Your basement may not be experiencing any flooding at the moment. However, it could still get flooded in the future as this is something that happens often. Basements are known to be prone to flooding and as such, it is advisable that one is proactive to prevent the problem. The fact that a basement is partially or fully built underground, means that it will most likely experience some kind of flooding at some point. Well, this need not happen if you take precautionary measures. You can contact one of the basement waterproofing nj companies to work on the basement and ensure that it is free from moisture and vulnerabilities.
In this article, we shall examine some of the basement waterproofing tips that can help you to prevent flooding of your basement.
Here are 5 tips to waterproofing your basement:
- Use sealants
If your foundation has cracks, then water will enter the basement. The cracks can be sealed easily with special sealants from the inside of the home. All that will be done is that these sealants will be injected into the cracks and seal off any moisture or water that could get into the basement through the cracks. Even if your foundation does not have any cracks, you can use waterproof coatings in the basement. These coatings prevent potential flooding, dampness, condensation problems, and major leaks.
- Use appropriate rain gutters
Rain gutters work wonders when it comes to channeling rainwater away from your foundation. However, these have to be properly maintained and cleared of any debris that may have formed in them. If not, they will spill over and the water can easily run along the foundation and probably flood it. For you to have properly working gutters, you need to install gutter guards and clean the gutters during spring. This prevents leaf buildup from the trees around the house.
- Install and maintain downspouts
The downspouts are very important as they gather, and disperse into the ground, the water collected by the gutters. These have to be properly installed and placed at the right spots where they can channel the water to the right place on the ground. If they are poorly set and located, they will disperse the water on the ground and this water can still seep into the ground next to the basement and enter into the foundation through cracks. Always ensure that the water collected by the downspouts is properly redirected to grounds away from the basement.
- Grading
Grading is very important as it ensures that the soil around the foundation is sloppy, and reduces the amounts of water that come into contact with your foundation. When the homes are newly constructed, this grading issue is always planned for. However, with time, the ground may lose its slope and therefore endanger the basement by exposing it to flooding. Always ensure that the ground is kept sloppy to redirect the water from the basement.
- Installation of sump pumps
The sump pump should be used as a last resort. If the problem persists, you can install these kinds of pumps to keep the water out of the basement. The equipment will work by collecting the water automatically from the basement. It detects the presence of water, collects the water and pumps it out. Always ensure that the pump is in good working condition.
