Basement Waterproofing FAQ (page 2)

Can a small or infrequent basement leaks lead to foundation problems?

They may, depending on:

• the chemistry of rain water in your area (for example, acid rain is more damaging)
• the frequency of the leaks and /or the age of the foundation
• construction quality of the foundation

Occasional leaks might be caused by a combination of weather conditions and poor drainage around the building or house. Begin by implementing simple solutions, such as found here. If you still have basement water problems, contact a professional waterproofing service. A basement that stays damp or wet basement can lead to significant and costly-to-fix structural damage. For example, hydrostatic pressure against basement walls leads to cracking, bowing, and ultimately even collapse in severe cases.

Further, any type of basement water issues reduces the appraised value of your home. If you’re selling your home note that appraisers and building inspectors are trained to spot wet-basement problems. Generally speaking, occasional wetness in the basement is a sign of a more serious underlying problem -- and most small water problems become more severe over time.

The ground around our house has been graded to allow water to flow away from the foundation. Our outside walls are waterproofed and drain tiles have been installed on the outside (on the side of the footer). The basement still has water issues. What’s going on?

Thorough and effective basement waterproofing may be a hard to achieve in certain cases. The methods above are standard building principles that may work for most -- but not all -- residential homes. If a house is located in a high-water-table area or in a drainage site from higher ground, standard basement-waterproofing techniques are not effective. Discuss your particular basement problems with a waterproofing professional for specific guidance.

Previous: FAQ (page 1)     Next: FAQ (page 3)