A basement is the most important part of the home or commercial structure. Typically, where all heating, electrical and storage facilities are and commonly the least used by people, it is unfortunate it is where most of the problems occur. Water seepage and mold in a basement can lead to many problems which will almost definitely affect the entire home sooner rather than later. If you’re dealing with leaky walls or floors in your basement, chances are you’re already overwhelmed. When it comes to waterproofing a basement, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach. Following below are 3 approaches that you can take to remedy this situation.
- Sealing off the Affected Area
When injections and sealants are applied to leaky areas, it is widely considered to be a band-aid fix. Similar to a spackle job on dry-wall or epoxy over a kitchen area, these solutions can provide temporary relief to what seems like an emergency problem. It is widely advised that homeowners and clients select more permanent measures, such as drainage systems to re-route water from the soil and prevent it from leaking into the walls that have already been affected.
The issue with sealants come into play when walls contract and expand, which can jostle the sealants loose. This would put you back to square one and that would only be when you notice the warning signs that the water seepage has returned.
- Interior Drainage
This technique is the most commonly used for waterproofing a basement. Technicians will dig a trench along where the basement wall meets the basement floor, and installing a drain and pump to move water out. This is typically more conspicuous than an exterior drainage system and helps prevent flooding or water leakage in the future. This is more an efficient system than sealants or epoxies and is especially well suited for older homes, who are not able to completely replace the foundation in their homes. When the interior drainage system is complete, you’ll have new, dry walls, and any residual water will be steered away, saving you the headache of having to apply any additional repairs.
- Exterior Drainage
Exterior Drainage is the most comprehensive and fail-safe way to prevent future water damage from affecting the foundation of your home or commercial structure. However, on the same token, it is also much more expensive, time-consuming, and dangerous. This involves combining the techniques used in an Interior Drainage system along with coating the exterior walls of a residence with flexible foam in order to anticipate the swelling and shrinking of the walls and foundation.
Waterproofing is an incredibly important and necessary part of being a homeowner. This is one of the biggest issues that can come along with owning a new home. The good news is there are many options you can choose from depending on your situation and your budget. There are many repair companies in your area such as Dry Mich who offer Michigan basement waterproofing and will provide free consultation and knowledgeable advice to help you find the perfect repair schedule for your situation.
