Basement waterproofing specialists have many tools at their disposal to get the water out of your basement. Interior drainage systems, sump pumps, industrial-strength dehumidifiers, and other even more advanced techniques can dry out a flooded basement in no time.

Of course, there’s an even better way to deal with wet foundation: prevent it. With proper basement sealing before you have ‘water in the basement’ syndrome, you can prevent all the damage that comes with basement flooding. You can skip the costs of mold removal, basement wall repair, or even a complete basement remodel. A little forethought can save you a ton of money.

However, waterproofing your basement before the flood is not just a matter of a good basement seal, there are a couple of other items you’ll want to consider as well.

gutters

Gutters play a very important role in preventing basement flooding. Simply put, if you don’t have water pooling against the outside of your basement wall, you won’t see water in your basement. A good gutter system ensures that the water is deposited away from your home or, in some cases, into a large underground cistern that is designed to withstand a week’s worth of heavy rain.

Cracks in the foundation

Many people don’t make the immediate connection between their basement waterproofing and cracks in their home’s foundation. Of course, if you stop and think about it, you can see the mechanics: water enters through the foundation, at which point you only have whatever your basement walls and floors are made of before entering your basement proper, and those items are often made of wood, which the water will eventually independently destroy or leak.

Foundation waterproofing

Actual basement waterproofing requires three steps: Drying out the basement, sealing the basement, and fixing any remaining issues (such as removing mold, repairing the basement wall, etc.), removing any standing water, and then using a powerful dehumidifier to dry out any stains. of moisture remaining.

The actual basement sealing is often a multi-step process in and of itself. It usually starts by plugging visible cracks from the inside of the foundation and basement walls. A good coat of waterproofing paint (NOT waterproofing, but waterproofing) is the second part of the process. Then clean it up by finding all the holes (windows, ducts, pipes, etc.) between the inside of the basement and the outside, and caulk or seal around them.

Finally, the last repairs can happen. This involves finding any mold or water damaged item, be it furniture, carpet, the walls themselves, or anything else, and replacing it. Once all the damaged property is replaced (there shouldn’t be many if it hasn’t already been flooded), you can go back to living in your basement. Just keep an eye on the smell; it’s the first sign that another leak has surfaced, but you shouldn’t have to worry about it for the last two years.

If you find any of these tasks beyond the range of being able to do them yourself, a good basement waterproofing company can usually help you with some of these preventative steps at a relatively affordable price.