How to get and keep a dry basement

by | Feb 5, 2015 | Construction and Maintenance

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A basement is a great thing to have in a home as it provides extra space for storage as well as recreation but before any construction or reparations can be done in the basement it has to be completely dry and it needs to stay that way. A dry basement not only result in an area that you can enjoy for many different reasons it will eliminate damage to anything stored in the area as well as ensure that mold and mildew do not have a place to take over and colonize. The best way to make your basement dry is to engage basement waterproofing contractors in Philadelphia area that can identify the root of the problem and rectify it; often this is much easier said than done.

There can be a number of things causing the basement in your home to be damp or wet; cracks in the concrete floor or walls, plumbing leaks, condensation are three of the most common problems. A professional team of waterproofing experts will be able to search for the problem, they can easily identify cracks in the foundation or perhaps condensation that is forming around the basement windows or leaking plumbing pipes. Once you know what the problem is then basement waterproofing contractors in Philadelphia can get busy creating a long lasting dry space.

Obviously the best way to ensure a dry basement is to waterproof it and there are a number of viable alternatives available. In many cases simply diverting water runoff from the roof will do it using a dry well or foundation drains while other solutions such as waterproofing the interior basement walls and floor or the installation of a sump pump or French drain will solve the problem.

One of the first lines of defense is something that the homeowner can do without any professional help and that is to ensure that the gutters are kept free of debris and they slope properly towards the downpipe. It may be hard to believe but a 30 minute rainfall on the roof of an average suburban home can result in well over 1,000 gallons of water that has to go somewhere. If this water is not captured by the gutter and directed away from the foundations then the potential of a wet basement is very high.

The application of effective waterproofing materials should be left in the hands of competent basement waterproofing contractors in Philadelphia as should the installation of a sump pump or French drain. These solutions most certainly will work but there is a right way and a wrong way to install them and using professionals is always well warranted.

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