How To Stop Water From Leaking Into Your Home?

Water leakage in basements is a problem that can run havoc in your life. It ultimately weakens the foundation of your home, results in cracked walls, bowed walls, damage to items like your favorite books and so on. This problem is even bigger in moist and humid areas like Indiana (USA). But you can stop your house from having severe damage if you take care of the problem quickly. There are many ways to stop water leaking in basements by using technologically advanced and innovative basement finishing products. Opting for professional foundation repair services and basement waterproofing services would be the best. If you are wondering how to get a drier and cleaner basement by stopping water leakage then read on.

Sometimes home inspectors will alert home owners to water leaking in your house. A home inspector can give good insight on what type of problem you are having and advise on a company that they suggest. Sometimes companies that specialize in basement waterproofing and water leakage provide free consultation services such as Indiana Foundation Services. It is always beneficial to take advice of friends, relatives and neighbors who have recently got such work done.

There are many ways to stop water leaking in your basement, but the solution will depend on what is causing it. Requesting the service of professional basement finishing services will give you better results and save your basement and home from future damage. Water leaking in basements can be fixed by any of the following methods:


1) Exterior Excavation
2) DryTrak
3) Negative-side Waterproofing
4) WaterGuard
5) Interior Footing Drain

A professional landscaper can also contour the ground around your home in such a manner so that the water naturally flows away from your home. A dehumidifier will help to lower the moisture level in the air in your basement. A sump pump will stop your basement from flooding.

When you call a professional company such as Indiana Foundation Service, they will diagnose the problem and tell you why water is coming into the homes basement or crawl space. It is possible that they need to be cleaned and put into their proper place. Gutter guards cannot stop all pollinating flowers, such as oak pollen, from getting in your gutters and clogging your system. Is the air in your basement too damp? The grading around your house matters too. Whether water naturally pools near your house or not may be a reason for water leaking in your basement. Finding out the source of the problem leads to a good and enduring solution and that is what Indiana Foundation Service excels in.

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Basement Remodeling Starts With Reliable Waterproofing

Basement remodeling can add lots of extra living space to your home but beware; basement water leakage could put a real damper on your hopes if not properly corrected.

There are two conditions you must address for a dry basement, actual water leakage and condensation. Water leakage is a pretty obvious concern to homeowners but many are unaware of the problems that high humidity can cause to a finished basement.

Humidity Problems

Because a basement is below ground, it will be naturally cooler than the floors above ground. When warmer air from upstairs or outside enters the basement, it shrinks in volume as it cools. This shrinking or “condensing” of the air volume results in higher humidity. Everything porous in your basement will absorb the extra moisture in the air and cause a foul odor. Dehumidifiers are appliances which mechanically remove the unwanted extra humidity from your basement. A good dehumidifier is a must if you plan on remodeling your basement. Even a basement that doesn’t leak will benefit from using a dehumidifier.

Water Leakage

Without doubt, water leakage into the basement must be permanently corrected before you start your remodeling project. Start by correcting obvious sources of the problem; broken or non-existent rain gutters, down spouts emptying next to the foundation, ground outside sloping toward the home, uncovered underground windows, etc.


After you exhaust all preventative measures outside, try to identify areas inside where you are experiencing the leakage. If a corner of the basement seems to be a particular problem, again, look outside at your rain gutter downspouts. If you see cracks in the walls leaking, some of these can be repaired with hydraulic cement or crack injection. If water seems to be coming in from an isolated area, installing a sump pump below floor level can lower the water table and underground hydrostatic pressure in that area. If you are unsure or your problems seem to be widespread, it might be best to call in a building inspector, engineer or other professional to help you identify and solve your problem. There are a variety of services available to solve your leakage problems. These include; outside excavating, re-parging your walls, interior or exterior drainage systems, interior cove systems, grout or epoxy injection and others. Most of these options will require a professional.


Basement Remodeling Begins


I like studding the walls out with 2X4s. If you can spare the extra space, 2X6s are even better because they allow room for more insulation. Never, under any circumstances, nail furring strips onto the walls. Penetrating the foundation will compromise its barrier against water.

Use construction adhesive rather than nails or screws to adhere your bottom wall plate to the floor. It’s ok to nail the upper wall plates into the upper floor joists.

Don’t glue down your basement carpet. Carpet is something that is going to wear out and eventually need to be replaced. Glued down carpeting creates a real problem later on when trying to remove it. Tell your carpet installer to use construction adhesive to install the carpet tack strips around the perimeter. Do not allow them to drive nails into the cement floor.


Summary


With some common sense construction techniques, a reliable waterproofing system and humidity control, you can enjoy a lot of extra living space by remodeling your basement.

About the Author: Robert Clarke has owned B-Dry System NEPA, a basement waterproofing company, for the last 20 years. Visit http://b-drybasementswaterproofingnepennsylvania.com/basement-remodeling.html for more information. He has also served as President of the B-Dry Owners Association, a nationally recognized group of basement waterproofing contractors. Visit http://www.basementleakage.com/basement-waterproofing.html for details.

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