When you approach it proactively, waterproofing your basement isn't a problem. Taking care of your home's foundation, and making sure your crawlspaces don't become a haven for black mold and mildew, always works better as a preventative measure. Assess your basement's vulnerability today. It's never too early to think about.
Custom Search