B-Dry® Basement Waterproofing Providers Offer Advice for Recognizing a Leaky Basement in a Potential New Home
B-Dry.com warns prospective homebuyers and current homeowners of the problems associated with a flooded or leaky basement as well as how to detect and waterproof a basement.
Morristown, NJ (PRWEB) May 31, 2007 -- B-Dry® prepares for rainy seasons by providing foundation repair solutions and some practical advice about how to detect existing damage and prevent any future damage from occurring. Prospective buyers should be aware of the potential problems associated with a leaky basement or a poorly functioning French drain, and should enlist the help of B-Dry® basement waterproofing systems for a dry, undamaged basement.
A leaky basement means an ever-present threat of flooding--with the accompanying specter of water-logged furniture and carpets, damage to furnaces and boilers, even water damage to the building's foundation. A leaky basement may also be plagued by dampness, unpleasant odors, and rotting wood. How can a prospective home buyer tell if the basement in the house he's considering is suspect and what can the homeowner do once the basement in his home begins to leak?
A telltale sign of a leaky basement is a white powdery residue along the basement walls, according to Robert Clarke, Board Member of the B-Dry Owner's Association. The residue is lime, drawn out of concrete by water and deposited along the walls, and can be prevented with foundation waterproofing from B-Dry.
"That means either moisture is coming into contact with the concrete or water is wicking through it," Clarke said. The lime deposits usually show up about two inches above the "cove," or wall-floor joint, Clarke said. Because a basement's walls and floor are often laid at different times, there cannot be a perfect seal between them. This makes the cove particularly vulnerable to leaks.
The B-Dry Owner's Association offers more advice for prospective home buyers, including other signs of a leaky basement:
| | - Excess rust around the bases of furnaces, washers and dryers, and other basement equipment.
- Rotting, discoloration, or water marks on wooden stairs or furniture.
- Warped wall paneling or doors.
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There are a number of ways to correct these problems. Among the methods that can be used for foundation repair are: coating the basement walls with a waterproof sealer, extending rain gutter downspouts outside a home, and installing an interior pressure relief drainage system.
Clarke stressed the importance of finding a reliable company to waterproof your basement and prevent basement floods. He noted that licensees of B-Dry®--which installs its own sump pumps and interior pressure relief drainage systems to lower the water table beneath a building to carry water away from the basement--will guarantee its system for the life of the building.
Clarke also noted, "Beware of the 'quick fix' approach. It may end up being more expensive down the road if the problem isn't properly addressed in the beginning."
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