YOUR Guide to basement waterproofing

Water damage poses one of the greatest risks to the safety and functionality of basements. As water seeps into a basement, it follows the path of least resistance, migrating throughout the space and building up when it has nowhere else to go or when retained by absorbent building materials. If left unchecked, compromised basements are susceptible to the many serious consequences of water damage, like toxic mold or mildew and even material failure that can lead to structural disasters. Many newer homes are built with lessons learned, and typically now comprise graded lots that direct water away from basements to minimize the risk of water infiltration. Unfortunately, while this is becoming more common, graded lots have yet to be integrated into all new builds, and it’s common for older homes to have neither graded lots nor even the most rudimentary basement waterproofing. To ensure basements stay safe and dry in any home, several different basement waterproofing methods can be used, and comprise of a few primary approaches: