A Damp Basement Is A Warning Sign You Should Not Ignore

The basement of your home should not be wet. Maybe that seems like common sense to many of you, but I have come across many people who thought that a damp basement was simply how things were supposed to be. That is, of course, not the case at all. In fact, if your basement is wet, that means that there is something wrong. Whether the issue is with the foundation walls on the inside or the outside, there is an issue that needs to be addressed if you find yourself with water in your basement. There are a few different ways to do this:

How should I waterproof my basement?
You can waterproof your basement by focusing on either of two main approaches (or you can combine them), and the possible solutions.

You can focus on interior basement waterproof, or exterior basement waterproofing:

Interior basement waterproofing might sound like the best choice at first. After all, it sounds less invasive and expensive than messing around the outside of the home, right?

While it might be true that sometimes waterproofing the inside of the basement is less expensive than focusing on exterior basement waterproofing, it is equally true that this method also tends to be less effective. It is a better idea to focus on the outside of your home and prevent any leaks from happening in the first place rather than to try and hold them back from seeping all the way through your walls to the inside of your basement. Interior waterproofing tends to only treat the symptom of the problem, not the cause. That is not an overly effective route to take, to be honest.

Instead you should focus on exterior basement waterproofing. This kind of waterproofing technique can help you ensure that the water from the outside never penetrates your foundation to begin with. This is particularly important as it helps you keep your foundation itself nice and dry, and not vulnerable to water damage.

What is exterior basement waterproofing?
Exterior basement waterproofing, aptly named, is the process of waterproofing a basement from the outside of the house rather than the inside. This particular method makes plenty of sense if you consider that the water is originating from the outside, and trying to stop it from the outside cuts it off at its source.

One of the main things that you can do to help waterproof the outside of your basement is to ensure that there is a proper drainage system and slope installed to direct water away from your home. Once that is complete, you can begin to consider other methods like an exterior waterproofing membrane that will help keep your foundation watertight. You can also look at crack repair as well as a drain tile.

There are many options when it comes to waterproofing your home! Contact a professional today and ask about your options when it comes to exterior basement waterproofing.