5 Tips to Help You Tackle the Dreaded Leaky Basement
More and more people are looking at getting the most out of their homes in a number of ways, from loft conversions to landscaping their gardens. Another great way is to renovate your basement – but with the number or leaky basements in Toronto, many don’t know where to start. Here’s how to tackle the dreaded leaky basement.
Fixing Those Leaky Basements in Toronto – Five Simple Solutions
- Get Your Drainage Right
As we all know, Toronto can quite often have four seasons in the space of 24 hours, so protecting against all the elements can be a challenge – but it’s not impossible. One of the large causes of leaky basements in Toronto comes from the problem of drainage – how the excess water that follows a downpour or snowfall drains away from your property. If you have insufficient guttering, drain pipes or ground slope, then the water is just going to pool and seep into your basement. Get this sorted, and you’ll have much less to worry about.
- Identify the Source of the Water
Look around the walls on both the inside and the outside of your basement. Is there an obvious place that the water’s coming in through, such as a crack? If so, that’s where you need to target. Clean the area, patch it, let it dry then add a waterproof paint seal and a waterproof membrane and that’s one less entry point for leaks that you have to worry about.
- Control the Humidity
Humidity can be a huge problem for basements in that not only does it contribute to the water in the basement, but it also keeps the basement from becoming completely dry. By sealing the dryer vents, adding a fan to the basement bathroom and keeping the windows closed, you can really cut the level of humidity in the basement and keep it dryer. If you want to go one step further, then buying a dehumidifier is a great way to reduce the humidity even further.
- Keep Your Pipes Covered and Insulated
If you’ve got exposed pipes running through your basement, this can be a cause of some of the water in it. Condensation can form on the cold pipes, which then drips onto the floor. A great, cheap way to tackle this is to buy foam to put over your pipes – easy!
- Check with Your Neighbour
If you’ve covered all of the above but still have a problem, then the problem might not be your doing at all. Your neighbour’s drainage or behaviour such as sprinkling may be causing water to enter your basement, so just have a friendly chat with them to work towards a solution.
Consult a Professional
At a loss as to what the cause is, or just need a hand or advice? Consult a friendly contractor to find out the best course of action to follow and you can kiss goodbye to that dreaded leaky basement in no time.