Getting Your Basement Dry in Columbia MO @basementwaterproofingmo-blog - Tumblr Blog

Waterproofing Basement Contractor - What You Should Know

The reason you are looking for a contractor to help you waterproof your basement is to hire expertise which will save you time and money over attempting the same project in your own spare time. The key point is in knowing what result you expect.

The best thing to do is to write down everything that you want to accomplish with getting your basement waterproofed. This can stem from a particular use you may have in mind for your basement, to how much money you want to spend. By waterproofing your basement you are protecting your home from water damage, unhealthy air quality, allergic reactions, and unnecessary expenses. Waterproofing your basement is a protective measure, just as much as it is the best way to maintain the quality of your home without excessive spending. Water damage can be slowly degrading your home's value. Time is not on your side with this. If you haven't fully defined what your needs are, that is the next important step to feeling fulfilled with your basement waterproofing endeavor. You will remain dissatisfied until you know what it will take to meet all your needs. If you don't mention a particular need to a contractor, and then after the project is finished you realize it doesn't accomplish something you wanted, your contractor is not to blame. Another activity that may help is to write a list of all the past problems you have had either with smells, water damage, pests, and allergies. This way you can let your contractor know the history of the basement he/she is waterproofing. You should consider a contractor who will give you a free estimate, provide extensive knowledge about your particular waterproofing issues, and how they can help you maintain a permanently dry basement. When you are researching basement waterproofing companies, be sure to compare products, what they do, their warranties, and what customers have had to say about the products. Perhaps contact some friends and see what they have experienced over the years. You may be surprised to find how many friends, co-workers, siblings, or even your parents, have already sought help with a leaky basement. Networking and comparing notes is a time-worn way of finding true value. Some companies are known to be the best in their industries. Anyone can make a claim, but who is the name behind the claim? Is it an affiliate? Well, a safe way to check on a company's reputation is by visiting the Better Business Bureau's website. Also check the Chamber of Commerce locally. While both of these organizations are influenced by their members and make their money from member contributions, you'll still be able to get a remarkable amount of data. You can also call or visit your local Chamber or BBB in order to get this data. And don't stop with just one contractor. Get multiple estimates so that you can get the best possible company to do the project done within your budget constraints and quality expectations.

Please feel free to contact us for more information, or answers to any questions you may have.

#mold #moisture #basement waterproofing #contractor

Basement Mold and Humidity Can Be Solved

If you have a smell or odor problem coming from your Columbia, MO basement, or home, it may be mold.

Humidity is the key offender of spaces that grow mold and mildew. When the relative humidity is over 60%, mold and mildew have enough moisture in the air to really thrive. They also live on organic materials (anything of carbon origin) like wood, paper, cardboard, and insulation. So when 60% relative humidity and organic materials are present at the same time, mold and mildew have a field day and blossom in that space. If this is in your basement, then it's basically a big greenhouse where mold and mildew thrive and they won't want to leave.

