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6 Ways to Avoid Needing Residential Foundation Waterproofing Repair Services

How to Avoid Needing Residential Foundation Waterproofing Repair Services

As a homeowner, it’s important to be aware of potential problems with your home and take the steps needed to prevent them. One such problem is water damage to your foundation, which gets fixed through waterproofing repair services. However, there are some things you can do yourself to help avoid this issue altogether, or at least not allow it to worsen between service calls.

Preventing foundation damage saves you time, money, and the frustration of needing to hire a company to complete repairs for you. When you take precautionary measures to protect your foundation, amazing things happen. You experience fewer preventable problems and have more money available to improve other things about your property. You address the issue quickly and successfully, making it less of a liability for you and your family.

Learn About Your Home’s Foundation and How to Spot Potential Issues with It

The foundation is among the most important parts of your home. It’s something that you should learn more about taking care of as a homeowner. When you can examine the foundation and spot potential problems, you can call a professional faster to get things taken care of successfully. The waterproofing company does its part to address the issue and offer solutions that physically and financially meet your needs.

Some signs that you have problems with your foundation include:

  • Cracks. They’re visible in the foundation, floors, and walls.
  • Doors that stick or don’t open well. If you didn’t experience the problem previously, it’s likely a foundation issue.
  • Foundation sinking or settling. You can see where the ground has shifted, causing the foundation to sink or settle where it wasn’t before.
  • Gaps around window frames and doors. Things are visibly off-balance.
  • Floors that sag or become uneven. You can feel where the foundation shifted.

Too much standing water on the ground near your foundation can be problematic. There are ways to address the issue successfully. It may involve rethinking your landscaping, but it’s possible. The next section addresses the things you can do to prevent water damage.

Do Your Part to Prevent Water Damage

Proper drainage makes all the difference in how well your home’s foundation stands up over time. Investing in professional landscaping services can make it easier for you to care for your yard while preventing water from causing erosion and making your foundation shift. You must do everything in your power to waterproof your home in every way, from the plants you grow to the way you decorate your yard.

Look for Damage and Leaks While Examining Your Foundation

If you see physical signs of damage, it’s time to contact a foundation waterproofing repair service. They’ll thoroughly inspect the structure to see what they can do to stop the problem from worsening. If the foundation shifts, it can cause the entire structure to become unstable and dangerous to be inside.

Keep Gutters and Downspouts Clean

It’s a way to protect your home from the aftermath of heavy rainfall and snowfall. When the water runs through the gutters and downspouts, it gets led away from the home. You won’t have water accumulation on the roof or near the foundation, where it can cause a threat to your property. Investing in the services that keep your home and family protected at all times is worth every penny that you spend on it.

Contact a Professional for a Thorough Inspection of Your Foundation

You must seek the help of a knowledgeable and skilled professional who knows what to do to fix your foundation. The foundation waterproofing repair company goes the extra mile to ensure your satisfaction. They want to make sure that your foundation has no flaws so you can continue to protect it long-term. Foundation repairs drain a budget relatively quickly.

There are many things you can do to protect your home’s foundation. The more aware you are of the potential problems it can experience, the better you are to recognize an issue that needs a professional to address. Teaming up with a company that does foundation waterproofing repair is highly beneficial. It allows you to address problems with your home before they have a chance to worsen and cost you a greater expense.

Protect Your Home’s Foundation with Waterproofing Services from Us

Taking care of your home’s foundation is important if you want to protect your investment and keep your family safe. That’s why it’s crucial to know what to look for and how to take steps to prevent water damage. If you notice any signs of damage or leaks, don’t hesitate to contact a professional.

Raleigh Waterproofing inspects your foundation and takes the necessary steps to waterproof it. Protect your home from water damage by scheduling an appointment today! One phone call is all it takes to keep your foundation from future incidents. Reach out to us today to discuss your needs for assistance with us.

The Importance of Waterproofing to Your Foundation

Other than burning down, a compromised foundation is the worst structural problem homeowners can face. Houses are built on the foundation, which helps to maintain structural integrity by transferring dead and live loads into the ground. But when all is said and done, water is the leading cause of foundation problems.

