Basement Waterproofing FAQ (page 1)

Can a house be water-proofed at the time of construction?

Yes. And the about-to-be new homeowner should insist on it. The homeowner should speak with their contractor and with other homeowners in the area to determine if basement humidity or dampness is an area-wide issue. If not, then one may not need to worry about it immediately. But, if others homeowners in the area note any form of basement flooding or, especially, dampness/humidity problems, it’s probably better for the new (or about-to-be) homeowner to address them before the house is built. If this is the case, insist that your housing contractor, or you yourself, contact a professional water-proofer to find out how to permanently prevent a humidity/dampness/wetness problem before it ever occurs.

Should one ever consider re-sealing the outside of basement walls?

Not typically. If your home is being built, ask a professional and area homeowners. Sealing the outside of basement walls may be necessary in certain locations. If your home has already been built, check your house’s records. Normally, this work should’ve been done when the house was originally built. Also, sealing basement walls is usually not a permanent solution in wet areas and may even cause more problems than it solves: for example, disturbing the settled land around the foundation. A professional water-proofer usually has several proven tricks up their sleeves that work regardless of water tables, slope of terrain, or normal soil conditions and whether the problem issue is leakage from the cove, floor, walls, window wells or all of the above. See this aricle for more information.

Does basement waterproofing increase a home’s property value?

No question about it. Money spent for a permanently-dry basement will reimburse the homeowner as an immediate increase in the market value of their home -- often greater than the cost of the total waterproofing effort. If the homeowner invests in such projects as basement waterproofing, the homeowner should protect their investment (see our checklists on various waterproofing topics -- they can help in making sure your basem,ent stays dry, and that your contractor has, indeed, done their job effectively!). Note that a clean, dry basement makes for superb living areas -- so effectively utilize every square foot of your basement: It's the least expensive area of your home for you to improve.

Next: FAQ (page 2)