Marlton, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/27/2014 -- A finished basement can be a wonderful place for a homeowner to get away from it all and an unfinished basement is the perfect place for storage that is out of sight. Many times, the basement is where the furnace and water heater are located as well. When water begins to seep into the basement, then it can ruin everything that’s in it. Leaky basements can also propagate mold growth, which can be a health hazard.

Basement waterproofing has become almost a necessity these days, but many homeowners don’t understand the importance or are nervous about what it entails. Homeowners can expect basement waterproofing to be like most other major home repairs and improvements.

A Home Visit

Before a waterproofer can fix anything, a must is to know what is causing the leak. Common problems include cracks in the foundation, seepage from the outside and bad basement drainage. When it rains, the ground near the house can become super saturated and this can lead to water coming in through windows, cracks in the foundation and through the concrete itself.

The waterproofer will come to evaluate the causes of the basement leakage. If it’s simply seepage cause by the ground, then a suggestion of some exterior water proofing or cleaning of gutters so water doesn’t pool at that area of the house.

If it’s cracks in the walls or foundation, then a suggestion will be a few interior waterproofing options or a mix of both of interior and exterior.

Exterior WaterProofing

The best way to keep basements from leaking is keeping the water out of the house. The water proofer will go to the outside wall of the house for exterior waterproofing, which is the preferred method of the International Building Code. It begins by digging up the ground by the basement walls and sealing them with waterproofing membrane and new drainage, such as tiles. Also using polymer-based sealants for exterior cracks, which are not impacted by soil acidity and are flexible to accommodate foundation movement.

Interior Waterproofing

If the water is seeping in through condensation, then the waterproofer will coat the walls with a substance that keeps water out. Coatings are not good for major leaks. Sealants can help fill in cracks in the walls and may be used in conjunction with a coating. The sealant is pressure injected into the walls to make sure it penetrates the foundation all the way to the outside of the home.

If the walls are under high pressure, then sealants may not be enough. The waterproofer will create an interior drainage system by drilling holes into the blocks and allowing the water to drain to a sump pump. This is the most effective way of keeping the basement free of water.

If the foundation is very cracked with large openings, then the best course of action may require actual foundation repair by a masonry company. For all repairs the best option is to call Select Basement Waterproofing. Experts for many years in keeping basements dry.

About Select Basement Waterproofing
Select Basement Waterproofing is “Proud to be recognized as the industry’s leader in customer satisfaction for residential waterproofing, basement finishing and foundation repair. Select is a family owned business with over 40 employees, which provides top notch services to home owners throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware. And all work is performed and supervised by Mike Klukiewski, the Founder of Select Basement Waterproofing, inc www.selectwaterproofingusa.com