Foundation

The Importance of Waterproofing to Your Foundation

The wet soil underneath a foundation might shift from loss of strength or swelling. Maintaining a dry foundation is important because this change is known to have a negative impact on structural integrity. Dampness is also a problem since it presents an ideal environment for mold growth. Apart from making below-ground spaces unpleasant, mold might be a health hazard. Unfortunately, conventional concrete is not waterproof, and even though it might keep out liquid water when it does not have cracks, water vapor penetrates easily. As such, preventing water from moving through concrete and ensuring it drains away from the foundation is essential to structural integrity.Depending on factors such as climate, soil or water table conditions, geographic location, topography, and depth of the foundation, the task of installing proper drainage to guarantee dry below-grade spaces might be relatively straightforward or somewhat involving. Systems designed to keep water out will consist of three basic components, and these are:
• Drains for moving water away from the foundation’s bottom.
• Wall treatment designed to route water downwards and into the drains, which helps to ensure moisture does not move through the wall.
• Ground surface treatment installed adjacent to the building, which helps by directing surface water away.

Waterproofing
While leaky basements are a common problem, taking precautionary measures to keep your below-grade interior spaces from flooding might be the best solution, especially since you now know that water is the leading cause of structural issues. Basement waterproofing is an excellent investment because it helps prevent water damage, which often leads to costly repairs.

Before you engage an expert, you’ll want to have some basic knowledge of the methods and products used to prevent basement leaks. Knowing a little bit more about the process of curing a leaky basement or what waterproofing involves is important. Apart from knowing what to expect, arming yourself with this information might help you choose the right service provider.

Waterproofing situations are often entirely different, and so are the basements involved. As such, identifying the exact location of moisture penetration is just as important as developing an ideal and sustainable solution. Here’s a look at the three methods used to make below-grade spaces impermeable.

1. Interior waterproofing and sealants
Cracks, which usually form in concrete foundations, are a common water entry point. Fortunately, many professionals have the skills and equipment to seal such cracks. To seal off potential moisture entry points, waterproofing experts will usually inject a special sealant into the crack openings from the inside of below-grade spaces, making sure it penetrates all the way to the outside. The sealants used should have the ability to prevent leaks even when subjected to high levels of humidity.

You can, however, choose to use watertight coatings. This waterproofing method is a viable alternative since the coating employed will adhere to your concrete walls permanently and function effectively even when subjected to dampness or minor condensation. Unfortunately, the use of watertight coats or sealants does not fix major leaks or flooding. This inability is mainly because waterproof coats and sealants don’t perform well when subjected to intense water pressure.

2. Exterior waterproofing
Exterior waterproofing involves extensive excavation, which needs to be done around the entire house and all the way to the foundation’s base. Once the excavation is complete, experts will use a waterproof coating to seal the walls and make them watertight. This helps by directing water away and towards a drainage system. Thanks to this waterproofing method, homeowners can keep water from seeping into below-grade spaces through the walls or foundation. Additionally, exterior waterproofing prevents moisture from causing damage to a home’s interior and foundation.

3. Installation of interior and exterior drainage systems
Proper drainage systems allow better control over water, even in cases where water has already penetrated into the house. Using a sump pump to collect and drain water from below-grade spaces is one of the simplest ways to enhance drainage. Even so, you’ll want to be sure you’re pumping the water away from your house.

Interior drainage systems serve to drain underground water from below-grade spaces as well as the water that collects along the foundation. Though some homeowners take the functionality of an interior drainage system lightly, these systems can provide extensive benefits when there’s a power outage, heavy rainfall or heavy melting of snow. Apart from helping to ensure the area is free of both mold and mildew, proper drainage is effective in keeping water out of the home.

Taking preventive measures is important, which is why you should contact an expert and prepare your home before it’s too late.

Can Water Really Damage a Building Foundation?

Water Damage

People sometimes wonder whether or not leaking water really poses a hazard to a building? For instance, in some low lying areas, homeowners frequently discover water in basements after periods of wet weather. Should these discoveries cause concern?

Building Foundation Waterproofing Foundation

Can Water Really Damage a Building Foundation?

Answering this question depends to some extent upon the source of the water. If you sustained a broken window in your basement and rain poured inside during a thunderstorm, for instance, you may remove the problem by mopping the floor and fixing the glass. Unfortunately, water leakage issues in low-lying areas often prove far more complex than this simple scenario. Let’s consider some long term concerns associated with basements that do not remain waterproof.

The Awesome Power of Water

Have you ever observe the Colorado River flowing within the mighty Grand Canyon? If so, you’ve witnessed first hand the power of water! Over the course of time, water possesses the ability to erode stone surfaces. It may seep inside a porous (seemingly solid) structure and gradually reduce it.