If basements get a water leak in it or wetness that is caused by something else like moisture, it can cause mold growth. Mold can start to grow within 48 hours after any water leak or wetness has been caused. You may not see it but it can or will be there hiding from you somewhere in your home. Mold can only grow if there is moisture or wetness in the area. If the areas in your home are dry, mold cannot grow, and you will not get harmed from it. It is a nasty mess of fungus that can grow in homes, buildings, outside, or anywhere it wants to. It spreads and reproduces. This will cause major damage, and the professionals have to remove it for you so it will not harm you. Mold can appear anywhere if it is not dried and cleaned. It will get worse and the cost to remove it and the repairs for the damage it has done will be higher, too. If moisture becomes or gets worse, the mold will spread to other parts of the house or other places in the basement. You will be able to tell there is mold by the odor in the air because all you have to do is smell it. The odor can smell like moldy must or worse than that. The moisture or wetness can release it in the air, causing it to grow under things like carpets and appliances, in the air vents, and in your things. When mold appears, it will look like black spots all over everything and it can stain walls, clothes, under carpets, or anything for that matter. Sometimes mold can be very hard to get out depending on what the mold has grown on and how bad it has gotten. Mold grows on paper like on drywall, books, documents, and other things that have paper on it. It feeds on it to live and grow. It can make them weak, fall apart, or slowly deteriorate the longer it will set, so if you think you have it, get your house checked out and make sure that you have mold damage insurance on your home. Everyone is naturally allergic to mold because it's an organism which inflames our immune systems. However, there are different degrees to which different people are allergic to it. In many cases, people have chronic allergies due to the mold and mildew coming up from their moldy basement. This can create sniffling, sneezing, chronic asthma, chest congestion, fatigue, among other symptoms. Besides health concerns, mold breaks organic compounds down. That's what it's made to do and Mother Nature knew what she was doing when she put mold and mildew in charge of decomposing natural elements. The problem with this is when the mold and mildew break down the wood infrastructure of the home, over time the structure's safety could be compromised. This isn't meant to be a red alarm, but if the problem goes untreated for a long enough period of time, structural decay can and does happen. The number one allergen however is the fecal matter of dust mites. Dust mites don't drink water, but absorb it out of the air through their skin. In order to live, dust mites need relative humidity over 50%. If you are considering remodeling your basement, you should purchase a hygrometer and check the humidity level before you do anything else. Even if you're not transforming your basement into a finished one, basement dampness is not a problem you should ignore. Basement dehumidifiers are frequently the easiest and most effective solution to basement humidity problems. Once you've removed the water source (such as leaks) and transferred the water outside (with drains and sump pumps) you will then want to install a dehumidifier to keep your basement air below 50% humidity. A professional company which specializes in this area can give you an inspection and estimate of all the costs of converting your basement into a dry, livable space. A contractor under an engineer's supervision may be less expensive than attempting this on your own, in any spare time you have.

Please feel free to contact us for more information, or answers to any questions you may have.

#basement mold #moist basement #basement #mold #moisture #home renovations

Wet Basement Remedies for Columbia MO Families.

There are some simple, general solutions to wet basement problems in Columbia MO family homes. 1. Seal your walls. They may need more than just epoxy forced into existing cracks. Your home may require sealing outside the basement walls, as well as the inside. You also will need to inspect and handle any windows in your basement walls, particularly if these are below grade. While many of the simpler solutions can be done by the homeowner in their spare time, the time and cost of many of these repairs (especially involving excavation) is less expensive when a contractor is hired. 2. Permanently fix all pipe leaks. Leaking pipes can often be over looked until your nicely-sealed floors and walls now have drips and runs from pipes. Condensation, especially from uninsulated cold-water pipes, can be the culprit just as much as any actual leak. 3. A permanent moisture removal system may be required. Owing to the natural attributes of basements, it may be impossible to get them absolutely dry all the time. In many cases, a combination of drainage and pump systems is used to carry away any moisture that does develop, particularly during unseasonably wet or inclement weather. Such systems might include a secondary wall and or floor which collects and channels moisture to a drain or even a sump pump which takes the water outside. 4. And regardless of this, to make a livable space free from mold, a dehumidifier is probably required. This simply works to automatically remove moisture from the air and either send it to a collection tank or to a drain through a sealed line to keep it from getting back out into the atmosphere. Now, in both humidifier and sump pump, you'll also need various backups, to ensure that power outages or ice build-up on outlet lines don't mean a temporary flooding situation which can cause unnecessary expenses in replacing ruined carpeting, furniture, and wall coverings. A complete inspection by a qualified professional is usually a wise idea. While many in the construction industry can perform the needed tasks on their own home, the time and expense is often less when you hire a contractor and engineer to oversee your renovations.

Please feel free to contact us for more information, or answers to any questions you may have.

#family #basement #waterproofing #basement waterproofing #mold #moisture

Dehumidifiers can make Columbia MO basements viable

Humidity is the key offender of Columbia, MO home spaces that grow mold and mildew.

