Five Ways to Help Waterproof Your Basement

July 19th, 2021

Five Ways to Help Waterproof Your Basement

Have you decided to waterproof your basement? An experienced contractor offers valuable technical assistance completing this project. Dry, comfortable premises contribute to the long term value of real estate in North Carolina. Consider exploring some of these important waterproofing technologies soon.

The Importance of Careful Planning to Waterproof Your Basement

Before discussing basement moisture control & waterproofing measures, it seems important to mention one key point. The steps required to waterproof a basement vary, based upon the circumstances. Every project remains unique.

For example, one homeowner may struggle to correct seasonal flooding caused by water intrusions. Another might obtain the best waterproofing results installing a rooftop gutter system. A third residence might simply require sump pump maintenance. Before you waterproof your basement, consider discussing this project in depth with an experienced contractor. This precaution usually helps save time, money, and aggravation.

Five Ways to Help Waterproof Your Basement

In North Carolina, several basement waterproofing measures enjoy wide popularity. It may prove helpful to explore some of these projects with your waterproofing contractor:

One: Install a Sump Pump

One popular way to help waterproof a basement involves adding a sump pump. Choose either an above-drain pedestal model or a below-drain submersible pump. Your contractor can help you select the best type for your basement floor plan.

Gravity causes leaking water to flow towards the lowest point in a home. Placing a sump pump in this location offers a way to force water down a drain. It helps prevent the formation of stagnant pools of standing water indoors. Many homes in North Carolina benefit significantly from this technology.

Two: Add a Rooftop Gutter System to Your Home

Occasionally, damp basements result from inadequate rooftop guttering systems. This problem sometimes surprises homeowners. Yet in North Carolina, residential roofs often receive high volumes of rain. It proves vitally important to channel this moisture away from the perimeter of the home.

When you waterproof your basement, always pay close attention to the condition of the surrounding ground. Does water saturate the soil adjoining your home’s basement? Has this situation allowed water to seep into the home? Would adding a new rooftop gutter and downspout system to your residence correct this problem? A waterproofing expert can help answer these questions.

Three: Construct an Interior Basement Drain

You may also decide to waterproof your basement by building a new interior basement drain. This step requires the assistance of a skilled contractor. You’ll want to ensure the construction project won’t accidentally damage your home’s foundation.

In many cases, adding an interior basement drainage system works very well. This step may help prevent basement flooding, in fact. The project often proves highly cost-effective over the long term. Invest in preventing basement water damage.

Four: Install a Dehumidifier

Sometimes the installation of a dehumidifier greatly assists basement waterproofing. However, first it is very important to identify the most likely cause of a damp basement. Hot, humid conditions in North Carolina sometimes contribute to water condensation. The installation of a dehumidifier may solve this problem.

Dehumidifiers today fall across a spectrum of prices. Therefore, consider asking your waterproofing contractor to assist you. More often than not, an experienced contractor supplies turnkey services installing basement dehumidifiers.

Five: Waterproof Your Basement Doors And Windows

Water seeping indoors through doors and windows also causes wet basements. Not every homeowner in NC encounters this problem. Residential floorplans, prevailing weather conditions, and landscaping features differ, of course. Yet water intrusions potentially produce significant damage unless corrected.

To waterproof your home in this situation, consider asking an experienced waterproofing contractor to inspect the basement. Many technologies offer effective assistance preventing water seepage through below-ground level windows or doors. Typical solutions may involve replacing doors and windows and/or installing window wells.

Waterproof Your Basement This Year

Selecting a skilled waterproofing company remains perhaps the single most important step in securing effective residential waterproofing. Have you decided to waterproof a basement or a crawl space this year? If so, Drainage & Waterproofing Solutions, LLC offers valuable assistance. We serve clients across the Greater Raleigh Area. Our service zone includes Southern Pines and Fayetteville, NC.

We welcome the opportunity to serve as your waterproofing contractors. To discuss your project, simply contact our company. Call us at 919-508-7503. We look forward to speaking with you soon!