Of course, the mighty Colorado River did not hollow out the Grand Canyon quickly- that transformation, which still remains poorly understood, likely required millions of years to accomplish. Yet across the world, people have discovered numerous instances in which flowing water can cut deep channels into the earth, hollow out caves and even break apart building foundations.

Short Term Problems Associated With Leaking Water

In certain areas of low elevation, waterlogged soil following a heavy rainstorm or the melting of a snow pack will cause water to seep inside the ground levels of buildings. A basement or an underground garage may remain at high risk for encountering this type of damage.

Over the course of time, water entering a basement in this way may pose a significant problem. Just consider some of the hazards this process imposes on residents:

Water pooling in a basement creates a mess requiring frequent mopping;
Standing water may provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insect pests;
Leaking water often contributes to the growth of mildew and mold;
A dank, wet basement may pose a safety hazard if electrical wires come into contact with the water.

For all these reasons, property owners usually seek to prevent water from seeping into the lower levels of buildings. No one appreciates a smelly, unhealthy basement!

Longer Term Water Leakage Issues

Unfortunately, over the course of a longer period of time, leaking water may even threaten one of a building’s most important systems: its foundation. Water constantly penetrating the pores of a cement slab will eventually create cracks. When these become visible, property owners may need to complete expensive repairs to prevent catastrophic damage.

Consider that a building foundation provides the chief support for the structure. Homes and offices with broken or cracked foundations sometimes experience structural problems over the course of time. These changes typically won’t become apparent overnight, but they can necessitate significant repair expenses.

Consider Corrective Measures

In the short term, applying waterproof sealants may help protect basement rooms against the development of moldy, dank conditions. Taking the comparatively inexpensive step of applying waterproofing coatings often holds benefits.

For a longer term solution, owners of property subjected to leaks seeping into the foundation may find it helpful to consult with a civil engineer. In some cases, for example, landscaping to provide adequate drainage around a foundation provides a way to safeguard the structure of the building from seeping water.

4 Reasons You Should Waterproof Your Foundation or Basement

Reasons You Should Waterproof Your Foundation or Basement

Home improvements do not have to be limited to what you can see. Improvements to items like electrical wiring and plumbing can bring significant comfort to everyone within your home without needing to be visible.

When you waterproof your foundation it is yet another unseen improvement that could make your home more usable and comfortable, but it is one that few people really consider due to the hidden nature of foundations and basements.

Let’s explore some reasons why you should waterproof your foundation.

Waterproof Your Foundation

1. Reducing the Risk of Flooding

Flooding is a very real risk to everyone living in Raleigh, North Carolina. It only takes one decent storm to have an indoor swimming pool within your own home.

Waterproofing reduces the risk of flooding by reshaping the way water interacts with your home. French drains can redirect water in safe ways. When you waterproof your foundation it will keep more water away from your home, which in turn reduces the likelihood that water will enter your home.

2. Keeping Your Basement Dry

While not every home in Raleigh has a basement, the ones that do will appreciate having a dry one.

When you waterproof your foundation it enables this by reducing the amount of water that seeps into a home. It can divert it while adding a waterproof barrier.

The result is a basement that can be used for everything from recreation to storage. This allows you to utilize your basement to its fullest without having to worry about floods, leaks or moisture that can cause extensive damage.

3. Reducing Overall Moisture

Moisture in a home can make your home feel warmer during the summer, cause oxidation on metal objects, destroy paper products, foster environments where mold thrives, and reduce the comfort you feel in your own home.

The first step to reducing moisture in your home is to waterproof your foundation. This is because water tends to travel upwards as it evaporates, which is why homes with a water-logged foundation tend to be more humid than homes with dry foundations.

4. Protecting Your Home

Water and homes seldom mix unless that water is in a controlled environment. This is a fact that remains true both inside and outside of your home.

Waterproofing your foundation can prevent water from seeping into your home where it can warp boards, cause walls to rot, and ruin your possessions. It minimizes the amount of water that seeps inside of your home.

Waterproofing the foundation also helps the outside of your home. It can help ensure that the ground where your foundation sits is less prone to shifting, which in turn can reduce the occurrence of foundation problems and leaks.

A Waterproofed Foundation Makes for a Smart Home

Waterproofing your foundation is one of the most important improvements you can make to your home. It keeps the inside dry while ensuring that the structure itself does not experience costly and bothersome foundation issues.

If you want to ensure that your foundation stays dry, then contact Raleigh Waterproofing, Inc. We specialize in basement waterproofing in Raleigh, NC both new and existing.

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