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1. What You Need to Know About
Basement Waterproofing

2. With so many people electing to designate their basements as
usable living space, basement waterproofing takes on even
more importance. Not that you’d want a wet basement at any
time, but if it is fully furnished and decorated as opposed to
unfinished and bare, you stand to lose a lot more.
However, don’t make the mistake of only taking the issue
seriously if your basement is finished. Basement
waterproofing is important no matter what stage of
development your basement is in.

3. What Is It?
As the name suggests, basement waterproofing refers to
taking measures to prevent water from getting into your
basement. Whenever a house or similar structure is built at
or below ground level, waterproofing becomes an issue.
The pressure that can build up under the ground can cause
water to force its way in through cracks in the house
foundation. It might also come in through cracks in the floor
or small openings that result from expansion and contraction.

4. Different Types
The two main types of basement waterproofing are interior
and exterior.
For interior waterproofing:
 A perimeter trench drain is used to collect water before it
can get into the basement.
 Vapor barriers and drip mouldings are worked into the
existing perimeter drain to stop water coming from cracks
and foundation problems.
 Water is directed to a sump pump and removed from the
basement area.

5. Types cont…
For external waterproofing:
 The site is excavated to expose the foundation wall.
 The exterior wall is cleaned off and carefully inspected for
cracks.
 The walls are sealed up to prevent further leaks.

6. Significance
The significance of basement waterproofing is is evident in
the financial and health and safety realm. Naturally, if your
basement is flooded or even sustains a serious leak, it is going
to cost you money. Sometimes, you’re looking at some major
renovations to get things back to normal.
Water also means moisture, which means the potential for
mold to grow. Mold spores are dangerous when inhaled, and
can be damaging to your lungs, your children’s lungs or to
anyone else who spends a lot of time in the house.

7. Benefits
Some of the benefits of of quality basement waterproofing
are:
 Prevention of mold and mildew.
 A stronger, more structurally sound foundation.
 Increased home value.
 Added living space.

8. Potential Dangers
Some of the health dangers that can result from a moldy basement
include:
 Asthma
 Allergic reactions
 Sinusitis
 Chronic lung infection
 Eczema
In effective basement waterproofing may also lead to an insect
infestation that could take quite a bit of time and money to remove.

9. Selling the Home
If you become the victim of a wet basement, your ability to
sell the home could be severely compromised. Even if there is
no evidence of mold, a good home inspector will see that the
potential is there, and you may have to take it off the market
completely until it is fixed.

10. References
http://www.expressrooter.ca/water-proofing.php
Express Rooter