Without Basement Waterproofing Whats the Worst That Can Happen?
When you’re thinking about what you can do to improve the look, functionality, comfort and salability of your home you may not have basement waterproofing very high on the list.
While it may not be as sexy as remodeling the kitchen or making upgrades to an outdoor leisure space, making sure your basement is dry, safe and secure is integral to create a solid foundation for all other upgrades to be built upon.
If basement waterproofing is ignored you open yourself up to a host of issues that can potentially cost a lot more than what it would have took for a contractor to professionally waterproof your basement in the first place.
A healthy home starts with a dry basement!
A WET BASEMENT IS A RISK TO YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH
It doesn’t take long for mold to grow.
In fact it can start growing on wet surfaces within 24 hours! (1)
Not only can mold be unsightly and create an unpleasant odor it can also have negative effects on your personal health.
Mould growth can cause symptoms like the ones listed below, especially in the young, old and anyone with allergies. (2)
- Irritation to eyes, nose and throat
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Worsening asthma symptoms
- Other allergic reactions
LEAKING BASEMENTS LEAD TO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE
Depending on where and how water is getting into your basement and how long it’s been coming in for, not having your basement waterproofed can increase the risk of:
- Walls bowing and cracking eventually will lead to walls collapsing
- Rotting wood of a home’s framing
- Reduced effectiveness of support beams
- Weakened concrete foundation walls
- Broken footings
Needless to say, a compromised structural foundation of your home can lead to severe consequences to your home’s value and your personal safety.
While we are here to help with whatever foundation repair needs you have, your plan A should be to avoid needing them at all and that starts with basement waterproofing inside and out.
DAMP BASEMENTS LEAD TO DAMAGE OF YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY
Perhaps less severe but still a nasty consequence of not having your basement waterproofed is the risk it poses for your personal possessions.
When it comes to fabrics (e.g. clothes, bedding etc,.) dampness can lead to mould growth, shrinkage and distortion.
In terms of electronics (e.g. computers, record players etc.,), dampness can cause corrosion or even electrical shorts.
While the best home insurance companies will advise you to store your items off the ground, that won’t protect them from all the risks associated with having a wet basement.
If all of this is enough to convince you that getting your basement waterproofed should be a high priority please contact us anytime and we’ll be happy to discuss what we can do for you.
SOURCES:
1 - https://www.canadarestorationservices.com/articles-mould-mold-grow-time