4 Do’s and Don’ts When it Comes to Basement Waterproofing

Basement waterproofing is vital to virtually every property in Toronto. Get it right and you can potentially prevent thousands of dollars of damage and turn your basement into some incredibly useful additional living space; get it wrong however and you could be faced with some serious problems, whether that be today, next week or next year. Waterproofing your basement essentially involves protecting this part of your home from outside water sources. And when you consider how much rainfall we generally receive in Toronto per year, that’s a considerable amount of water to keep at bay. If it’s not a task you’re particularly familiar with, we’re going to help you by discussing a few of the main do’s and don’ts.

Get Basement Waterproofing Right With These Pointers

Having been in hundreds of basements in the last few years and having spoken to thousands of homeowners during that time, we wanted to come up with a list of the biggest do’s and don’ts with regards to basement waterproofing based on that data. Here’s what we produced:

• Do Assess Your Basement’s Condition Frequently – One of the best ways to prevent a leaky basement or at the least limit one from causing too much damage, is to simply carry out regular inspections of your basement area. When doing these checks, make sure you take a careful look at the entire surface area of the basement, watching out for water stains, cracks in either the walls or floor, condensation and pools of standing water. If any of these signs are noted, you need some waterproofing help and should contact your local plumbing contractor.
• Don’t Turn a Blind Eye – The thing with dampness related problems in the basement is that they can spiral out of control very, very quickly. A small drip can turn into a steady stream of water pouring into your basement if a strong storm hits. To avoid this happening always take action as soon as an issue is identified.
• Do Pay Attention to Gutters and Downspouts – As we’ve told many homeowners in Toronto over the years, there are things that you can do to prevent a leaky basement. A good example of this is periodically checking and clearing your gutters of debris. Another one is making sure that the downspouts you have installed do a good job at diverting rain water away from your home rather than simply depositing it next to your home’s foundations.
• Don’t Attempt to Do the Waterproofing Yourself – Unless you’ve been properly trained to do so and have a considerable amount of experience, it’s always a safer bet to call a plumbing contractor specializing in waterproofing than to attempt the work yourself. You might think you’re going to save yourself a few dollars, but when your DIY attempt to fix a crack reopens and water starts to seep into your basement, you’ll probably wish that you had paid a plumbing contractor after all.

Basement waterproofing is often as complex as it is necessary and if you’ve spotted some potential issues at your property and would like us to come and take a look, please get in touch with us today. Visit us on Google+