Whenever a house is built at or below ground level waterproofing is not an option, but a necessity. Waterproofing your basement will prevent water from seeping in.
If possible, try to determine whether you have seepage or flooding problem. If you have wetness that has no visible source chances are it is seepage. To be sure that is the problem, securely tape a 12″ piece of foil to the wall at the spot you felt dampness previously. Make sure that the tape seals well on all four edges. Go back a few days later and inspect your foil. If the front of the foil is dry and the back of the foil that is against the wall is wet-there is a problem with seepage. However, if the front is wet, and the back is dry-then you have extra moisture in the basement that is causing condensation.
Check your water pipes, if the cold ones are wet that is an indication that the condensation is definitely causing at least some of your problem. If both sides of the foil are wet, you have a combination problem of condensation and seepage. Either of these problems is minor and can be successfully resolved without having to excavate your property. Checking the grade and inspecting your downspouts and gutters would be advised. If it is a flooding problem, you will need to find a professional company to solve your problem.
So What Is The Cost Of Waterproofing Your Basement
You may ask yourself, how much does it cost to waterproof a basement? Prices range from as little as $500 to as much as $5000, depending on the repairs the basement needs. The water proofing basement cost will depend on which option you choose to complete the task.
There are usually two options to choose from, either exterior or interior basement waterproofing. Exterior waterproofing is used to eliminate flood water from entering your basement. Interior waterproofing is used to minimize the damage from a faulty drainage system allowing water to seep in.
It is important to find a competent and professional waterproofing company whose prices are reasonable. Get quotes from at least two different companies before deciding on one. Never work with a company that isn’t willing to offer a free estimate. It is a standard practice in the industry. If a company is going to charge you for an estimate, be cautious. Generally, if a company is charging for an estimate they will charge more for the repairs on your home. Unless your home is in a state of emergency, take your time to find the most reasonable waterproofing company.
When it is necessary to waterproof the basement from the exterior, excavation will be used to access your drain system. If work is ever done to your basement that requires the footers to have drain work done on them, make sure that a sump crock is installed in one corner of the house. This is done so the drains can be accessed quite easily for cleaning in the future. This is important because the most expensive cost to waterproof basement is the digging up of the foundation and installing footer drains.
If the footer drains can be serviced, the company will leave them in place and just clean them with a high powered pressure washer jetting system. This is not a typical pressure washer. It is specialized high-tech equipment that uses the high pressure to blow any debris and obstructions from your footer drains. This equipment is the only way to clean these footer drains. It is able to go around the corners and only one corner of the home has to be excavated.
Interior waterproofing is less expensive than the exterior, but it is not as effective in protecting your basement. The interior waterproofing only hides your existing problems. Exterior waterproofing ensures that the problem never occurs to begin with.
Modern equipment allows the contractors to finish projects more efficiently. The main factor for the success of a project is the ability of the contractor. State of the art cameras allow the contractors to look down inside the footer drains to avoid excavating whenever possible.
Extremely high tech machines allow large amounts of earth to be dug quickly, speeding along the excavation process. Sealants and advanced waterproofing products and techniques assist the contractors in blocking the water to protect your property from flooding. If you neglect to choose a professional and competent company, your basement waterproofing will probably be unsuccessful.
Be aware of the types of soil that should be used for backfill on foundations. The contractors should use #57 limestone gravel. This type of gravel will allow for proper drainage around your home and lesson pressure on the walls of your basement. The extra water will be able to easily filter through the gravel and into the perforated drain tiles. Once drained, the water will be moved away from your basement and to the storm sewer or another location of choice
Do not allow the company to use slag, fill dirt, or clay. None of these materials will provide your home with proper drainage. These materials tend to soak up water, and will then cause pressure on your walls. Eventually, this pressure will cause the walls to crack. You will again be faced with a basement needing to be waterproofed, and more basement waterproofing costs.
When the soil around your basement gets saturated, the pressure that it causes can push upwards on the floor and walls of your basement. On occasion, waterproofing the floor is also necessary. If not waterproofed properly, the floor can also crack and flood.
Do it yourself cost of waterproofing basement can also vary greatly. If you are attempting to avoid the cost of hiring a waterproofing company and considering doing the work yourself, you may want to reconsider. It is recommended that only trained professionals should waterproof a basement. Filling cracks and ridding your basement walls of mildew may be easy, but excavation and footer drains are another story. Besides the potential injuries to yourself and others, there is the chance that you will cause yourself more costly repairs.
If just filling cracks or getting rid of mold or mildew is the problem, you most likely can do it yourself. If any type of excavation needs to be done, a professional is probably the way to go. As you can see, the cost of basement waterproofing varies greatly depending on your specific problem. Hopefully, the tips in this article will help you to choose the right company to waterproof your basement.
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