Basement Waterproofing

• Wall Cracks

Check your basement walls for any cracks. Concrete is already a permeable material, but water passes through even easier if the material is cracked.

The soil of Charlotte, NC, is called Cecil soil, which contains a lot of clay eight inches below the surface. Clay soils are known for expanding when saturated with water and retaining it. This means that the soil that surrounds your foundation is almost always wet and filled with water. If the wall is cracked, then the groundwater will seep through.

• Foundation Cold Joints

If your wall doesn’t have any cracks, then the water will come from the most naturally vulnerable parts of the wall: the joints. When concrete begins to harden, any new concrete that is poured on it will not stick, leaving a gap between the new batch and the old batch.

When there is a delay between pouring the different sections of the foundation (the floor and the walls), the joints will naturally be the weakest parts because the different sections aren’t really “stuck together.” This is called a cold joint. Because of cold joints, any groundwater surrounding your foundation can seep in through the different wall joints or any wall-floor joint.

• Basement Window

Basement windows are usually right next to your yard’s soil; so, when it rains, if the soil is saturated with water, it will all leak through the window. You can usually tell the window is the culprit if the wall under the window is wet with moisture from the leaks.

Basement windows, especially those made of wood, tend to get warped over time with exposure to moisture. The wood gets bent out of shape, and gaps start to form along the frame, which only makes it easier for water to pass through.

• Pipes and Broken Machines

Your basement is home to the pipes that are part of the plumbing system. If any one of the pipes ever burst, then you’ll have a leaking problem on your hands. Too much water, and it turns into an all-out flood.

Humidity affects a basement in different ways, so there are multiple problem signs you can look for to determine if your basement has moisture issues. There are a lot of different variables that determine which problem signs will appear in your basement and how severe they are.

Sometimes, your basement will be humid, but the signs will be very subtle. This is why it’s important to contact a foundation expert for repairs. They’ll know exactly what to look for and where to find it, so a professional inspection is always recommended. Still, you’ll want to try and see the signs yourself, so make sure to make your rounds through the basement beforehand.

Condensation and Efflorescence

There are some obvious signs of moisture that you can spot in a humid basement. For example, you can sometimes find dew drops along certain surfaces. The warmer, humid air of the basement will meet with a colder surface, and the temperature difference will create the dew point, which is the exact temperature that is needed in order for the moisture to turn into water droplets. The droplets can usually be found on concrete walls or on pipes. During the winter, the droplets might be found on warmer surfaces, like the dryer or the water heater.

Another sign that points to there being too much moisture in your basement would be efflorescence. Efflorescence is a white stain that appears on concrete. It looks as if white paint was sprayed on the surface. Efflorescence occurs when the moisture in a structure solutes the salts in the concrete, rises to the surface, and takes the salts with it. The salts form on the surface of the concrete and that’s what stains it white. Efflorescence on concrete indicates that the concrete is exposed to a lot of moisture, be it due to leaks or because of seeping water vapor.

Structural Signs

The easiest structural sign that you can detect if you have a humid basement would be wood rot. Wood rot has varying different stages depending on the kind it is. Some forms of rot release airborne spores, which are usually microscopic unless there is a collection of them on the surface of the wood. Some fungi will leave crack patterns along the surface that almost look like termite damage. Other times, the wood will look soft, warped, or shriveled.

Stains are also common in wood that has been affected by fungal growth. The stains can be colored green, gray, brown, black, white, and yellow. If you do see a decaying wooden joist or support post in your basement, then do not try to touch it, especially if there is a layer of spores along the surface. Contact a foundation specialist as soon as you can for a professional cleaning and structural repairs.

An interior drainage system is an essential part of foundation waterproofing, but it isn’t the only part. Other waterproofing solutions are needed if the basement is to be kept dry and healthy.

How an Interior Drainage System Helps

Interior drainage systems are able to prevent flooding, stop leaks, and decrease the humidity levels in the basement. Standing water creates humidity, so by draining it all out, is able to improve the air quality in the foundation. The condition of your basement affects the air quality in your living areas upstairs as well, which is great for your health and the health of your loved ones.

However, interior drainage systems are not able to fully get rid of the humidity in your home. They may drain out the water and prevent moisture from permeating through the walls, but drains can do nothing about the moisture that already exists in the air. Consistent moisture control is needed because of all the surrounding groundwater, and that’s not something a drainage system can do all on its own.

