Wet Basements Need Love Too

The last time you went into your basement you felt a little less-enthused about spending time down there. In other words, it was dark, damp and a little stinky so you'd rather just stay upstairs.

If your basement isn't the most appealing space in your home, try not to just avoid the space. Instead, think of all the ways it could be utilized. Basements are huge parts of the home that could make up for a massive living space, but they can easily become the forgotten spaces beneath the home.

The basement can be a great way to increase your home's living space and return on investment if ever you decide to sell your home. In addition, the basement is the perfect get away. But one thing can ruin that for so many homeowners-- water!

Water Damage

What are the signs of water damage? Sometimes the damage is very noticeable. For example, when there are water stains on the walls, this could be from previous water damage, whether or not you were living in the home when it happened. In addition, if you find cracks on your walls or buckling walls your future is likely to include water damage.

How does your basement smell? If you've noticed a musty smell or some guests have commented on a particular smell, it could be from mold growing in your basement. Perhaps you've never seen mold in your basement-- doesn't mean it's not there!

The Infamy of Mold

Moldy isn't the best word to use to describe your basement, or any of your homes for that matter. Unfortunately, mold is also very sneaky and a lot of time passes before many homeowners notice the mold in their basements.

Once the smell comes, the mold must be found and properly removed. Although your walls may appear clean and mold free, the mold is most likely lurking on the other side of the wall. For example, mold loves to feed on dry wall or any other organic material such as cardboard, wood and paper.

Thus, all organic materials in a basement are susceptible to growing mold. If you don't want to scour through your basement and fear missing the mold, contact a mold mitigation expert near you.

Removing the Mold

Above all, if you decide to try and maintain low mold levels, you must remove the source of the mold. By just wiping or taking the mold off of a surface, you're only removing the current mold spawn, but plenty more will come. In fact, mold can grow in 24-48 hours!

The Source of Mold

Moisture! Besides the cracks and buckling walls, mold is another sign that your basement needs to be waterproofed. In addition, basement waterproofing is ultimately the only way to remove mold in your basement. Basement waterproofing is more than just installing an internal or external drainage system, but it's actually a process including crack repair as well as the installation of items such as a dehumidifier and/or sump pump. There are many ways to help waterproof your basement, thus remove mold-- but they're all in the category of moisture control!

Basement Waterproofing Benefits

Not only can you remove the mold, but you'll also be able to improve the air quality in your home. It's been estimated that a third to a half of the air on the first floor comes from the basement or crawl space, which means that a cleaner basement helps cleanup the rest of the home's air.

Basement waterproofing also contributes to lessening wall cracks and wall buckling, water buildup, hydrostatic pressure and water damage. Water can still enter a basement due to plumbing leaks and even a water heater leak. But, with the proper waterproofing system you can be sure that your basement won't be permanently ruined. Between the internal drainage system and the sump pump, your basement will be properly taken care of-- and you'll only need it waterproofed once.

Then, once your basement has been waterproofed, you can consider having your basement finished without the fear of your newly finished basement being ruined by water-- unless your basement is finished with products and materials that are susceptible to damage.

For the highly acclaimed, valued and trusted basement waterproofing system throughout the U.S. and the world, contact Basement Systems, Inc. Contact Healthy Spaces today for basement waterproofing in Indiana and repairs for your wet basement in Kentucky. We have served homeowners with their wet basements throughout the Tri-State area, including Madisonville, Princeton, Evansville, Jasper and surrounding areas.