Water is a constant enemy of the basement living space. This intrusion calls that damp smell and mildew growth. It also makes it highly uncomfortable to spend any time in. Thus, one of the first steps before turning your basement into a habitable space is to waterproof it. Waterproofing requires several steps. But once complete, the issues that water can present will no longer be a problem.
One of the first steps that a Waterproofing Contractor in Westford MA will take is to dig down and expose the foundation area. This step is necessary to expose the walls of the basement. You do want to prepare ahead of time for this job by ensuring everything such as planters are removed from the area as well as temporarily replant any plants you want to save.
Once the basement is exposed, the basement is wrapped with Drycrete Waterproofing. The purpose of this is to keep the water from being absorbed into the concrete. Water typically gets into basements because concrete is a very porous material. When the wet soil is sitting next to the concrete, the water will flow through those openings and create that damp basement atmosphere. Once the waterproofing is applied, it prevents this contact and thus the water can’t come in.
After the waterproofing is applied, the Waterproofing Contractor in Westford MA will install a french drain to help with additional drainage of the water. This is necessary in areas where the soil retains a lot of moisture. During rainstorms, the drain directs the water away from the basement and into the drainage system. This water is drained with the help of gravity. So, once this drain is installed, you don’t have to worry about maintenance of this type of drain since there are no operating parts.
These are the basic steps of waterproofing a basement. Once your basement is safe from the invasion of water, you can turn that basement into a usable space. In addition, that damp smell that most wet basements have will disappear. In addition, your basement will be more protected against the growth of mold.
