Wet Basement? French Drains, Foundation Crack Repair, and Other Solutions Can Transform Your Home
Get your basement dry.
Crack repair and French drain systems can address moisture and odor issues! Damp.
Musty.
Dank.
These adjective are often the first that come to mind when describing a basement, but they don't have to be.
It is possible to get, and keep, just about every basement dry.
And once you eliminate the excessive moisture, you can also eliminate the mold and mildew that create the distinctively musty smell of "basement.
" So instead of just living with the clammy, smelly cave that is your basement, keep reading to learn what can be done! Your primary concern when it comes to damp, dank basements is stopping the water intrusion itself.
Moisture could be penetrating your foundation in a variety of ways, through cracks, seams, or even the walls themselves.
Depending on which of these is the source of your home's problem, you have the following repair solutions available: Foundation Crack Repair: The nature of water is always to take the path of least resistance, so if your foundation walls are cracked, the water is going to use these channels to invite itself into your home.
Even small cracks can allow some moisture into your basement, and unfortunately, due to the freezing and thawing cycle, small cracks can quickly turn into big fissures.
However, cracks in your concrete or block foundation don't have to be permanent.
These gaps can be sealed with an injection method that fully fills the crack from back to front, providing a waterproof barrier that keeps water out and reinforces your foundation against further deterioration.
French Drains: Standard construction practices mean that there is a seam between the foundation walls and the concrete floor of your basement.
When first installed, this usually isn't a problem, but as the concrete shrinks with age, gaps can open up along that seam--and in comes the water.
In this area, there's a more effective solution that just trying to plug up the space with more concrete (that will eventually dry, shrink, and develop the same issue): French drains.
This type of system collects and diverts water BEFORE it enters your home, working proactively to help you maintain a dry basement.
Here's how it works: A trench is dug around the interior perimeter of your basement.
That space is then filled with gravel and a perforated pipe that is carefully angled to direct water toward a sump pump.
Then, the whole thing is covered over with cement for a smooth finish.
Now, when water tries to get into your basement, it is collected by the pipes, flows into the sump pump, and is pushed out of your basement and away from your home.
Once you've dealt with the basement waterproofing issues, the sources of the smells, primarily mold and mildew, can also be eliminated.
Since these both need high moisture levels to thrive, foundation repair and waterproofing solutions can be the most effective route toward a basement that is both dry and odor-free!
Crack repair and French drain systems can address moisture and odor issues! Damp.
Musty.
Dank.
These adjective are often the first that come to mind when describing a basement, but they don't have to be.
It is possible to get, and keep, just about every basement dry.
And once you eliminate the excessive moisture, you can also eliminate the mold and mildew that create the distinctively musty smell of "basement.
" So instead of just living with the clammy, smelly cave that is your basement, keep reading to learn what can be done! Your primary concern when it comes to damp, dank basements is stopping the water intrusion itself.
Moisture could be penetrating your foundation in a variety of ways, through cracks, seams, or even the walls themselves.
Depending on which of these is the source of your home's problem, you have the following repair solutions available: Foundation Crack Repair: The nature of water is always to take the path of least resistance, so if your foundation walls are cracked, the water is going to use these channels to invite itself into your home.
Even small cracks can allow some moisture into your basement, and unfortunately, due to the freezing and thawing cycle, small cracks can quickly turn into big fissures.
However, cracks in your concrete or block foundation don't have to be permanent.
These gaps can be sealed with an injection method that fully fills the crack from back to front, providing a waterproof barrier that keeps water out and reinforces your foundation against further deterioration.
French Drains: Standard construction practices mean that there is a seam between the foundation walls and the concrete floor of your basement.
When first installed, this usually isn't a problem, but as the concrete shrinks with age, gaps can open up along that seam--and in comes the water.
In this area, there's a more effective solution that just trying to plug up the space with more concrete (that will eventually dry, shrink, and develop the same issue): French drains.
This type of system collects and diverts water BEFORE it enters your home, working proactively to help you maintain a dry basement.
Here's how it works: A trench is dug around the interior perimeter of your basement.
That space is then filled with gravel and a perforated pipe that is carefully angled to direct water toward a sump pump.
Then, the whole thing is covered over with cement for a smooth finish.
Now, when water tries to get into your basement, it is collected by the pipes, flows into the sump pump, and is pushed out of your basement and away from your home.
Once you've dealt with the basement waterproofing issues, the sources of the smells, primarily mold and mildew, can also be eliminated.
Since these both need high moisture levels to thrive, foundation repair and waterproofing solutions can be the most effective route toward a basement that is both dry and odor-free!
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