Working with Construction Contractors

One considerably terrifying experience for any homeowner is a flooded basement. This problem can result in severe health hazards and structural damage even after removing and drying the water. Generally, basement flooding can result from foundation wall damage, exposing your basement to excessive moisture and the growth of mould and mildew. Conducting preventative maintenance can help prevent costly damage and expensive repairs to your basement. Since your basement is a significant investment critical to your home's structural integrity, it's important to take the necessary measures to ensure proper waterproofing. Here are four essential tips to achieve that: 

Foundation Crack Repairs and Maintenance

Cracks allow water to seep into your foundation walls and cause basement flooding. An excellent way to waterproof your basement is to repair the crevices and waterproof them with an appropriate sealant. 

However, waterproofing sealants and paints might only protect against marginal water damage. If your foundation walls allow excessive water to enter your basements, the waterproofing paint might not hold up until you repair the existing cracks. 

Consider Proper Guttering

Dirt and debris can block your gutters, causing the water to flow to undesired locations. Therefore, inspect your gutters for potential blockages and damage that cause leakages. A gutter inspection might be tricky, especially if you lack the proper tools and equipment for the work. For this reason, consider hiring an experienced inspector to conduct professional investigations and damage inspections. 

Apply Foundation Coatings

Your last line of defence against leaking foundation walls is using waterproofing coating. Therefore, never skimp on this coating since it is highly effective in managing damp basement walls. Generally, your contractor can roll or brush these coatings on poured concrete walls, concrete blocks or masonry foundations. Typically, these ready-mix products come in white or neutral colours but can be paired with your preferred tint to match your aesthetic taste. 

Waterproofing coatings are easy and quick to apply, but this might depend on your project's scale. Besides, most of them take a short time to dry and allow additional coats. 

Install a Sump Pump

Finally, consider investing in a good sump pump if you experience extensive water damage in your basement. You can install these tiny pumps in your sump pit or other locations facing groundwater intrusion inside your basement. They help neutralise basement flooding and are ideal for high moisture or humidity basements. 

There you have it! Consider these four tips to waterproof your basement. These tips are easy to follow and relatively inexpensive to execute. 

Contact a professional to learn more about waterproofing.