One of the most upsetting situations is to see unexpected water in your basement. It is very harmful for the overall property. It can damage the house, walls, furniture and may eventually lead to mold.
Basements are often used for storing items like antiques, furniture, books, etc. You need to make sure that all your stuff is free of damage and absolutely safe. Experiencing a flooded basement is like a nightmare and you can never say confidently that whether it is a onetime event or will be a recurring one. Your stored items are also at risk.
Therefore, you need to waterproof your basement and to make sure it doesn’t happen again. So, let us first see that what happens when a basement floods. To get a better understanding of this, it is vital to look at how a home is built. This will clear the doubts.
Process of building a home:
Footings are an important part of basement foundation construction. So, when a home is built, a large hole is dug where the concrete footings and other foundations of the home are poured. The hole that is dug is usually about 6 to 8 feet. The dirt has to be filled now. This process is known as backfilling. If this is not done in a proper manner, then it can cause many problems. Dirt displacement can also affect the surrounding drainage.
The excavation procedure explained above takes place in undistributed soil which has been there for hundreds of years. It is also known as virgin soil. The soil is compacted to a greater level so a stable base of the building can be formed. Though the excavation has created undistributed soil which is quite effective in retaining the water, but when it is dug by the excavator the soil is removed from breaks and gets separated. It should have been backfilled as well as compacted, but instead of this it is placed in excavation.
So, when it rains, or water table rises, the bowl will fill and backfill will saturate. Water at the bottom creates an upward pressure known as the hydrostatic pressure which can cause seepage in basement because of the floor cracks.
Prevention for water seepage (French drain):
There is a way to prevent this. It will be necessary to install the French drain which must sit on top of the footing and below the floor. The water is collected before it enters the home and the pressure is released so the water can make it way to the set pump. Installing a footing drain will never clog the water and it is a permanent fix for flood in the basement.
So, if you are facing problems with basement flooding then hire basement waterproofing company, Ohio that can resolve flooded basement issues forever. You can be rest assured that the basement will never be exposed to the outside groundwater and all your storage can be safe at all times from all the disasters flooding can cause.
Some additional quick tips for waterproofing the basement:
- The downspouts should be installed properly so they can transport the water far enough from the foundation of home. They should carry the water at least 5 feet away from home so add extensions if required.
- The soil should be inspected and the ground should slope away from foundation.
- Plants and landscaping should be one feet away from the foundation.
- Fix the cracks in patios and driveways.
- Overgrown shrubs and tree roots should not penetrate in the foundation else it may form cracks in pipes or create obstructions. Take care of these.
- If there are any issues in the yard, make sure the standing water problem is resolved as quickly as possible.
These are some of the tips which you can take care of and don’t forget to call a processional basement foundation repair company to inspect and resolve all such issues with drainage. Inspecting and repairing the damaged plumbing pipes along with the clogged water issues in the basement is necessary to keep your belongings and property safe from such disasters.
