Basement Waterproofing: Your Key to a Drier, Safer Home

Why Is It Important to Waterproof Your Basement?

Most of the houses around Kansas City are built with a basement. If not, they at least have a crawl space. And as most homeowners know, a basement is a great addition to square footage, storage space, and even living space. However, it must be safe, secure, and dry to function as a livable space. Usually, the basement area and foundation near it get damaged, mostly because of water infiltration and increased moisture levels.

There are several other problems you can face that’s associated with water infiltration, and repairing all these problems can cost you a fortune. That’s why, there’s no time to delay; learn all about the reasons and methods to waterproof your basement to protect your home from us. Let’s get started!

Why You Need to Waterproof Basements

There are various reasons why waterproofing your basement is necessary. The most prominent reasons are:

Preventing Water Damage

Since the basement is located underground, it’s more susceptible to water intrusion by seepage through walls or floors. Water in the basement area can damage the structure, floor, and other belongings stored there. That’s why it’s important to waterproof the basement to prevent water damage.

Preventing Structural Damage

Excessive moisture and water can weaken the structural elements over time and make your house vulnerable. You’ll eventually see cracks in the foundation, structure sifting, or other dangerous issues when basement water seepage isn’t dealt with for a long time. That’s why it’s crucial to waterproof the basement to prevent any accidents and to replace the structure.

Preventing Mold and Mildew

Mold and mildew thrive in humid environments, and a damp basement provides the ideal environment for them to grow. Mold is dangerous, as it’s not only damaging to the structure, but also harmful for our health. That’s why when you waterproof the basement, it seals out moisture and prevents mold and mildew growth.

Enhancing Property Value

A leaked basement is not desirable, it’s almost as horrifying as a damaged basement. If you want to rent or sell your house, potential clients won’t usually choose your house as the basement isn’t usable due to water penetration or increased moisture. That’s why you need to waterproof the basement if you want to increase your property value.

RELATED: Another way to increase your basement's property value is with the installation of an egress basement window.

Enhancing Living Space

Many people use their basement as a storage, a workshop, an additional living space, etc. And when you waterproof this area, there’s almost no chance of water seepage and a humid environment. This step makes the space more suitable for our work and living. If you have considered a way to filter your air, consider the EZ Breathe System. The EZ Breathe system is designed to pull cool, damp air from the lowest level, basement, or crawl space, and expel it outside removing excess moisture that often lead to musty odors, mildew smells, mold, and inconsistent air exchange.

Improving Energy Efficiency

Extra humidity in the basement will also affect the entire house, and the energy bill for heating and ventilation will increase a lot. That’s why waterproofing your basement will save you money on your energy bill while improving energy efficiency for a sustainable future.

Methods to Waterproof Your Basement

There are several methods you can find to waterproof your basement. They all have their own characteristics; the methods are:

Crack Repair

Repairing cracks is one of the first steps you need to take to waterproof the basement. Cracks can not only seep moisture and water but also widen and eventually break the structural components. That’s why you'll usually need to utilize this method before you try other methods of basement waterproofing. Usually, sealant, epoxy, or polyurethane injections are used to fill the cracks.

Preventive Measures

There are some basic preventive measures you can take that will help waterproof your basement more. These small steps or methods are:

● Plant flower beds around the house with plants with small roots, they’ll capture excess ground moisture without damaging the structure.

● Check if the ground slope is away from the house. If not, then slope it properly.

● Clean and repair the gutters whenever necessary.

● Check, clean, and repair the window well whenever needed.

Encapsulation

Encapsulation is a method where thick plastic coverings are used on floors and walls of the basement to seal the area from any water or gas infiltration. Some of the covers also have coatings that can prevent mold growth. This enhances the living experience and also protects belongings in that area.

Drainage System

There are several drainage systems available for waterproofing your basement. Sometimes you’ll need more than one drainage system for an efficient, watertight basement. The main drainage systems for your basement are:

Sump Pump

If you want to redirect water from your basement area, then you need to install a sump pump. This pump monitors the water level where it’s installed, and starts working to send water outside by pumping when the water level rises over a standard height.

Drainwall

The drainwall is a channeled waterproofing panel that lets water flow to the subfloor drainage system. This panel is usually permanently attached to the basement wall and protects the basement from any water damage.

French Drain

A French drain is a system made with PVC pipes in a gravel-filled trench that is sloped towards a drainage point. When this drain is installed on the exterior side, it’s called a ‘french drain’. But when it’s installed inside the basement, it’s known as ‘interior drain tiles’.

If you install this drainage system, you don’t usually need any other waterproofing method, as it can control water seepage through walls and floors, and effectively relieve water pressure against the foundation.

Floor Drain

Most times, the floor drain is installed below the basement floor. You’ll see round or square grates on the floor itself,they’re the floor drains. When there is excessive water caused by heavy rain, the floor drain effectively absorbs and redirects water. However, they can’t help much when the water amount is low.

Now that you know why you need to waterproof your basement and the solution methods, you shouldn’t leave things as they are. You need to do regular inspections to find out any signs of water damage or other damages that can potentially lead to water problems. Also, ask a professional at PierMagic to do a thorough evaluation today! Reach out to Kansas City's best waterproofing and foundation repair specialists.