Humidity Control

To control the humidity in your basement, you need a vapor barrier and a dehumidifier. A vapor barrier is a thick sheet made of polyethylene that is applied to the basement walls. The vapor barrier is impermeable, so any water vapor or moisture that attempts to get through the wall will not be able to do so. The vapor barrier guides the wall moisture so that it gets directed straight to the interior drainage pipe.

The dehumidifier, on the other hand, absorbs the moisture in the air. It gives you control over the humidity in your basement and allows you to adjust the humidity levels as needed. Ideally, you’ll want the humidity levels to be between 30 to 60 percent. The dehumidifier also can be connected to the sump pump for easy drainage.

A sump pump is a device that collects water that enters your foundation and then drains it out. It’s another form of foundation drainage that is commonly used in basements. If you have a sump pump or you’re planning on getting one, then you might be wondering if you even need a perimeter drain.

Why You Need Both

Both sump pumps and drainage pipes are needed to keep the basement dry. They may seem like they have similar functions, but they serve different purposes and do their own parts in waterproofing your basement. For example, a sump pump may not be able to do much against the moisture that leaks from the window down the wall, but it is able to handle the foundation flooding that comes after some heavy rain.

On the other hand, interior drains may not have the capacity to handle such heavy flooding, but they are able to drain groundwater from the surrounding foundation–something that is crucial if you want to prevent hydrostatic pressure. By having an interior drain that catches moisture from the walls, you also prevent minor leaks that the sump pump would otherwise not be able to catch.

How They Work Together

By having both drainage solutions in your basement, you actually have many advantages due to how these two systems work together. First, interior drains can be connected to the sump pump so that the collected water can be pumped out reliably. Hydraulically draining the water out is the best method when it comes to basements given how humid they are.

Because the interior drain can be connected to the sump pump, foundation experts don’t need to create a separate avenue to get rid of the water. By having a single exit point, things like maintenance and repairs are easier because everything is simplified. The installation also is less expensive because the interior drain can be connected to an existing discharge line.

BasementGutter™ is one of the most innovative basement drainage solutions on the market, so it’s no surprise if you are interested in installing it in your basement. However, you should know that it isn’t something you should try installing yourself.

Why You Shouldn’t Install It Yourself

DIY projects can be fun and satisfying, but when it comes to your foundation, leaving it to the professionals is best. When a foundation has been dealing with long-term moisture problems, it is already incredibly structurally weak. Trying to install a perimeter drain is risky when the foundation is in this state, and many things can go wrong when attempting it.

Knowing that your foundation needs extra care might make a DIY job a lot harder. Instead of worrying about whether or not you can do the job, you can entrust your foundation to your local experts. The professionals can do all the hard work.

Where to Get an Interior Drainage System

BasementGutter™ is only available through Dry Pro in Charlotte, NC. Our special, patented drain was specially designed to outperform many other interior drainage systems. We are specialized in foundation waterproofing, so you can count on us to get the job done quickly.

All of our solutions are permanent, so once the drain is in place, you won’t have to worry about it any longer. Because we care about your home, we’ll do all the hard work for you so you can sit back and relax knowing that your basement is in good hands

A sump pump is a necessary addition to any basement, especially in Charlotte, NC. Without one, your basement is at risk of flooding and foundation failure caused by water damage. Water in your basement causes problems long after the water is gone thanks to the leftover humidity from the flood.

High Energy Bills

Water in your basement can lead to high energy bills because of the stack effect. The stack effect refers to the way air circulates throughout your home. It all starts in the basement. Warm air is lighter than cool air, and the air in wet basements tends to be warm thanks to the humidity. The warm air rises to the rest of your house and changes the temperature. Your AC then has to work harder to keep things cool, especially during the summer, but doing that raises your energy bills.

A sump pump that is able to effectively drain water out of a foundation is one that can keep the air in the basement cooler. Having a sump pump can save you money in the long run, so it’s a great investment to make if you wish to live in a more energy-efficient home.

Mold and Structural Failure

Water in a basement promotes humidity, which in turn promotes mold growth. Mold is incredibly harmful, especially in your basement.

If there is mold, then there is most likely wood rot as well. When your wooden joists are infected with wood rot, the beam is broken down or softened up by the fungus. Unable to support your floorboards properly, the floor sags and bounces when you step on the affected spot. This and other structural failures can befall your home if you don’t have a proper drainage system.