Most
homes are sitting on a treasure trove of useful space: the basement. However,
many basements, particularly in older homes are damp or leaky, and thus remain
an unused and basically wasted space. Before commencing any basement remodeling
project, it is imperative that moisture and dampness is kept out, for both
health and practical reasons. There are certain elements worth considering as
part of a professional waterproofing solution.
1. While evaluating the perimeter of
your home, you must make sure that the floor next to your basement slopes away from the basement, not towards it.
2. Make sure your gutters are clean, and your downspouts are discharging
their water at least 5 feet away from your foundation.
3. Rotted roots can create a path for surface water to flow down to your
foundation. Durotech recommends that plants/trees are planted at least 300mm
away from the basement, and on a slight slope to direct water away from your
basement. It’s also recommended to avoid plants with aggressive/invasive root
systems, such as Palms, Bamboo and Olive Trees.
4. Cracked and buckling walls, visual efflorescence (white powdery residue)
and fungi found on basement walls near the footing are some alarming signs which
usually require immediate attention. Obviously when considering waterproofing,
it’s critical that the substrate to be waterproofed is itself in good
condition.
No comments:
Post a Comment