Basement Waterproofing Introduction For New Homeowners
Posted on: 27 August 2018
Every new homeowner struggles with some of the finer details of dealing with the house and the property. One of the things that many homeowners may not be familiar with is the symptoms and treatment of a leaky basement. If you've started to smell dampness and mildew in your basement, that's an indication that there's a leak somewhere that you need to address. Here are a few things you should keep in mind as you approach this process.
Don't Dismiss The Problem
Particularly if you don't really use your basement for anything, it's tempting to just ignore the problem. After all, waterproofing will cut into your budget. Unfortunately, ignoring it is not going to help your situation. Not treating a damp basement is only going to lead to further problems because it will allow the moisture to accumulate. This can cause a variety of issues.
Moisture can breed bacteria. This creates an unhealthy living environment. In addition, the mold growth that occurs as a result of it can be damaging to your whole family's respiratory health. Further, allowing the moisture to accumulate will render your basement completely unusable, will damage any items that you have stored down there, and can even put your appliances at risk if you have things like the furnace or the hot water heater installed down there.
Left too long, moisture in your basement can even lead to severe foundation damage. This can require costly repairs to fix the structural integrity of the foundation, and the damage can actually reduce the overall value of your house.
Don't Try To Go It Alone
While there are many different products out there that claim to be waterproofing kits you can do yourself, it's never a good idea to try to handle waterproofing yourself. Waterproofing is a technical process, and without the skills and knowledge to do it the right way, you may ultimately find that the process is ineffective.
Whether you miss a spot, don't apply the coating thick enough, or don't get the walls clean enough first, you'll eventually have to seek the help of a waterproofing contractor to fix it. It can be more expensive to repair a botched waterproofing job than it would be to have the waterproofing done by a contractor the first time.
Take Your Time Hiring Someone
It's important that you don't rush into the decision when you're choosing a waterproofing contractor. Rushing the choice can leave you hiring an inexperienced contractor without realizing it. Make sure that you explore all of your options and get several quotes before you choose someone.
In addition, have each contractor clearly explain their quotes to you so that you know exactly what is included. That's the only way that you can accurately compare your quotes to choose the right one.
Further, getting multiple quotes will help to ensure that you don't end up paying for work that really isn't necessary. Some contractors may suggest things that could be beneficial, but aren't required. However, you may have the impression that those things are necessary as part of the project, so you might pay for things you don't really need. When you seek multiple quotes, you will get several opinions and you can determine what work is really necessary from there.
Moisture in the basement is a serious concern that must be dealt with properly. Keep this information in mind as you're deciding how to deal with it if you've discovered a leak in your home's basement. The more proactive you are, the less damage you're likely to have to repair. Talk with a local home waterproofing contractor today for more guidance.
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