Wet Basement Blues

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:22:04 EST

The one headache that will make every homeowner shakein their boots is when they either find themselves ankle deep in wateror, their basement is constantly leaking water in through the base oftheir foundation, up from the concrete floor or, cracks in thefoundation walls.

This can definitely escalate into an expensiveproblem especially if you have turned that once unoccupied area into afinished and furnished living space. We can't stop the rain fromfalling and the snow from melting, however, before you call in acontractor and get hit with a repair bill to make your head spin, it'sbest to try and determine how severe the leakage might be. More thanlikely it will prove a chore you can take care of yourself at a priceyou can well afford.

The key is to determine which of the threemajor problems you have which commonly cause basements to get wet:condensation, runoff, or subsurface seepage. Condensation is sweatingand caused when moist, warm air hits a cool foundation. Take foil andplace over/around a damp spot. If moisture droplets appear on theoutside the next day, moisture is condensing from the air. Installing adehumidifier ($150 - $300 depending on output) can correct the problem.

Whenrain/snow runoff isn't routed away from the house, hydrostatic pressureforces it through gaps and cracks in the walls and footings. You canseal cracks yourself and add gutters to alleviate the bulk of therunoff.

Subsurface seepage is basically contending with a highwater table. You will probably need to install a sump pump, and thatwill require a professional. Take the time to investigate the causefirst before you call in a professional. More than likely you willdetermine that you can fix it all by yourself.

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Wet Basement Blues