Toronto Basement Waterproof, Leak Repairs, Wet Basement Waterproofing

Waterproof basements are a necessity when it comes to protecting your commercial or residential property. Since basement’s walls and floors are surrounded by moist soil, basements are very vulnerable to flooding and becoming wet, if they are not waterproof. Property owners usually waterproof basements before rainy or snowy seasons, when basements have higher chances of being flooded.

When your basement is waterproof, the annoying odours that come from dampness finally stop, which also prevents the formation of mold and mildew that can put the health of you family at risk, causing health problems like asthma and allergies. When basements are not waterproof, it can damage the stability of your house, as walls and support structures disintegrate from excessive dampness. Waterproof basements protect you furniture and valuable belongings, like carpets, books, computers, and keep your living space free from mold and excessive humidity and make sure your home or office is dry and safe.

How do you know if your basement is waterproof enough? All structures built below or at ground level need to be waterproof. Waterproof concrete is the best protection against water damage to your basement. And of course, the best time to waterproof basements is at the time when your house is built. But keep in mind that building contractors are not required to waterproof basements by law - they go by building codes that discuss some forms of protecting your basement from being damp, but it does not necessarily mean they will make it waterproof. So, those who did not waterproof basements at the time their house was built, or maybe bought a house from someone else, could eventually see the need for their basements to be waterproof.

If you have little idea of what kind of protection your basement has against water, take a look around - some of the things you would never see in a waterproof basement are: shedding paint on basement’s walls (caused by moisture); signs of efflorescence (which occur as dispersible salts come to the surface – usually show up as white stains on colored concrete); rotting wood; rust on metallic surfaces, etc.

If the walls in your basement look damp, or have wet stains, there is a good chance that your basement is not waterproof. As the soil around your house’s foundation retains water from rain and snow, it starts pressing against the borders of the basement. With time that pressure can cause cracks in the foundation of the basement that is not waterproof, which in turn results in problems like flooding or wet basement.

What can you do to protect your basement? If you think your basement is not waterproof, call a local waterproofing specialist to determine the extent of the problem. When the specialist comes, make sure you ask them to check if the walls and the floors in your basement are both waterproof, and if not, what solutions they have available to waterproof basements.

From that moment on, it can either come to an inexpensive internal waterproofing solution or a more expensive, but always more cost-effective external method of making your basement waterproof. Waterproof basements are often seen as a high expenditure – the reality is that making your basement waterproof can cost you ten times less than repairing an already damaged basement, rescuing your belongings from flooding, or incurring high costs of health problems.