Q1.
How do I Prevent further Water Leak Damage when my Basement Floods?
Basement leaks are most likely to be discovered after a rainfall has passed. When you discover that your basement is leaking, give Leaky Basement a call or send us an email. Make sure to photograph or videotape the leaks and the areas where they occurred. It is not only beneficial to us, but it is also beneficial for insurance purposes.
The clean-up will entail removing any nearby goods that could be harmed by water, such as carpets, MDF or particle materials, and other valuables. To avoid electrical shocks, be VERY careful while removing devices that have come into touch with or are submerged in water, such as appliances, power bars with plugs, or any other electronic equipment laying on the floor. In the event of a large-scale flood, it is essential that you hire a water restoration company to handle the clean-up right once to avoid health dangers from the water that has entered your property.
Even after the water has been removed, disinfecting the areas where the water has been touched is critical, as this water may pose a health risk. Any compromised drywall should be replaced after any form of foundation repair, including our own exterior or interior waterproofing treatments, to minimize the spread of mold spores and other hazardous microorganisms that could affect your health.
Q2.
What Factors Determine the Cost of Waterproofing?
Every homeowner is concerned about waterproofing their leaking basement since a leaky basement can stimulate the growth of hazardous mould. It’s a major job that shouldn’t be taken lightly. The cost of waterproofing a leaking basement is determined by a number of factors, including:
- Depth of your foundation
- Waterproofing method you choose
- Number of cracks in your basement foundation
- The number of window wells needed for your foundation
- If a Sump pump installation is needed
Waterproofing your leaky basement can cost anywhere from $1000-$25,000, but depending on the size of the building, it might cost more than $50,000.
Q3.
What Waterproofing Materials do our Experts use on a Job?
For exterior waterproofing projects, we use Hydraulic Cement to seal leaking cracks, Rubberized Membrane and Reinforcement Mesh to completely waterproof your foundation walls and prevent further leaks, an exterior drainage membrane to direct excess water and moisture down to the drainage tile system that is installed next, and finally a 3/4 crushed gravel layer for additional water drainage capability.
We install a dimpled drainage membrane similar to the exterior one to prevent water and moisture from building up on your basement wall, interior drainage pipes to redirect water to your basement drain or existing sump pump, 3/4 crushed gravel beside the drainage pipe, and cover it all with a layer of cement for interior waterproofing projects.
Q4.
What is the Duration of a Waterproofing Job?
Exterior Waterproofing jobs typically take one or two days to complete, depending on how many linear feet of foundation waterproofing are required. If the weather is ideal, most projects can be completed in a single day. When waterproofing several basement foundation walls, the waterproofing crew will open up a few sections of trenches at a time to ensure that a sudden change in weather does not expose your foundation walls to rain, creating more basement leaks. If there are powerlines or critical gas pipes running through the earth and a professional needs to be dispatched to assist us, a task could be delayed for a few days. When rain prohibits our crew from completing their work, bad weather may cause the waterproofing project to be delayed by a few days.
Most interior waterproofing jobs may be completed in one to two days, regardless of the weather. When a plumbing or electrical issue prevents us from completing our work on this type of waterproofing project, we have delays. The plumbing, electrical, and structural abnormalities that we discover throughout the interior waterproofing process occasionally surprise us, especially in older properties. This may cause the interior waterproofing to be delayed for a few days while the problem is handled.
Q5.
How Important are Sump Pumps for Proper Drainage in my Home?
Sump pumps are critical for ensuring that you never have to deal with a basement flood again. If specific conditions are met, basement drains may back up, and a water basin may fill up, resulting in a flood if the surplus water is not properly drained. A sump pump will pump the surplus water out of the house through a conduit that connects to your drainage tile system. Sump pumps are mechanical, so when the water level in your basement reaches a critical level, the sump pump will detect it and begin pumping to remove the water, averting a flood.
Although Sump Pumps must be checked to ensure that they are still in working order, they are the most effective technique to keep your home flood-free. Many Sump Pumps have a backup mechanism that assures that your Sump Pump will continue to operate even if there is a power outage, giving you complete coverage.
Q6.
What is the Duration and Benefits of getting an Underpinning Job Done?
Unlike external waterproofing operations, which take a few days at most, underpinning jobs take several months to complete and involve several phases. Even before we start digging, a professional underpinning operation will require structural plans, building permits, and inspections from licensed electricians and plumbers. The job of our own Leaky Basement team will entail drilling down to the foundation’s footings, benching structurally anchoring the basement foundation, and removing any dug-up earth. Overall, underpinning is a multi-month project that is facilitated or hampered by the basement’s accessibility and current condition.
The benefits of Underpinning are worth the time and money investment though as the basement foundation repair will significantly increase the amount of living space you have in your basement. The value of your home will significantly increase as well thanks to your basement having high ceilings and more overall living space.