If you’re wondering how foundation sealing can keep your basement or crawl space dry, you’re in the right place. This article discusses what foundation sealing is, when you need foundation sealing, different foundation sealing solutions for basements, and different foundation sealing solutions for crawl spaces.
What Is Foundation Sealing?
Also called foundation waterproofing, foundation sealing is when your basement or crawl space is equipped with solutions such as a vapor barrier, drain tile system, sump pump, and more. These solutions will either collect or prevent water from entering your basement or crawl space. As a bonus, when you seal or waterproof your foundation, you add additional storage space to your home. You can now safely store boxes, furniture, and more without worrying about water damage.
Why Do I Need Foundation Sealing?
Here are a few signs that indicate you need foundation sealing.
- When you notice leaking water – Pay attention to puddles, damp walls, wet floors, or any other signs of moisture intrusion.
- When you notice mold growth or musty smells – Sitting water can lead to mold growth and musty smells. Those smells might even travel up towards your first floor and begin to affect your breathing.
- When you notice water damage or wood rot – If you’re storing boxes, furniture, or any other items in your basement or crawl space, you might notice they are being affected by water damage. Or, if you have wooden floor joists, water might start to eat away at them in a process called wood rot.
- When you notice your hardwood floors are warping – If you have a wet basement, humid air will start to rise, allowing moisture to stick to your hardwood floors. Once that happens, your expensive flooring could start to warp or buckle.
- When you notice an increase in humidity – Your basement or crawl space should be around 30% to 50% relative humidity. When moisture sits in your basement or crawl space, it can cause humidity levels to rise. After it reaches 70%, mold can begin to grow.
Foundation Sealing For Basements
Below are several different ways professional foundation waterproofing experts seal your basement.
- Sealing any cracks with epoxy – If you have foundation cracks that allow water to seep into your basement, experts can fill them in using a 2-part epoxy injection that waterproofs and reinforces your basement walls.
- Sealing your walls with a vapor barrier – A vapor barrier is usually a thin polyethylene sheet that’s placed along your basement walls. This sheet keeps moisture from seeping through your concrete and channels water into a drain tile system where it’s carried away.
- Installing an interior or exterior drain tile system – An interior drain tile system collects water that’s gathering underneath your basement floor. An exterior drain tile system collects gathering water outside your basement walls. Both systems carry the collected water to a sump pump.
- Installing a sump pump – Any gathered water in your drain tile system will be deposited into a sump pit. Inside the sump pit is a fixture called a sump pump which ejects the collected water outside your home using a discharge line.
Here are a few other solutions that can be done to seal your foundation from outside your basement.
- Installing a French drain – A French drain works the same way as a drain tile system. Unlike a drain tile system, a French drain is placed just under the surface of your yard and collects water in areas prone to pooling.
- Installing extensions to your gutters – Gutter extensions prevent water from dropping too close to your basement. Other things like cleaning out your gutters when they become clogged will also prevent water from dropping over the sides and spilling next to your basement.
- Grading your property – If water is draining toward your basement, moisture could be soaking into the soil next to your concrete basement walls. In this case, experts recommend grading (or sloping) your property away from your foundation.
Foundation Sealing For Crawl Spaces
Here are a few things you can do to seal your crawl space.
- Sealing your crawl space walls and floors with a vapor barrier – Just like basements, experts can line your crawl space floors and walls with overlapping sheets of thin polyethylene plastic. This barrier will prevent moisture from seeping through your crawl space walls and dirt floors.
- Installing a crawl space drain tile – Like basements, experts can install a drain tile system under your crawl space floor that collects any water that’s gathering in the soil.
- Installing a crawl space sump pump – Like basements, all the water collected in your drain tile system will be carried to the sump pit, where the sump pump will eject it out of your home.
Who Offers Foundation Sealing Near Me?
Do you live in the Greater Chicago area? If so, you should call The Real Seal for all your foundation sealing needs. We’ll inspect your basement or crawl space foundation, find out where the water is leaking from, and give you the best foundation sealing solution. We also provide foundation repair, crawl space repair, concrete leveling, and more. Give us a call today!
