Although lots of people often assume that basement waterproofing is about removing water from the basement, it is much more than that. Typically, it is a system used for controlling and managing water that gets into your property. It combines different methods to make sure that water doesn’t damage your home. Some of the methods include the use of drainage channels and the installation of a sump pump.

Problems associated with a wet basement

If your basement is not waterproofed, it may be wet or flooded. This could happen due to an array of causes such as cracks and holes in the walls and floors.  Flooding and poor drainage system can also lead to a wet basement. Whatever the cause may be, certain issues are associated with a flooded basement. Some of these issues are:

• Insect infestation

If your home is infested by insects such as spiders, beetles, termites, and ants, you will have a hard time eliminating them. While some of these insects are beneficial, most of them tend to destroy different items inside your basement. In addition, insect infestation can be quite unsightly.

• Mold growth

Moisture, air, and shaded area are the three important factors that molds need to grow. Unfortunately, a wet basement provides these three factors. Therefore, it doesn’t come as a surprise that a wet basement is one of the most favorite places for mold.

Mold growth has been associated with numerous health issues. A few common symptoms are blurred vision, sinus and nasal congestion, skin rash, eye irritation, chronic cough, and sore throat. It can also aggravate asthma and allergic reactions.

• Foundation damage

Foundation damage is another common issue that a wet basement can cause.

• Reduced home value

Generally, the value of a home is directly associated with its condition. If the basement of your home is in bad condition, its value will be lower than it ought to be.

Basement waterproofing solutions

Basement waterproofing solutions are a bit complex. Hence, you need the services of seasoned basement waterproofing contractors such as Foundation Systems of Michigan who offer excellent Michigan basement repair. The basement waterproofing solutions you can get are divided into two parts.

Interior waterproofing

Interior basement waterproofing refers to a technique for re-routing out water that gets into a basement. It usually comes in the form of an interior drainage system. The system will have different kinds of drains and pipes that will receive excess groundwater and send it away from the property.

Crushed rocks are also placed around the system to prevent the water from gathering under or around the foundation of the house. A sump pit will be created near the system to collect the excess water from the home. Notably, a sump pit is a big basin that is made for holding and keeping excess water. A sump pump is positioned inside the pit to pump water from the basement out of the property.

Exterior waterproofing

The second solution is exterior waterproofing. It has two parts – a surface drainage system and an exterior drainage system. The surface drainage usually has downspouts, gutters, and grading that ensure that water doesn’t pool around the house. 

On the other hand, the exterior drainage system contains a drain tile system (otherwise called a French drain). The combination of these two exterior waterproofing solutions makes sure that water doesn’t come into your basement.

With the information above, you are now acquainted with everything you need to know about basement waterproofing.