Three Tips To Help You Keep Water Out Of Your Finished Basement
If you have invested a lot of time and money in finishing your basement, you do not want to deal with things like water damage. Many things can help protect your basement from water damage. You may want to consider things like interior drainage systems, materials on exterior walls and other features to help keep water out of your basement. Here are some things that can be done to keep the water out of your basement:
1. Exterior Waterproofing And Drainage Systems
The exterior of your home is where the most effective improvements can be added. You can have things like layered waterproofing systems added to keep the water out of the basement. You may also want to consider adding drainage tiles. These foundation drainage systems allow water to drain away from your foundation and reduce static water pressure that can cause structural damage to the foundation of your home. You may also want to consider improving grading so that water runoff drains away. You can even have a dry well installed to deal with any excess water from your drainage systems.
2. Interior Foundation Drainage Waterproofing Systems
In some cases, an exterior waterproofing system may be too costly due to the need for excavations. An alternative is an interior foundation waterproofing system. These systems consist of interior wall waterproofing with foundation drains that go to a sump pump. The sump pump will carry waste and drainage out of your home to keep your basement dry. These systems can be used in addition to exterior waterproofing to give your basement an extra line of defense against water problems.
3. Using Materials That Are Water Resistant On Exterior Walls
When finishing your basement, it is important to consider the types of materials used. This is especially true for exterior walls where there is a potential for water problems. Consider replacing wall finishes and other materials with water resistant materials like vinyl. This will prevent any problems if water does get in your basement at some point. You can also use more durable flooring like tile or epoxy coating to finish your basement. Since there is a lot of moisture at foundation drainage systems, it is a good idea to use waterproof materials to finish these areas.
These are some of the things that can be done to keep water out of your basement. If you need help with improvements to your home, contact a basement waterproofing contractor (such as one from Sohan and Sons) to help you with keeping your basement dry.