When the relative humidity is over 60%, mold and mildew have enough moisture in the air to really thrive. They also live on organic materials (anything of carbon origin) like wood, paper, cardboard, and insulation. So when 60% relative humidity and organic materials are present at the same time, mold and mildew have a field day and blossom in that space. If this is in your basement, then it's basically a big greenhouse where mold and mildew thrive and they won't want to leave. This will cause major damage, and the professionals have to remove it for you so it will not harm you. Mold can appear anywhere if it is not dried and cleaned. It will get worse and the cost to remove it and the repairs for the damage it has done will be higher, too. If moisture becomes or gets worse, the mold will spread to other parts of the house or other places in the basement. You will be able to tell there is mold by the odor in the air because all you have to do is smell it. The odor can smell like moldy must or worse than that. The moisture or wetness can release it in the air, causing it to grow under things like carpets and appliances, in the air vents, and in your things. Everyone is naturally allergic to mold because it's an organism which inflames our immune systems. Mold spores will certainly irritate someone with allergies. The number one allergen however is the fecal matter of dust mites. Dust mites don't drink water, but absorb it out of the air through their skin. In order to live, dust mites need relative humidity over 50%. The de-humidifier unit will reduce the relative humidity below 50% and dust mites will die off. Eliminate damp, musty odors in your basement or crawl space once and for all, by drying and filtering the air! If you are considering remodeling your basement, you should purchase a hygrometer and check the humidity level before you do anything else. Even if you're not transforming your basement into a finished one, basement dampness is not a problem you should ignore. Basement dehumidifiers are frequently the easiest and most effective solution to basement humidity problems. Mold The de-humidifier will keep your basement below 50% relative humidity! Of course, any groundwater, plumbing or other leaks should be fixed, as part of a strategy to eliminate mold. Using a high quality basement dehumidifier is one of the most effective ways to protect your home and your health from humidity related problems. Basement dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air by using 3 essential components: a fan, a cold coil and a hot coil. The fan draws air from the basement over the cold coil to condense the moisture. The condensed moisture is then released into a holding pan or removed via a drain hose or condensate pump. The dry air then passes over the hot coil, returning dry air to the basement. Many homeowners have the misconception that they have to keep turning the dehumidifier on and off every day. In fact, most high quality basement dehumidifiers are equipped with a humidistat. Simply set the humidistat at your desired level and a sensor will automatically turn off the dehumidifier once the desired humidity level is achieved. Now that any future moisture is averted, it's time to deal with the basement's water vapor. An industrial-strength dehumidifier is the wringer in the fight against mold and mildew. It takes water out of the air, thus reducing the air's humidity to well below 60%. Since mold and mildew can't live in this kind of environment, they are not able to reproduce like they could in a more humid climate. When trying to dry an interior space, you never want to leave windows or vents open, or use a fan to blow air in or out. If you blow air out, new unconditioned air from the exterior will replace it, entering from somewhere in the building envelope. We all know how humid Missouri summers get. This new unconditioned air will need to be heated, cooled and dehumidified to be comfortable, adding substantial "hidden" costs to your heating and cooling bills. Keep windows, doors and vents to the outside. What's downstairs... is upstairs! The basement or crawl space is part of the inside of a building as a whole. If there is high humidity and musty odors downstairs, it will affect the upstairs environment. Therefore, by drying your basement or crawl space, the de-humidifier will help your whole house to be drier and healthier!

Please feel free to contact us for more information, or answers to any questions you may have.

#basement #dehumidifier #basement moisture #damp #mold #moisture

Purpose and Use of Columbia MO French Drains

Your Columbia MO home might have this drainage system. French drains have been popular since 1859 and are the simplest ways of picking up water from one area and taking it to the other. The word "French drains", have nothing to do with France. It was framed because of a farmer named French, who found this technique of drainage about 150 years ago in New England. It is built in the form of a narrow ditch filled with gravel, sands and stones to funnel the water into a drainage pipe underneath. These drains have a simple basic mechanism of working but there have been minor refinements over the years. These pipes are now made out of PVC with small perforations that allow the water to seep in. There is also a filtration fabric which is placed on top of the pipe to keep dirt and other debris from clogging the holes. The pipes can also be connected to a gravity drain or a sump pump drainage to take care of the excess ground water runoff. The reason French drains are built inside the ground is due to drainage problems. If the area has a lot of water in the ground, with lack of sunlight for evaporation, or if the ground doesn't drain well, French drains are used. In this drainage system, the water is disbursed along various points and by doing this, it pulls the water away from wet spot. Due to the angled trench which is sloped away from the wet ground, this water is transferred to another area. Also, if a particular area receives more amount of water and faces standing water issues, French drains are the best choice to remove the extra water out of it. For this reason, a drainage pipe is placed, up to the surface that does the job of pulling water away rapidly and brings it down to the slope into a French drain. With the help of a filter that is placed on the surface drain, the debris does not get down into the lower pipes and the rest of the system works normally, you don't suffer from a clogged drain. This is the mechanism of French drains, how they work is the easiest way to drain extra water. Regardless of how well designed, French Drains can fail. When French drains are installed around a home, they are typically laid in a thick bed of gravel to protect them from mud and soil around the home. In some cases, a layer of filter fabric is also said to further protect the material from this soil. While this solution sounds ideal, over several years, mud and sand will make its way through the gravel and into the drain, clogging the pipe. If filter fabric is used, it's only a matter of time before it clogs entirely and keeps foundation water from entering the drain at all! Sooner or later, the French drain and their filter fabric will need to be cleaned. When they do, the entire perimeter of the foundation must be excavated. Your foliage, gardens, steps, sidewalks, porches, and other landscaping located around the edge of the house will need to be removed. The process is invasive, and a year after the soil has been filled back into the excavated area, it will settle and need to be regraded so that water is not directed towards the home. The new system that's been installed around your foundation will be the same as the old one that failed, which means that you can look forward to a similar situation in another few years. To make matters worse, the exterior French drain is expected to discharge the water away from the foundation with no sump pump. This means that the French drain must run downhill to be effective- a situation that's not often possible. In those cases, some sort of pump would need to be installed, otherwise, the drain system would simply fill with water. Once clogged, water builds up and the hydrostatic pressure will find it's way into your home if there isn't a backup plan. Water can build up in the masonry and dissolve elements such as calcium, lime and other minerals out of your cement, weakening the concrete.

