Making a finished basement should revolve around whether it is waterproofed or not. There is no need to make a basement any more comfortable than it already is if it is not finished because putting valuable items in harm’s way will eventually lead to their destruction. For this reason, new basement waterproofing techniques have been perfected to protect against water damage.  

Basements windows in general are damper areas because they are underground and are usually not ventilated as well as other rooms in the home. This encapsulation can lead to musty smells and general dampening of the entire room if water is introduced. Dehumidifiers are a very cost effective way of keeping the air down in the basement dry to prevent mold and other lesser forms of water damage.  

Another viable option for a waterproof basement revolves around working on the exterior of the home. Making sure that dirt slants in a bowed manner away from the home that lies next to a foundation and ensuring that downspouts spill far enough away are two ideas for keeping this room dry. By filtering water away from the foundation, people can proof their basements from the outside in.  

The next way to keep a basement dry is to make sure the walls are completely finished. Put up a protective coating of rubber polymer in two coats around the walls to seal the concrete layers of the foundation. Ensure that the walls are stripped and ready for a primer coat before applying this material to prevent leaks and other damages that can lead to water getting into a basement.  

Finally, and probably the best way to finish this area of the home, is by adding a sump pump to the room. This piece of equipment should be dug into a hole in the ground around the corner or a low lying place in the basement so that any water runs directly to it. The pump will automatically turn on, pumping out water through the foundation to the ground.  

New basement proofing ideas revolve around old ideas that have been modified to fit the twenty-first century. Dehumidifiers, sump pumps, exterior foundation care, and sealing walls are the best ways to prevent damage to this room in the home. Use a multifaceted approach and cover all bases to ensure that this room stays in pristine condition. This will cost a little bit of money, but the amount saved by not having to deal with water damage will be well worth the trouble.

An area of the home that is most often neglected for home repair and maintenance is the crawl space. A crawl space is usually located at the lowest level of the home and serves as a quasi-basement for homes that do not possess them. They usually are home to a houses electrical, plumbing, and air conditioning duct work. To prevent water damage to this area and fixtures waterproofing crawl space areas is of the utmost importance to avoid having to make major repairs.  

One of the drawbacks to finishing a crawl space is the fact that there is usually a limited amount of room to maneuver down there. Leaving a person only a few feet work will make this process a bit trickier but just remember to keep your head down and don’t be afraid to get a little dirty. Waterproofing this area of the home should be based around three overlapping concepts that include exterior, ground penetration, and waterproofing walls.  

When dealing with exterior types of repair, the grade of dirt surrounding the home and the slope of the ground is vital. Always try to make ground in a downward sloping fashion so that water drains away from the house and does not stagnate near it. This is important for keeping basements as well as a crawl space dry. Another component is to ensure that all downspouts drain far enough away from the home.  

The next thing to consider is the ground penetration component to a person’s property. This simply means putting protective covers down over the sand, dirt, or concrete found in the crawl space. This will protect everything that is placed on top of it. Glue a plastic tarp like material from wall to wall to prevent valuables stored here as well as the vital systems that run a house from getting wet.  

Finally, as in waterproofing a basement, wall treatment is the last line of defense when trying to protect this small area. Make sure the walls are stripped and ready for installation of a rubber polymer that can be painted on the walls of this room. Add at least two coats to the walls and make sure they dry correctly so leaks do not spring up from unknown cracks in the foundation.  

Waterproofing crawl space areas in the home, especially when they are underground can save a person on a variety of repairs that if left unchecked could cause thousands of dollars. Protective measures centering on exterior, ground penetration, and waterproofing walls should be taken care of first. However, if all else fails adding sump pump is also always a good idea.

Defending a home from water damage should be at the top of all homeowners to do list because even the tiniest bit of damage can cause thousands of dollars in repairs. A basement is especially vulnerable because of the damp conditions underground and because of fluctuating water tables caused by rain. The best way to avoid this area flooding in the house is by building in a basement sump pump. 

Waterproofing a basement should be a multipronged approach because one way is never really enough to keep this room completely dry. Other ways, besides adding a sump pump, include strengthening walls with rubber polymers and making sure the roof drainage system empties far enough away from a foundation. Each repair to the home can save large amounts of money down the road.  

Once these are seen to, it is time to make the best proofing decision, which is adding a sump pump to the room. How a sump pump system works is that it soaks up and pumps water from one area of the home to the outside far enough away from the foundation that the water will not return. Adding a sump pump to the basement area can be quite easy when taking the right steps.  

The first thing to look for is the placement of where the pump is going to be put. This placement should usually be near a wall, but most importantly should be at the lowest point of a basement. Finding the lowest point may be difficult but is extremely important because water will use gravity to find its way here and settle. When this area is found, it should be chosen as the location of the pump.  

Depending on what type of surface makes up the basement floor will factor into the difficulty of adding a sump pump. This is because it requires cutting a circular whole deep under the home where the pump is to be placed. Part of keeping this area by the wall is so the hole that is cut doesn’t interfere with or jeopardize the integrity of a foundation.  

Finally, all a person has to do is run a hose from the basement sump pump that is lowered into the hole to the outside. Often cases, this is done by drilling a hole in the exit wall to an outside drainage area. One thing to be careful of is drilling through a weight bearing wall so that the integrity of the wall remains intact. Plug in the pump, test it out, and if all is well, the basement should not be in danger of flooding.