Many homeowners believe that when their homes need foundation waterproofing it will be obvious, like a flooded basement. However, the situation with your foundation will already be dire by the time your basement is flooding. Recovering from a flooded basement is not only expensive but difficult as well. You not only have to deal with the damaged property but also have to clean up and waterproof the basement.
Identifying the signs that you need foundation waterproofing early will mean that you can avoid the unpleasant experience of spending a lot of time and money on recovering water damaged property and cleaning your basement after a flood. You will only have to worry about the waterproofing and be sure that your property is safe from moisture damage.
However, the signs that your foundation is in need of waterproofing may not always be obvious. Some signs are more subtle. These include:
1. A Musty Odor from the Basement
A musty odor that comes from the basement is often a sign of a mold infestation. If this is the case, you may have a water seepage problem in your basement. Getting rid of the mold alone won’t help the situation for the long term. As long as your basement remains damp, the mold infestation will keep coming back.
The best thing to do if you discover signs of mold in your basement is to get in touch with a waterproofing company to have your basement inspected. They can identify any water seepage problems and attend to them.
2. Presence of Radon Gas
Radon gas is odorless and colorless. This naturally occurring gas is produced by the uranium in the soil, rocks and groundwater. When the uranium begins to break down, radon gas is released. This gas is one of the most common causes of lung cancer.
If your home has high levels of radon gas, there’s a good chance that your basement is need of waterproofing. However, radon gas can only be identified through air quality testing. You may therefore never know that your household is exposed to this harmful gas without regular indoor air quality tests.
3. Shimmers on Your Wall
Has your basement wall become sparkly? It may be the result of the formation of efflorescence on the basement walls. Efflorescence consists of mineral deposits. It is formed when water seeps through hairline cracks in the foundation wall and deposits minerals absorbed from the wall on the wall surface. The presence of efflorescence always indicates the need for foundation waterproofing.
In Southeast Wisconsin, we have the only Nationally Certified Structural Repair Specialist on staff and two Nationally Certified Waterproofing Specialists on staff.
Accurate Basement Repair is a member of the NAWSRC (National Association of Waterproofing and Structural Repair Contractors), NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry), the Basement Health Association, the BBB (Better Business Bureau), WAHI (Wisconsin Association of Home Inspectors), BIASEW (Building Inspectors Association of South Eastern Wisconsin) and Angie’s List.
We are proud to say that we have an A+ rating with the BBB and we won two Super Service Awards from Angie’s List in 2010 – one for foundation repair and the other for basement waterproofing. Our professional and knowledgeable staff will educate you on various self-help procedures to save money on your foundation and waterproofing needs. We are NOT a franchise. Our dedicated team works year round! We use high quality and well maintained equipment which will provide the lowest impact to your landscaping. Our team of trustworthy and competent staff attends regular training, seminars and/or trade shows, so they are able stay up-to-date on everything that is happening in the foundation restoration and waterproofing industry. We provide outstanding customer service throughout the entire repair process – from estimate to completion. And last, but not least… Accurate Basement Repair is the #1 referred foundation repair company by professional engineers, basement consultants, realtors, municipal building inspectors, home inspectors, lenders, property management companies and most importantly, our past customers.
