You should be sure that you know about basement waterproofing if your home has a basement. Basements are prone to flooding, especially in high levels of moisture and rain fall (like when the snow melts or in areas of the country where torrential downpours are frequent). Water problems inside the house such as leaking pipes can also cause flooding in the basement. You should be very interested in basement waterproofing methods when you have your basement constantly threatened by water damage.
Finding the exact source of the leak is the first step to waterproofing a basement after a leak occurs. External and internal basement waterproofing methods are effective and look similar but they are different. Leaks from household pipes or other internal sources will have different solutions from those leaks that stem from structural integrity problems.
Three basic kinds of basement waterproofing exist:
They are Interior sealants, interior water drainage and external waterproofing. You should examine each method of basement waterproofing to know the best way to make sure that your home isn’t at risk of severe water damage.
Technically, interior Sealants aren’t basement waterproofing materials, but they can help you make do while you are working on other waterproofing methods. Interior sealant is usually used to keep the atmospheric humidity levels in your basement low. Moisture can be prevented from getting absorbed into the walls and floors of the basement by the sealant. It can as well keep the moisture from spilling into other areas of the house.
Interior Water Drainage. Just like interior sealants, interior water drainage isn’t technically a method of basement waterproofing, but it is usually used to help deal with basement water levels. Thus, many people take it to be waterproofing. Usually interior drainage systems drain away most water that is already inside by directing the water through the footers of the foundation and then out from underneath the basement floor. With a sump pump, you can get this done all by yourself. But make sure that the drainage system will still be functional in case the power goes off or the sump pump temporarily fails.
The best method for basement waterproofing is Exterior Basement Waterproofing. It is the only basement waterproofing method to be seen as efficient enough to keep water from doing any intense structural damage to a building or home by the International Building Code. Polymers or membranes are used in exterior waterproofing to waterproof the basement walls. They are seen as the best option for waterproofing because these polymers can last thousands of years.
And because your basement forms the foundation to the rest of your home or building, it is crucial to make sure that your basement is waterproof. It is the best place for mold and mildew to begin their growth process. Costly damages can be done to your home by mold and mildew and it is difficult to remove most mold and mildew spores. The best way to keep your home warm, safe and dry is basement waterproofing.