Of all homes with basements, over 98% will experience some type of water damage. And even though there are a wide variety of basement waterproofing methods, it’s safe to say that not all are created equal. In fact, there are quite a few methods that simply don’t work because of your basement or crawlspace’s existing condition or as a result of heavy flooding conditions. Before you decide which is the best waterproofing method for your home, check out some of these ‘remedies’ that simply don’t work:
DIY Sealants
So many homeowners think that they can resolve their basement moisture issues by taking matters into their own hands and installing one of the many DIY sealants available. But most of these sealants and other DIY products are designed solely as a short-term solution. What’s more important is that if you don’t know or have sufficient experience with DIY solutions, you could apply the sealant improperly and create only an illusion of water resistance. This could cause even more damage if the DIY sealant has given you a false sense of security. Avoid DIY sealants if possible, and leave it to the professionals who have years of basement waterproofing expertise.
Methods That Only Focus On Your Home’s Exterior
Homeowners run into this mistake when they assume that the water and moisture issues are due to a problem only with the exterior of their house. But usually, basements with moisture problems require both interior and exterior solutions to repair properly. For example, landscaping can dramatically help to reduce the risk of basement moisture problems: The soil around home foundations should slope at least six inches for every 10 horizontal feet, and plants should be placed a minimum of two feet from the foundation and low enough in the soil so as not to direct water toward the foundation. But this often isn’t adequate enough alone to stop basement water issues, so find the root of the problem by reaching out to a professional.
As mentioned, there are many options available to help solve your basement moisture issues. But it’s important to recognize which methods are best suited for your home. For more information about home waterproofing and foundation repairs, contact The Real Seal LLC.
4 Responses
I want to make sure that my basement is properly waterproofed. It makes sense that trying DIY methods might not be the best. It would be a good idea for me to get a professional to help me out with this.
Absolutely, Braden! Be sure to get a few quotes and research reputation as well!
I love how you talk about how DIY waterproofing is unreliable and doesn’t work. My cousins recently had a flood scare in their house and they don’t want to worry too much about damage if it ever happens again. So we’ve been looking into basement waterproofing to help them prepare for something like that to happen.
You bet, no problem Jessie! Let us know where you are and we may be able to recommend someone.