How to Waterproof a Basement Area

A basement is a large area, which can be used as a guest room, a playroom or as a storage. But it is more likely to have damp or moisten conditions, which lead to mold problems. It needs improvement to be turned into a valuable space. This is why waterproofing seems to be very important for every household.

Wet or damp conditions are the cause of several problems. They not only provide a suitable environment for mold to develop but also produce unpleasant odors. Also they pose the risk of damage to your valuable furniture and electronic devices. More seriously, the build of too much damp in the basement will ultimately lead to the weakening of your home's foundation. Learn here how to waterproof a basement to maximize the space you have.

First of all what you need to do is identify the source of dampness. It is not difficult to find the source of moisture. Just looking around, you can find where the damp or moisture comes out. You need to use your eyes and look around to see if there is any sings of damps. This can better be done by checking the floors or walls to find any sings of wetness. These are where moisture created by the wet ground surrounding your basement will usually come through. It is easy to identify the sing of dampness. All you need to do is look for white marks composed of white crystal, which is called efflorescence. The white marks are made of minerals left on a wall's surface when water dries up.

Sometimes, there are no visible sings made of white crystal, making it a little bit difficult for homeowners to pinpoint the source of dampness for waterproofing basement walls. In this case, what you need to do is attach a sheet of plastic with the use of duct tape to the floor near the outer wall as well as the lower half of the exterior wall and leave the plastic sheet for whole day in the same condition. Now remove the plastic sheet and see if there is any moisture created in the areas where you left the plastic sheet.

Once you have found the source of moisture, you should take the right measure to fix the problem. There are many stores offering different types of dehumidifiers that you can install in your basement to control the dampness and minimize the odors. However, if odor persists in the store, try to find the source. You can scrub the walls and remove damp boxes and newspapers that may cause bad smell. In addition, regular cleaning is very important to keep a place neat and clean thereby reducing probability of odor. Though, they do not provide permanent solutions and this is why waterproofing basement remains the best way to improve space to be used as store, guest or play room.

The author is a home restoration expert who provides tips and guidelines for enhancing the quality of living space like how to waterproof basement, etc. For more information visit: http://waterproofingone.com