How Much Should Basement Waterproofing Cost?
It’s hard to know how much your basement waterproofing contractor will charge for the work they perform on your home. It’s worth investing in your home’s foundation, but it’s also important to find an option that works within your budget. Don’t be tempted by contractors that offer only one price for one option—water damage in your basement can be a complex problem with multiple variables, and an expert contractor will be able to give you a good estimate based on factors unique to your home and water problems.
How Water Impacts Your Home
Many homes will eventually feel the effects of water on their foundations. All soils can expand or contract during heavy rainfall or severe drought, which affects the home’s foundation. Wetter soils can swell and push against basement walls, and dry conditions can cause the soil to shift as well. Those aren’t the only problems your home will face as a result of water problems, though. Basement walls can bulge or leak in response to lateral pressure, which can lead to a wet or smelly basement. Your foundation can settle or sink, which can cause problems with your flooring, doors, windows, and other features in your living space. Too much water inside of your home, when combined with optimal temperatures and other conditions, can create an environment for mold, mildew, and other pests to thrive, which can lead to destroyed belongings as well as an impact on the air quality and health of residents.
Your Home’s Geography
The ground that your basement foundation sits in will affect on how moisture impacts the walls. A local contractor will know the conditions in your area, how they might lead to problems, and how to best work with the home for repairs. Different soil types hold water differently; low spots in the ground need to be filled with dirt and graded away from the home to avoid problems; and trees and other plant life could be impacting how much water is held in the soil around them. It’s also worth noting if your downspouts drain far enough from your home’s foundation and are free of debris to ensure that water can be carried away. Aging homes that have started to shift and settle might require more repairs than newer homes.
Where the Water is Coming From
Water in your basement can come from a variety of places, and each potential source of water can vary the cost of your basement water repairs. Condensation, leaking wall cracks, and seepage through floor and wall joints or floor cracks can all bring water into your home. Heavy rainfall, melting snow, and flooding can also bring water into your home or cause weakness in the ground beneath and around your foundation.
The Repairs Your Home Needs
Of course, the repairs and waterproofing systems your home needs will affect the final price of the work. Your basement waterproofing contractor will be able to tell which repairs will work for the ways that water is affecting your home and how you want to use the space.
Acculevel contractors can reinforce bowing basement walls with carbon fiber straps to combat outside soil pressure. Lateral support can be provided with tie-backs or wall anchors as well, depending on the type of stability your walls need. Metal beam supports installed in the basement can help address sagging floor problems in your living space.
For excess water in your home, a dehumidifier is a good place to start but won’t solve all water problems. Redirection of basement water via water tunneling or a geo channel system that drains into a sump pump system is the best way to keep water out of your basement (and make sure you have a battery-operated backup for power outages or other failures, just in case).
If mold is already in your home, it needs to be removed as part of a basement waterproofing process. Mold might require professional remediation if the damage is severe enough. Contractors like Acculevel can use a fungicidal, water-based coating on unconditioned basement surfaces to treat and prevent mold growth. Basement encapsulation systems like White Cap can have antimicrobial properties on top of acting as a vapor barrier, which keeps your basement dry and mold-free.
Acculevel Basement Waterproofing Contractor
It’s not always easy to know how much your basement water repairs will cost. This is why it’s so important to get the opinions of expert home foundation contractors who will know what to look for, what solutions will work for your home, and how much you might be spending. Acculevel contractors have been those experts for homeowners across the Midwest who want solutions for waterproofing and water damage repair. For your home repair needs or a free home inspection, basement reconditioning, or waterproofing estimate, contact Acculevel.
