A wet basement isn’t any fun, and it can cause considerable damage to your home or business assets and foundation. These can, in turn, lead to significant financial losses. Fortunately, there are waterproofing systems for foundations that deliver strong, effective results, keeping your basement dry, comfortable, and functional.
The Importance of Basement Waterproofing
If the soil around and under your basement becomes damp enough, it can leak into your basement, to the point of causing your foundation to subside and requiring foundation repair. Whether you need a residential or commercial basement waterproofing solution for your Rochester property, the process requires a multi-faceted approach to keep your basement dry and comfortable.
Basement Waterproofing Solutions
You’ll need to work with a basement waterproofing contractor to ensure that your basement will remain resistant to water that can seep in through the cracks and crevices in your basement walls and seams between the footers, slab, and walls. This involves a multi-part process.
Waterproofing Systems for Foundations
To start, you’ll need to have your basement surfaces treated to remain waterproof. Though it can be attempted on the exterior of your basement walls, this is often the more invasive and expensive route, as all of your basement walls will need to be excavated for treatment.
A better option is treating the interior of the walls using a sealant that can be painted onto your walls and allowed to cure in place. This provides a tight seal against outside water without the extra expense and work of exposing exterior walls that are below grade.
Basement Drainage System
The second part of the process is installing a basement drainage system. Though most basements have a central drain, this allows moisture that seeps in from underneath the walls or drips from pipes above the basement ceiling to travel across the entirety of the basement floor, often causing damage.
A better option is installing a grate drain. A grate drain goes around the entire circumference of the floor of the basement, leading water away from the basement to a point where it can be pumped out using a sump pump or backup pump, which we’ll discuss next.
Sump Pump Installation
A sump pump is a type of pump that is installed in a small well in your basement floor. When the well fills sufficiently with water to raise a float, a switch is triggered that allows the pump to activate, draining the water out of the well.
Though most sump pumps use electricity to operate and, therefore, require an active power supply, backup sump pumps are available that can be operated using battery power or even water from a municipality to remove water from your basement.
What Kind of Sump Pump Do I Need?
The size and style of sump pump that you need will depend on the circumstances of your basement’s flood issues. Does your basement quickly fill with water or slowly seep over hours or days at a time? This can impact the size of pump and the type of float switch that you need.
Do I Need a Backup Sump Pump?
A backup sump pump is always a promising idea just in case your existing sump pump fails or can’t keep up with extreme weather conditions. It’s also a good option if you have concerns about losing power that would keep your primary pump operating. There are water-based and battery backup pumps available for your needs.
Dehumidifier Installation
The third step of waterproofing your basement involves having a dehumidifier installed. Even with the water moving through your drainage system and being pumped out of your home, the presence of the water can cause additional humidity in the air, which can lead to mold and mildew problems.
Can’t I Get by With a Portable Dehumidifier?
It’s a pretty common question, but in most cases, no. The excessive humidity from the upstate New York climate makes it difficult if not impossible for a portable dehumidifier to keep up with the amount of humidity in the air of the average basement.
What Does a Whole-House Dehumidifier Do?
A whole-house dehumidifier is just that – it dehumidifies your entire home. This provides you with clean, healthy, dry air year-round, making your home much more comfortable. Energy-Star listed whole-house dehumidifiers can remove up to 110 pints of water daily while saving up to $275 per year compared to conventional models.
Getting basement waterproofing for your Rochester property is just one part of making your basement a dry, comfortable space in your home for watching movies, letting children play, keeping guests comfortable, and any number of other possibilities. If you need help with your wet basement, the experienced professionals at Storm Basement Waterproofing in Rochester provide basement waterproofing solutions for residential and commercial properties and are ready to help. Why not give us a call today and see how we can help you?