Please feel free to contact us for more information, or answers to any questions you may have.

#french drain #wet basement #basement waterproofing #mold #moisture

Know about Sump Pumps?

What's a Sump Pump?

A great way to remove excess water from your Columbia, MO basement is by using a sump pump system. This pump is placed into a hole in your basement floor so that the water can flow in and then pumped outside of the house. In order to have a livable space, your sump pump must be tightly contained unit, which efficiently and dependably moves collected water out of your basement into a higher drain system outside. In order to do this there are parts to a sump pump which you should know about. Improper installation or failure will mean your basement can suddenly become unlivable and will require considerable expense to renovate back to livable standards again. 1. The pump pit must be in the lowest part of the basement floor, and lower than the floor itself. This will probably require removal of that section of the floor by jack-hammer. It will need to pump the collected fluid up and out of the basement to an area at least 10 feet away from your building. 2. While the bottom of this pit will contain gravel for drainage, the sump liner will actually collect the water for the sump pump to remove. That liner must be deep enough to collect and hold enough water so that the pump doesn't turn on and off repeatedly. The size will depend on the amount of water which it will be required to move - which can vary according to the season. Most sump pump designs take the worst possible conditions into account. 3. A tight fitting lid is needed. While the sump collects water from your basement drainage system, you don't want this moisture evaporating back into the basement atmosphere. As well, you don't want objects able to easily drop into that sump pit. 4. The size of your pump will depend on your worst storm conditions. You don't want a noisy pump which starts suddenly with a roar, however. So ensure you listen to an installed system before buying. And also ensure that your engineer specs out one which has a large enough output to keep your basement dry. 5. Battery backup is vital. In your worst storms is the greatest chance for power failure. In these cases, it's good to have a system which will continue to pump excess water until the regular power can be restored. Even if this is days later. 6. An alarm can tell you of situations before they become dangerous. These are set to go off when the water is above normal levels, but only when the pump fails to operate. When one of these is properly adjusted, you will hear it and still have time to rectify the situation (such as manually turning on a back-up pump) and prevent severe damage from occuring. 7. Back up and secondary pumps are often necessary to keep your basement completely dry and secure. Often an outside pump will collect and transfer excess water away before it has a chance to come inside. This is designed to collect rainwater and runoff, sending it downstream from your building. A back up sump pump is often installed as a backup for the primary pump. This can be set up to come on automatically, as well as with a manual override for emergencies. 8. Protecting ice-over of your sump pump outlet is sometimes overlooked, which can then result in complete failure of your system. Some companies produce devices which prevent ice from clogging your outlet pipe so that your sump pump can keep your basement dry in all weather conditions. With any system, it is vital that it is properly engineered for your local climate conditions and your specific house layout. Always consult a professional company for your inspection and estimates when considering a basement waterproofing system.

Please feel free to contact us for more information, or answers to any questions you may have.

