How To Waterproof Your Home & Basement

If you have a basement, chances are from time to time it feels damp and musty. It's important to address this issue and not ignore it because moisture in basements overtime can create serious problems. What is the solution you ask? Waterproofing your basement walls is the answer. There are both interior and exterior waterproofing options so you'll first need to examine the cause of the moisture to figure out which option is best for you and your home. Balboa Realty, the leaders in Orange County property management will guide you every step of the way.

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Cause of Moisture

First, figure out the cause of the moisture. You can hire a waterproofing expert or you can do an at home test with a piece of aluminum foil. Tape it to the basement walls and keep it there for at lease 1 day. Take a look and see where the condensation is. If the condensation is on the outside of the foil the moisture is due to humidity in the room and house which can be fixed with a dehumidifier. If the condensation is in the inside of the foil then you will need to waterproof your walls. 

Moisture Damage 

If your basement moisture problem goes unsolved, it's only a matter of time before serious damage occurs. Heavy rainfall could cause a flood which can ruin furniture, the floor, electrical fixture and lines and create a huge expensive headache. If the damp conditions have been a persisting problem, this can cause a slow growth of mold. This often goes undetected because you can't see it growing behind the drywall and it often has no smell. You will need to get the mold removed because it is detrimental to both your own personal health and the health of your home. If you believe this to be the case, hire a mold removal expert to address this problem first and then look into waterproofing your walls.

Types of Waterproofing

There are both interior and exterior waterproofing solutions. You can use a concrete waterproof coating that go on concrete and unpainted walls and act as a cement barrier to any water. If your walls are painted, you can use a super thick and concentrated amount of waterproof acrylic based paint to act as a waterproofer. Another do it yourself waterproofer is a silicate concrete sealer which absorb into the material of the wall and when dry it makes the wall waterproof. All of these interior waterproofers will get the job done and protect your house, but the very best choice is to waterproof your exterior walls. This process if much more expensive running you at least $15,000, but it is well worth the money. This solution involves digging around your home to reach the walls of your home's foundation, waterproofs the foundation, and then uses panels to drain the water away from the foundation of your home.

Published on Friday, November 17, 2017