Why does my home need basement waterproofing?
As you well know, in just the last six months, multiple severe rain events hit Southern California homeowners like a sledgehammer. Homeowners in the Greater Los Angeles area were particularly hard-hit by days and days of “atmospheric rivers” in March 2023, and then again, another knock-out punch by Tropical Storm Hillary, which hit in August of the same year.
The severe Winter storms, super-charged by warm water from the Pacific Ocean, dumped some 30 trillion gallons of water across the state and caused widespread flooding, which inundated many thousands of crawl spaces and basements across the Los Angeles region. As the latest tropical storm moved out leaving behind a record rainfall, homeowners, many under mandatory evacuation orders, were again experiencing severe and costly water intrusion into their homes.
Folks, there is a lesson to be learned here! Los Angelino homeowners who in the past, paid very little attention to their basement and crawl space waterproofing, today know that they can’t just wait until they are forced to pay for a leaky basement repair. Rather, homeowners must take steps today to prevent serious water damage in the future!
Why is water intruding into my basement?
Basements and crawl spaces typically leak for the following reasons: (1) water is seeping-in through the basement’s concrete walls; (2) ground water is bubbling up from under the home; or (3) water is not properly draining away from the property (e.g., because the home’s drains are blocked, the sump pump is not working properly, etc.). Wet basements and crawl spaces can make the home a toxic brew of mold, mildew, and bacteria that can eat away at the organic matter homes are built with, and also pose a serious health risk to everyone who lives inside.
How can homeowners protect their home against intruding water?
Fortunately, homeowners such as yourself can consult with waterproofing and drain contractors such as the professionals at Weinstein Construction, who can evaluate how water is draining away from your property during rain events. Weinstein Construction’s experts will assess whether or not your home’s sump pump, gutters, downspouts, and other drainage systems such as French drains, are effective in diverting water away from your property. We can also evaluate your home’s exterior and interior waterproofing and determine whether such sealants are still properly doing their job.
Moreover, homeowners can also install an affordable crawl space encapsulation system, a dehumidifier, and a sump pump in their home’s crawl space and basement. These systems will keep the property dry, and prevent the humid air that breeds mold, mildew, and fungus, and rots a home from the inside out. In a home’s crawl space, Weinstein Construction professionals will isolate the home from the earth floor it is built on, by laying down a vapor barrier liner inside the crawl space. Made from an ultra-durable polyethylene, this liner resists punctures and tears, and is blended with anti-bacterial materials which offer additional protection against mold and bacteria. Next, Weinstein Construction will seal the vents and outside air leaks in your crawl space and finally, install a sump pump, and an “Energy Star rated” dehumidifier to dry out and continuously “condition” the crawl space air.
Is basement waterproofing against water intrusion expensive?
Waterproofing a basement, encapsulating a crawl space, installing effective drainage, and undertaking leaky basement repair, will always be more affordable than the alternative, which is experiencing severe water intrusion into the home. It is a fact of life that taking reasonable steps to prevent water intrusion is always going to be much cheaper than repairing a damaged home’s structure, buying costly new utility equipment, or paying to remove hazardous mold, mildew, and bacteria. In fact, because permits are typically not required for most projects that protect a home against water intrusion, they are truly cost-effective countermeasures!
Our climate environment is changing, and we can now all expect rains to periodically threaten our homes. Act now, and let the professionals at Weinstein Construction evaluate your crawl space and leaky basement repair issues. We will figure out the best and most affordable water intrusion mitigation methods available, working quickly and effectively to remediate any problems by installing a crawl space encapsulation system, basement water pump or powered pump, refreshing basement wall sealing, or installing exterior drains.
Call Weinstein Construction today at (800) 862-6582 for a free inspection and review of all your waterproofing needs! We are one of the Los Angeles region’s best crawl space and basement waterproofing companies, and will help you with all your drainage needs, including leaky basement repair, basement wall sealing, and French drain installation.