Five Ways to Help Waterproof Your Basement

Three Key Uses For A Residential Retaining Wall A Useful Home Improvement Feature 

June 23rd, 2018

Residential Retaining Wall

Today residents of the Greater Raleigh Area and its environs sometimes rely upon a very ancient landscaping device to enhance their comfort and enjoyment of their real estate: a residential retaining wall. Many people don’t realize this useful feature also often offers significant home waterproofing benefits!

Residential Retaining Wall

Drainage & Waterproofing Solutions,LLC” constructs residential retaining walls for customers in this beautiful region of North Carolina. Ask us to conduct an inspection of your grounds to let you know whether or not your realty would benefit from including one (or more)Residential retaining wall on the property from a waterproofing standpoint. You might even consider requesting this structure simply to enhance the appearance of the yard and make regular maintenance easier.

About Residential Retaining Walls

Essentially, a retaining wall permits a property owner to restructure the terrain of a yard in the best way to promote effective drainage. Just like a French Drain, this simple structure may help channel the flow of water runoff in a desired direction. Consider using retaining walls as cost-effective, harmonious tools for assisting your residential waterproofing and landscaping goals. We build Residential retaining walls in a variety of sizes and thicknesses across variable distances. These structures lend both beauty and utility to yards in this area.
Retaining wall step 3

Many retaining walls help prevent erosion by holding the ground along the slopes of hillsides in place. (The wall effectively “retains” the earth in a desired position.) You’ve no doubt seen hundreds of retaining walls as your travel through North Carolina. Most residential developments constructed near slopes or hillsides rely on one (or more) of these structures. We’d like to mention three popular uses for retaining walls:

Control Yard Drainage

Of course, Drainage & Waterproofing Solutions,LLC” frequently installs Residential retaining wall for customers to advance water runoff drainage goals. The use of these structures may assist a property owner in re-shaping the contours of the land surrounding the residence. We endeavor to further waterproofing objectives by employing this very basic landscaping technology.

In some situations, we even install interior drains inside the Residential retaining wall we construct. Taking this step may provide a channel for rainwater runoff to flow in a desired direction. It may also help prevent the formation of ponds or puddles in level areas demarcated by a retaining wall.(1)

Make Mowing Hillsides Easier

Do you dread watching a family member mow a particularly steep section of the yard? Angled slopes sometimes allow lawnmowers and lawn tractors to tip over. Instead of laboring strenuously to work around these natural terrain drawbacks, it may increase a homeowner’s peace of mind and satisfaction to simply level the slope with the assistance of a series of well-placed retaining walls.

A series of retaining walls can help divide steeply angled slopes into a series of leveled terraces effectively, creating useful, flatter areas for gardening or grounds keeping purposes (without allowing erosion to become a problem). In fact, these walls help some property owners optimize the utility they receive from their yards. Ancient people residing in mountainous areas around the world often utilized retaining walls to create terraced agricultural plots in the past. Sturdy retaining walls built hundreds of years ago still assist this goal in some parts of the world!(2)

Install a Secure Yet Scenic Rock Garden

Yet another popular use for retaining walls involves creating safer, cleaner rock gardens. If you’ve considered replacing a hard-to-mow grassy knoll on your land with an easily-maintained rock garden, consider utilizing a strong, thick retaining wall at the base as a safety precaution. The wall helps prevent loose stones from slipping downhill without encountering a barrier along the way.

Today, skilled builders can embed permanent hooks in retaining walls to help fasten secure netting over loose landscaping aggregates. This precaution helps maintain these decorative natural materials in place. Additionally, constructing a slightly higher-than-ground-level retaining wall offers additional protection against erosion. Customers may also request the construction of sites within the retaining wall for the deployment of LED outdoor lighting. The beautiful results of these efforts delight homeowners and visitors alike!

Further Information

Do you require an attractive, well-built Residential retaining wall to improve drainage for your residence in the Greater Raleigh, Southern Pines or Fayetteville area, or to enhance your home’s natural landscaping? Contact Drainage & Waterproofing Solutions,LLC” for fast, experienced assistance. Our company also offers a wide variety of other useful, affordable waterproofing services. We supply free written estimates, so you’ll know the reasonable cost of the project before we commence work. Call 919-235-5219 now to discuss your property with us. We look forward to helping you!

