You need to think of basement waterproofing of more than just an expense. It is an expense which is very worthwhile and will have you a lot of time, money and stress in the future if you are ever to suffer from a flood or leak of some sort. When researching the topic of basement waterproofing you will come across many options such as a sump pump, French drain, perimeter drain and waterproofing membrane. Keeping your basement dry is very important for a variety of reasons and is something that you should ignore at your peril. This is certainly not one area of basement finishing that you should skip.
As with many things in life if you want to do a job properly then it ultimately pays if you do your research and prepare properly. By doing this you will save time and money in the long run because you don’t need to have it re-done. It might be that you decide you don’t want to have anything to do with this process yourself because you are worried that the job won’t be done correctly.
Find a contractor experienced in basement waterproofing systems
There are contractors who have expertise in this area and it might be worth it to you to find out who these contractors are so that you can get the best job you can. There are plumbers who say that they can carry out all the needed work but if they haven’t any experience in basement waterproofing systems then you might not get the quality of work you expected.
Unfortunately it’s very difficult to find contractors who actually carry out a job as well as they say they will. There are often problems that you simply cannot foresee because you don’t have any experience. It’s all very well to say that you will learn from these mistakes but this doesn’t help you now. No wonder so many people decide they would rather tackle such jobs themselves because then they will know that the job has actually been done and with the correct materials.
What happens if the contractor goes out of business?
A lot of contractors actually go out of business and if you discover a problem with your basement waterproofing system then you might find that they aren’t around to come back and fix it. This is a nightmare for homeowners who then have to fork out for the job to be repaired or they might need to claim their insurance.
Educate yourself on the type and prices of equipment they use
Also, some contractors look to screw as much money out of you as possible by buying inferior products only to charge you the highest prices they think they can get away with. Knowing the trade prices of these products is well worth it because then you will know if they are trying to con you or not. If they try and say that a plastic sump or French drain is good quality then you will know they aren’t telling the truth. Sump pumps should be made from cast iron with a good long lasting liner.
Why you need to take extra precautions
Sometimes with situations like waterproofing your basement, being extra cautious is well worth it. It might seem like a belt and braces approach but you really don’t want to have to try and clean up a wet basement if it ever happens to you. Because sump pumps run on electricity you might find that there is a power outage at the same time as your flood so having a battery back-up is probably a wise idea. This will allow the sump to keep working until (hopefully) the electricity comes back on.
Other basement waterproofing possibilities include a rubberized coating that you can apply to the walls and floor of your basement. A primer, base coat and sealer are used and it’s very affordable if you feel that you cannot afford to buy a sump pump. You can also save money by carrying out the work yourself. Don’t ignore this advice when coming up with basement ideas.
Checking up on the basics
One of the biggest drawbacks to owning a basement is the simple fact that it’s underground and often prone to excess moisture. Ensuring that all pipes have no leaks and making sure there are no cracks in the walls or floor will also help a lot. You don’t want to make things unnecessarily difficult for yourself. However if you are still having difficulties with damp then look to buy a dehumidifier which works by sucking moisture out of the air.
Why time is of the essence
A damp basement is certainly not something that you want to have and as soon as you suspect that there is a problem then you should look for ways to remedy it. Simply hoping that the problem will correct itself will only mean you’ll face problem in the future. This problem will also be much worse than it is now. So acting fast is prudent. Mold and mildew can quickly appear if you’re not careful and this can have a negative impact on your health and also the fabric of your house.