WHAT HAPPENS IF I THINK I HAVE WATER IN MY BASEMENT?
Contact Everdry Waterproofing today so we can schedule a free basement waterproofing inspection and report on the condition of your foundation.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DELAY SERVICE?
Too often homeowners ignore or are unaware of potential water problems while continuing to finish off their basement. Lovely recreation rooms, dens and bedrooms have been ruined due to dampness or wetness. Warped paneling, mildewed furniture, lifted floor tile or ruined carpeting are all the unfortunate results of a wet basement.
Dampness also promotes the growth of mildew and vermin, which can lead to serious health concerns for the family. It can also draw termites, whose entrance into a home is facilitated by foundation cracks. A wet basement can reduce the value of a home by as much as 25 percent.
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
If you have called Everdry Waterproofing for your free basement inspection and report on the condition of your foundation, you have already taken the first step. Your Inspector starts with a detailed analysis of the premises. Should a water problem exist, he will provide you with a complete explanation and photographs of problem areas, and give you options for a complete waterproofing solution.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT AFTER I HAVE CONTRACTED FOR WATERPROOFING SERVICES?
After you contracted Everdry Waterproofing, your service needs will be discussed with our senior production staff and materials will be ordered and prepared for your specific needs. Within a few days, you will receive a courtesy call from our production department to confirm a convenient starting date for your service. On the day you are to receive service, you can expect our service team to arrive around 8 a.m., unless other arrangements have been made. A senior foreman will contact you and ask if you have any questions before the crew begins their work.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO INSTALL THE AVERAGE BASEMENT WATERPROOFING SYSTEM?
Typically, you may expect us to work two to four days. The actual time depends on what we find once the floor area is opened and the condition of the lower wall area is determined. Should we find it necessary to extend our schedule, there will be no additional cost to you. If your contract includes structural or exterior work, please recognize that additional time will be required.
WILL THERE BE DUST AS A RESULT OF THIS SERVICE, AND IF SO,
HOW DO I PROTECT FURNITURE AND STORAGE AGAINST THE DUST?
The nature of the work will cause some disruption and dust. We take the extra step to protect your belongings by hanging plastic dust covers to prevent the dust from spreading to other areas of your home and we cover all of your exposed belongings. Upon completion of service, we will broom clean the work area and haul away all job-related debris.
I LIVE ON A HILL, WHY DO I STILL HAVE A PROBLEM?
Believe it or not, the surrounding grade is only one of the problems that might create water seepage. It could just as easily be from cracks in the outside wall, a high water table, malfunctioning or non-existent drain tiles, an underground spring, or a host of other causes. Don't get me wrong, living high on a hill is nice; but it doesn't mean that you won't ever have a water problem in your basement or crawl space.
I HAVE MOLD ON THE WALLS. SHOULD THIS CONCERN ME?
Absolutely! This could indicate either moisture problems, or water problems. At the very least, mold is a potential health hazard that is growing in importance these days, as scientists find out more and more about its effects on humans. For more information on these effects, click on the following links:
www.moldfighter.com
www.haz-moldinc.com/faq.html
I HAVE A CRAWLSPACE. I’M SAFE FROM LEAKS, RIGHT?
Sorry. You may have better odds, because the crawl space isn't as deep as a basement is. But crawlspaces leak, get moldy, and have problems just like basements. And since they hold up the house, just like a basement does, you need to resolve those problems if they arise.
IT ONLY LEAKS IN ONE AREA. CAN I JUST FIX THAT?
Sure, you could, and it rare circumstances it might even work. But think about it this way: water follows the path of least resistance. If there's water pushing in, and you fix that one spot, where do you think the water (it's still there!) will go next? Right, to the next most convenient place to enter. We've seen homeowners spend massive amounts of money, repeatedly trying to chase a small leak around the foundation, and never addressing the real issue – that it's time for waterproofing repairs. It's usually more cost efficient to find out what's wrong, and fix the source of the problem, right from the get-go.
IT ONLY LEAKS AFTER A HEAVY RAIN. CAN I USE A WATERPROOFING PAINT TO FIX IT?
No! Waterproofing paints are designed to seal walls, to prevent moisture from passing through. Moisture is totally different than water seepage. Look at it this way: if you had a leak in your roof, and you used waterproofing paint on the ceiling to stop the leak, would the roof be fixed, even if it stopped leaking? The answer, of course, is no. You'd still have to have the roof fixed properly, even though the water may be stopped for a while.
It's the same with waterproofing basements. You might be able to find a paint that will stop it temporarily, but the water is still there, pushing on the wall or floor. It won't go away all by itself. You need to find a way to remove the water, because it’s not supposed to be there.
MY HOUSE IS 20 YEARS OLD. WHY IS IT STARTING TO LEAK NOW?
As homes age, they need maintenance and repairs. You re-do your roof after 15 – 20 years, and consider it normal. You paint, and replace appliances, because they wear out over time. The same goes for foundations. The original tiles fail, or become clogged, or the sealant that was put on the wears out and begins to crack. Or, conditions in the ground may have changed the way water is flowing under there, and the original system is not equipped to deal with that.
I HAVE A FINISHED BASEMENT WITH DRYWALL. IS THAT A PROBLEM?
Usually, this is not a problem. However, each case will have to be evaluated individually. |