Proper Planning for Your Next Waterproofing Project

October 15th, 2017

Waterproofing Project –

 
Currently, the best option for homeowners looking to waterproof their home is to seek assistance from a full-time waterproofing firm. Projects to install an interior basement drain or obtain crawl space repair and encapsulation may significantly extend the useful lifespan of a residence. Yet even initiating this type of major home improvement sometimes strikes real estate owners as daunting. What steps should you take in order to obtain the best value from waterproofing? Just consider some of these tips:

Waterproofing Project

1. Observe Conditions in Your Location Carefully

First, pay close attention to your real estate. Have you noticed significant pooling in one section of the yard during heavy rains? Do the sides of an unfinished basement display water marks from past water pooling? Does your residence already have a gutter system and downspouts in place? By observing the conditions of your home and grounds, you may suspect your real estate would benefit from professional waterproofing services.

2. Schedule an Inspection by a Qualified Waterproofing Company

Today, a growing number of firms offer waterproofing services on a full-time basis. Try and select an experienced firm with a good reputation in your local area to conduct an inspection of your home. You’ll likely pay for this service. However, obtaining a waterproofing inspection could help you save significant sums of money over the course of time. You’ll want to locate a firm willing to assist your documentation efforts if you do require bank financing for a waterproofing project.

If you reside in a dwelling with a basement or cellar, the inspection will focus extensively upon waterproofing lower levels of the home. If your home lacks a basement, but does include crawl spaces, the inspector will want to observe the crawl spaces closely to check for any signs of water, mold or pest damage. Ask your waterproofing expert to prepare a written report documenting the findings of the inspection in detail. This document should include any recommendations for waterproofing services, as well as extensive photos of the basement or crawl spaces. (In some cases, a waterproofing expert may advise you to also obtain a further inspection from an engineer specializing in building foundations or soil conditions.)

3. Discuss The Inspection Findings With Waterproofing Experts

Discuss proposed waterproofing concerns and potential solutions in detail with your waterproofing firm and, if applicable, with an engineer. Your experts may outline a variety of possible solutions for specific types of water drainage issues. You’ll want to understand their recommendations in order to make well informed decisions concerning waterproofing your home.

4. Develop a Waterproofing Plan for your Waterproofing Project

You may discover your residence does not require further waterproofing at this time. Your plan of action on this issue may become as simple as scheduling waterproofing inspections every few years. On the other hand, if water in basements or crawl spaces does pose a hazard, you may wish to evaluate a number of possible solutions. Waterproofing companies often provide several available services to assist homeowners in maintaining dry basements.

These approaches may include installing specialized drains, such as an interior basement drain with a sump pump, or cleaning and encapsulating a crawl space. In some situations, significant landscaping changes around the exterior of the home and the addition of a gutter system or retaining walls may prove helpful. Yet since the best approaches for waterproofing often hinge upon specific property conditions, it makes sense to discuss all your available options in depth. Ask for assistance from your experts as you prepare a waterproofing plan.

5. If Necessary, Seek Financing for your Waterproofing Project

In some situations, undertaking a significant waterproofing project, such as the installation of an interior basement drain beneath the basement floor, may offer the best long term solution for a water drainage problem. The waterproofing report and its attached photos will assist you if you need to obtain financing to implement a recommended solution for your home’s water drainage problems.

Your discussions with your experts should help you explain the purpose of a proposed waterproofing project more clearly to lenders. Shop carefully if you must obtain a loan to afford home improvements. Consider discussing the terms and conditions of lending documents with your family attorney.

6. Use Qualified Contractors to Implement Your Waterproofing Project

Work closely with your team of experts to implement a waterproofing project. While these improvements sometimes cost significant sums, you may find you extend the anticipated lifespan of your residence by resolving water drainage hazards. Waterproofing an unfinished basement may allow you to eventually finish a basement. Also, to expand available living space within the residence, also.

Careful Planning for a Waterproofing Project

Plan waterproofing projects carefully to increase the likelihood of a successful outcome. Also, homes without drainage problems provide more pleasing living spaces. Waterproofing offers long term safety benefits, too!

