In times like these, no one wants to buy a home whose basement is not properly waterproofed. All homeowners appreciate the need to keep their home high and dry. Naturally, people that own homes don't want to have water damage problems. And not builders ensure that proper waterproofing methods are followed.
The problem is that a mold, mildew and bacteria can flourish in these kinds of environments. What is mold? It's a naturally occurring fungus. Usually it doesn't cause us any trouble, but when found in the home it can cause chronic respiratory problems and other ailments.
Usually a test for mold will reveal the real natureof the problem, but often it's easy to see. Yet an insufficiently waterproofed basement can result in more than just mold problems. Those cracks in the basement can also let termites and other bugs get into your home. The pests can cause considerable damage to the building.
Not only is it a potential health hazard, it can cause a serious depreciation in property value. It's for these reasons that it's almost always a good idea to ensure your basement is properly waterproofed. It certainly will make your living area more comfortable, and it's probably less expensive than hiring a professional mold remediator.
It's too late to do all this after the fact. Once mold enters your home, you need to get rid of it. There simply is no alternative other than to remove all the contaminated material and replace it It's even worse if you are a landlord who has to contend with disrupting tenants and scheduling the work.
Should you wish to undertake the process yourself there are some things you can do yourself. Naturally this depends on the skill level of each individual. There's a couple of easy things to verify that can help stop water from infiltrating your basement. With a little bit of muscle and very minimal skills, you can get the job done.
First you need to check the slope of the ground running against the side of the building. As time passes the soil will tend to sink down around the house, causing a slope towards the walls.It's important that the runoff moves away from the building instead of towards it. If that's the situation then add some gravel around the house to change the slope of the land.
Additionally, you should check all downspouts. They need to be far enough away from the side of the house, about six feet, to ensure that water doesn't flow into the basement. When rainwater exits the downspout, it should get absorb into the ground far enough away that it won't rest against the foundation. There are a number of different extension options to choose from that make it more attractive and easier. They save space and are quite handy.
Usually most homes have these two issues that need to be addressed. This is particularly the case in older houses just do to nature. These problems are rather simple to fix; you might want to do it yourself.
It's a much better idea to tackle the job of waterproofing your basement now, before the problems start. There are budget waterproofing services catering to the cost-conscious homeowner, and they are definitely worth checking out.So take the time now to ensure that your basement is dry and free from any structural problems. It's simpler to handle these kinds of problems before they arise.
Author Resource:
You can find more about what mold is . Get the lastest ratings and news on products for removing mold.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/rss.jpg "XML Feed For RSS")