Why Wet, Cracked Basements Should Worry Homeowners
The basement is a point of anxiety for children and adults alike, but for different reasons. Adults know that the real monster in a below-grade space is moisture.
While you wouldn’t want to host a party in an unfinished basement, you shouldn’t neglect it. Cracks, mold, mildew, and damp are all signs your basement needs TLC.
If water creeps in around your foundation or busted pipes, it creates conditions for mold, mildew, and rot. Mold and mildew create unpleasant odors that waft upstairs, aggravating the asthma, allergy, and respiratory sensitivities of residents. Rot eats away at drywall, insulation, wood, and dead organic matter.
If there are cracks and other signs of damage in your basement, these can indicate serious structural issues for the rest of the home. And if there are cracks, pests and small animals can make their way inside. These critters inevitably make their way into the upper areas of the home… to spend time with your family!
Some people think waterproof paint is an adequate fix for wet basements, but aside from mitigating a little humidity, it doesn’t protect against more substantial water issues. Neither is a DIY plaster job the way to go; it’s like putting a Band-Aid on a crack and expecting it to heal. Cracks in a basement not only allow water into the home, but indicate foundation issues that worsen over time. Plaster—and other DIY options—will only mask the problem without solving the root issue.
An inspection is the best step toward a healthy basement. Master Services offers no-obligation estimates, and we never push products that our customers don’t need. A basement might not require an elaborate waterproofing system; it might just need a certain drain instead of a sump pump and encapsulation system. In some cases, the problem might not even require waterproofing measures, but foundation repair work.
To learn more about our waterproofing and foundation repair services, contact us today for a free, no-obligation estimate.