We also have the following services:

Why Inspecting Crawl Spaces And Foundations Matters

August 15th, 2017

Inspection of Crawl Spaces and Foundations

Sealed Crawl Spaces

Thorough Residential Real Estate Inspections

In many locations, especially in warmer regions, developers erect houses with extensive crawl spaces. For instance, instead of excavating a basement, the builder may construct a wood frame residence resting on a slightly elevated foundation. If you live in a home with an unencapsulated crawl space (or crawl spaces), it usually remains a wise precaution to request periodic inspections by a waterproofing expert of the infrequently-accessed areas beneath the residence.

Taking this simple step helps ensure crawl spaces and foundations remain in good condition. It also may assist property owners in catching and correcting potential real estate problems at an early stage. The old adage “forewarned is forearmed” applies in terms of protecting living areas from some common crawl space-related hazards.

Clean, Dry Crawl Spaces

Of course, frequently homeowners don’t welcome the prospect of exploring out-of-the-way crawl spaces, building foundations, or attics. These locations may require considerable effort and discomfort to access. They typically lack light. In some circumstances, spiders, snakes or even bats frequent these dark places. Yet ensuring that these parts of a residence remain clean and dry could help maintain the useful lifespan of your house.

Water leaking beneath the home can create potentially serious consequences. Over the course of time, this situation may cause warping or rotting in wooden structures. The damp conditions may give rise to the growth of mold and mildew, a health concern. In wood frame houses, moisture may promote conditions conducive to termite infestations. Ultimately, seeping water holds the potential to damage building foundations, creating structural problems. All these considerations warrant periodic inspections of crawl spaces, foundations and attics by experienced waterproofing technicians. If you notice any possible signs of trouble developing, consider contacting a qualified inspector to check your home:

Tilting Floor

Do any of the lower level floors in your residence “bounce” or appear uneven? While many possible causes can contribute to this problem (including termites), water in a crawl space sometimes produces this defect. By asking an expert to examine the underside of the floor carefully, you’ll take useful corrective action to protect your household more effectively.

Any sagging floor imposes hazards, or course. It may cause people to trip and fall unexpectedly. If sections of a floor weaken, the problem could place furniture (or occupants) at risk of tumbling through floor boards.

Cracks in Interior Plaster or Dry Wall

If you notice cracks forming in the plaster or drywall in one or more rooms, requesting a crawl space and foundation inspection may prove prudent. Furthermore, a variety of issues potentially cause crack formation; shifting in the ground beneath the home as a result of water pooling in a crawl space could contribute to this phenomenon.

Large cracks in plaster or drywall usually remain apparent even after re-painting or the application of wallpaper. Also, they pose an interior decorating problem and may deter prospective home buyers when a property reaches the real estate market. Checking out the source of the cracks usually remains the best course of action.

Termite Infestations

If your house develops a termite problem, consider scheduling a crawl space and foundation inspection with a waterproofing expert. Some termites will infest dry wood, yet these wood-gnawing insects often show a marked preference for damp, rotting planks and timbers. Additionally, it makes little sense to perform termite treatments before addressing an underlying water problem, if any, inside the crawl space or around the foundation. Unless repaired, wet crawl spaces under the home may continue to promote wood damage, encouraging termite re-infestation at a later date.

Most real estate experts recommend obtaining the assistance of a licensed pest exterminator in order to apply termite treatments. Also, the insects can burrow inside wood and sometimes prove challenging to eradicate. Recently some new classes of insecticides reached the market. These chemicals prove less toxic to humans and pets, but eliminate entire termite colonies.

Odors

A foul odor in the home could signal a leaky roof or a wet crawlspace and foundation. Persistently damp conditions allow mold to gain a foothold. Also, if you smell a musty, unpleasant aroma, consider calling a waterproofing company for assistance.

A careful examination of the premises helps isolate the source of water leaks. In some situations, leaking plumbing pipes and fixtures or sewer pipes spill undetected into crawl spaces for some time before the problem reaches an owner’s attention. Also, prompt corrective plumbing action to stop leaking sometimes resolves this type of crawl space issue (if extensive damage has not already occurred).

Available Assistance

Consider contacting a qualified waterproofing expert in all these situations. Taking this precaution could help prevent or minimize long term property damage!