When most people think about basement foundation water damage from saturated soil surrounding the home, they usually only consider the problems that affect the walls of the foundation. A lesser known problem that is often seen in homes that don't have proper drainage is damage to the basement floor itself. It's difficult to understand how water in the soil could actually cause pressure to push up beneath the basement floor, but hydrostatic pressure actually presses against all surfaces in your foundation equally. That's why homes with improper basement waterproofing often see damage to their foundation floor in addition to the walls themselves.
In the normal course of events, groundwater and rain water in undeveloped areas is constantly pulled by gravity to move unimpeded through the soil. Eventually, this water finds its way to underground reservoirs or connects to flow into a spring, creed or river. When people build homes and buildings in an area with a lot of groundwater saturation, however, things change significantly. The water that was once free to move through the soil is now blocked by foundation walls, which can mean big problems for homeowners without proper drainage installed.
Hydrostatic pressure from surrounding saturated soil can build up slowly over a large amount of time, gradually pressing against your basement walls and up against the floor itself. This gradual pressure causes cracks, seeping moisture, mold and mildew buildup that can cost plenty of money to fix if it's ignored. That's why it's best to improve your foundation drainage system before a heavy rain occurs, since emergency repairs resulting from an unanticipated flood can cost much more than simple preventative maintenance.
Installing proper basement footer drain tiles around your foundation can channel excess groundwater away from your home and prevent hydrostatic pressure on the walls and floor. Unless your home is hundreds of years old, it's very unlikely that your foundation was constructed without some form of drainage. In many cases, simply repairing or cleaning out existing drainage is all that's necessary, which is significantly cheaper than excavating and installing new footer drains.
Frequently, existing clay footer drain tiles can become obstructed by dirt and tree roots or even broken in places, stopping excess water from being moved away from your home. By tapping into one small section of the drainage pipes surrounding your foundation, many drain cleaning companies can determine exactly where the blockage has occurred and fix the problem without completely digging around your entire home.
Before settling on any basement waterproofing company to fix your water damaged walls and basement floor, make sure that you get free estimates from several local companies. If you are proactive and start planning to fix your foundation before an emergency occurs, you should have plenty of time to find a fair and competent service provider that can do what you need without breaking your budget.
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