Does basement waterproofing increase a home's value?
Basement waterproofing may or may not increase your home’s value — it all depends on your home and the conditions in your real estate market. However, by waterproofing your basement, you’re protecting your home’s value. If you don’t waterproof your home, it could experience significant damage. And if you don’t repair the damage (which can be costly), you could lower your home’s value.
What should you use to waterproof basement walls?
When you’re having your basement waterproofed, it’s important to use the right materials for the job. A professional might coat your interior walls with masonry waterproofing products, such as sealants. The pro might also couple this with other exterior waterproofing methods, such as properly installing gutters, downspouts and drainage ditches. Talk to a basement waterproofing company near you to find out what method(s) they will use to waterproof your basement walls.
What is basement waterproofing?
Basement waterproofing is the process of using various materials and techniques to keep water from infiltrating a house or building’s basement. Basements tend to be quite vulnerable to rises in the water table or to events like heavy rains. Waterproofing a below-ground basement might involve applying sealant materials to keep water out, as well as installing drains and sump pumps to remove water. Basement waterproofing is best performed during construction but is often done retroactively as well.
What are the advantages of waterproofing your basement?
Waterproofing your basement can help you prevent major water damage caused by heavy rains — which means you won’t have to pay for expensive water damage restoration services. Waterproofing systems also prevent basement flooding and protect your possessions. And by keeping your basement dry, you can also prevent mold growth (and avoid having to pay for mold remediation services). Finally, your basement floor may last longer, your sump pump will work less and your home’s foundation will be more protected if you have a sound waterproofing system.
Is it better to waterproof a basement from the inside or outside?
It is far more effective to waterproof a basement from the outside through exterior waterproofing measures, such as installing drain tiles, excavating your soil and installing and cleaning gutters.
The term “interior waterproofing” is something of a misnomer because any steps taken in the basement’s interior are more to mitigate damage from water that has already made it through the foundation. Water is best stopped at the source — that is, it is best stopped from ever entering the concrete foundation by exterior waterproofing. However, interior waterproofing is still an important and effective step to take.