A1 Foundation Crack Repair Blog

This is the time of year when the humidity starts to seep into your basements and all of a sudden takes you by surprise. Consistent basement dampness can cause musty smells and mold growth and stored items can be ruined. You may not see any water, but if you can smell it and feel it, you have a damp basement.

If you have moisture or water problems in your basement, it is time to get your basement sealed before bigger problems develop. As Humidity increases, the hot air outside causes condensation. Even without condensation basements have high humidity levels and mold can grow quickly and the musty smell starts.
 
To eliminate moisture problems in your basement, you need to identify the source of the water. You can eliminate water and dampness by sealing pipe penetration leaks, floor and foundation cracks or by installing a basement dehumidifier. Contact A1 Foundation Crack Repair.

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The nature of basements makes them inherent to moisture. Water in the soil can put constant pressure on basement walls and water follows the path of least resistance. This means that over time water can find its way into your basement.

If you are in the market for a new home, or if you are selling your home, wet foundations and basements present more problems to home sales than most any other problem in a home. When buying a new home check for wet basements.

When selling a house, get basement water problems fixed the right way. You need to disclose previous water problems in your home, but showing documentation that basement water problems have been fixed goes a long way in selling your home.

If you are selling your home and need basement water issues addressed, or if you have bought a home with basement water issues, contact A-1 Foundation Crack Repair.

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There are plenty of homes out there with leaky basements. Many homeowners just assume their basement will be dark and damp. Maybe the concrete floor has a crack, or the foundation leaks a bit, or perhaps there is a leak where the pipes go through the basement walls. Through a towel on that, clean that right up and you’re all set right? Wrong.

Even if you don’t have a finished basement, even if the water doesn’t bother anything at all, you should take basement leaks seriously. Here's why:

Insects - There are many insects that seek out dark and damp areas including termites, cockroaches and spiders. We aren’t just talking about not liking bugs here. Termites and wood boring beetles, can damage your home. But insects can also cause health problems and they very challenging to get rid of without taking serious steps that involve harsh chemicals.

Health Problems - Mold and mildew dark and damp places, and damp basements are the perfect habitat. Mold can have serious effects on your family’s health, especially if there are asthma or allergies involved. Mold can increase the asthma attacks and itchy, watery eyes.

Integrity of your Foundation - A small wall or floor crack may seem harmless. But that crack may be hiding something bigger that you just can’t see.  If your doors aren’t shutting right floors are starting to warp this could be a result of the leak in your basement.

Resale value – Adding a basement to the list of amenities of your home when you  go to sell is a huge advantage. However, listing a home that has water damage in the basement is a big red flag. With all the homes on the market, and all the choices buyers have today, your home needs to be as enticing as ever to attract buyers.

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It is summer and the basement is moist. You may not see any water, but if you can smell it and feel it, it is there. You may have a basement water proofing system in place, or perhaps you don’t have water seeping in your foundation from pipes or floor cracks. That’s the good news. The bad is that, this doesn’t necessarily mean that your basement is dry.

Often water enters a basement through capillary action, which wicks moisture through walls and floors. The floor and walls may not leak, but it feels damp to the touch because it wicks the water in to the surface. Water vapor also slowly seeps in through the concrete and raises the humidity. Basements act as chimneys pulling the outside air in the house and letting it out on the upper floors.

Humidity increases and condensation results as the hot outside air meets the cool basement.  Even without condensation basements tend to have high humidity levels and mold grows rapidly, generating that musty basement odor. Dust mites love that high humidity too.

There are only two possible ways to eliminate condensation: heat the air or pull the moisture out of it. Obviously heating your basement to match the outside temperature is counterproductive, so the only real option is to dehumidify.

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Most basements, because they are built into the ground, present the possibility of invasive water, making what was once a dry basement into a wet basement. This is because water in the soil can put constant pressure on basement walls. Also, water follows the path of least resistance and over time can find its way into a basement.

With real estate transactions there are more problems with wet foundations and basements than any other physical problem in a house. Therefore, it's important when buying a house with a basement to check for signs of dampness in the basement. Also, if you want to sell a house, you need to get your basement water problems fixed the right way. As the buyer, the seller may be unaware of the water problems, or they may choose to not disclose the issue.

Signs of a Damp or Wet Basement

• Water stains along walls or floor. This could be caused by something simple such as an overflowing laundry tub or it could be a result of water seeping in through basement windows, the walls or the floor.
• Musty odor or damp smell. Excess moisture in a basement can cause an unmistakable smell.
• Mold. It could be colored black, brown, yellow or green, and you won't know for certain if it's mold without testing it. Often the northwest corner of a house is known as a "cold corner" and susceptible to developing mold.
• Efflorescence. This condition produces a white or sometimes grayish ash on the walls. Sometimes it sparkles. Efflorescence is caused by salt deposits left behind by evaporating water.
• Spalling. When water gets inside the surface of concrete, brick or stone, salt deposits from the water cause the surface to flake away, peel or pop off.

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