#sump pump #basement waterproofing #damp #mold #moisture

Finding External Water Leak Sources

What happens to the water outside your Columbia, MO house is a subject that needs discussion. Because that water can wind up in your basement if the environment around your home isn't handled correctly. First is grading. Look around your home and ensure that the ground actually slopes away from your home and moves any water directly away from the building. The ground around the home should also slope away from the foundation. 10 feet is the recommended distance the water should be moved away from the foundation. If the ground has any depressions within those 10 feet, they should be filled with dirt so the water drains away from the house. Using a clay rich soil in the depressions will repel water better than sand based soil, which will absorb the moisture into the ground rather than repel it. Paved areas that slope towards the house will funnel surface water towards your foundation. Sometimes paving settles over time due to aging or improper installation. It is important to make sure all paved areas slopes away from the home. Surface water can run down foundation walls. Sometimes inspection will show water coming over the top of the foundation, through the mortar joint between the brick that sits atop the foundation wall. This situation occurs because the exterior grade is built up above the top of the foundation wall, either by earth or by the previous construction of driveways, walks or patios. While you can't always re-grade to lower the topsoil below your foundation level, this will probably require a professional to inspect and propose a solution. Often, this is as simple as putting a membrane (thick plastic sheet) from below ground well above, to direct water away. Storm sewers can also back up during heavy rains causing a leaky basement. Clogged gutters are a prime source of surface water. Keeping gutters free of debris is important maintenance for homeowners to prevent the buildup of surface water. If the gutters are clean, perhaps there are not enough downspouts on the house's guttering system to handle a heavy rain. Check during a heavy rainstorm and see if the gutters are overflowing. If they are, another downspout may ease the amount of water collecting around your foundation. Extending the downspouts away from the house by at least 10 feet will minimize the surface water. 10 feet is minimum distance required to discharge water coming off your roof. One other reason surface water can build up is irrigation systems that discharge too much water next to the house. The irrigation system should include a rainstat that turns the system off when the ground is saturated.

Please feel free to contact us for more information, or answers to any questions you may have.

#wet basement #basement waterproofing #mold #damp #moisture #basement

Finding Columbia MO Basement Leaks

You know there's water in your Columbia, MO basement, because the air is moist or humid, and the smell of mold is present. Or maybe you can feel it on the walls or floor. Wherever it comes from, you know that this area of the house is basically unlivable and it is damaging the rest of the house as well. The trick is in finding where this moisture is coming from. There are 3 main ways water gets into your basement -

1) Over the Walls,

2) Under the walls, or

3) Through the walls.

Water goes over your basement walls when the grading around your house doesn't channel it away, or when the water table gets too high (like a heavy sudden rain or flooding). Grading around a house or building should slope away from the building so that normal rain or melting snow will run down the slope into a lower area away from your home. If you are on a slope, you also have to take into account the water which is running down that hill toward your building. And if you live near a run off area, you may need to take into account flash flood conditions which can temporarily fill that wash or stream or creek which is normally dry. When people have landscaping near their home which requires substantial watering, this can also create situations where excess water is being forced next to the house or building. While plants need moist soil, the ground around buildings can become saturated and then artificially bring the water table too high, so water then enters the building. You should grade your landscaping so that excess water runs off, and consider transplanting if those flowers or shrubs require deep mulch right next to your building. Many native species will do better next to buildings, as they are acclimated to the local weather. Put your prize flowers in a bed where they can be appreciated down slope. Water can make it's way under the walls by hydrostatic pressure. This is the water pressure that exists in the soil around your home. It can force its way up between your actual floor and your walls through any cracks you may have, particularly where they join. Walls can also allow water to enter directly through them. Cracks are obvious. These are formed again by hydrostatic pressure against the walls of your basement, and are formed over time. As water finds its way through, it will eventually dissolve the concrete on both sides of that crack, which will further widen them, allowing even more water. Also, concrete is porous. So water can slowly fill the pores and continue on through by osmosis. This also weakens the concrete over time and can start cracks, as above. Older houses may or may not have this problem, as building materials changed over time and the older mixtures may have been different consistency from what will pass building codes today. While there are separate technical solutions to these problems, it is always best to consult with a professional who works with these problems on a daily basis, and who keeps up with the latest studies and technical advances in these fields.

Please feel free to contact us for more information, or answers to any questions you may have.

#basement #leaks #mold #moisture #columbia mo

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