How To Get Your Wet Basement Dry This Spring
Because water damage is the LAST thing you’ll want to deal with during your spring-cleaning. Make sure that you take the right steps to keep your wet basement dry this spring.
It’s only a matter of time until winter rolls into spring, and snowstorms turn into rainstorms. Even though your basement can still leak in the wintertime, it’s imperative that you also keep a close eye downstairs during the spring. Before any basement leaking disasters hit this upcoming season, here are a few precautionary steps to take for basement waterproofing in Toronto.
Why Isn’t Your Leaky Basement Dry?
The first thing to note is why and how the water is coming into your wet basement. In the springtime, the biggest culprit to blame is the rain. Typically this happens because of poor placement/mapping of your downpipes outside of the house. If you don’t have any troughs or downspouts to lead the water away from your house, it can easily cause to basement foundation leak. So before the rain even hits, you’re going to want to properly install a gutter system outside of your house.
Once your gutter system has been properly checked, make sure to clear it out. Once the snow starts to melt, you’ll notice your gutters can be completely flooded with other organic materials—like leaves and twigs. You can’t help the flow of water if you don’t clear this out. Without clearing it, water can easily overflow and pour over in areas that weren’t intended to have water, which can lead to water in your foundation once again. Always, always check and clean your gutters first.
Even though having downspout sticking out in the middle of the lawn can be an eyesore, it is crucial for keeping your basement dry. Having downpipes will help organize the flow of water when it rains, keeping it far from your foundation and your basement.
Obviously, every piece of land is different, and placing a downspout for a natural run-off may not make sense for your home. It may be wise to think about laying an underground drainpipe and leading the downpipes directly to it.
Dealing With Wet Basement Damage
Now if you’re reading this after experiencing some water damage, there are a few ways you can fix the problem right away. The first is to check the landscape of your house, checking for where the water leaked in and how you can fix the flow of water on the outside. Next, find the proper material to fix the problem—adding proper soil and fixing your gutters. Be sure to check your gutters and downspouts consistently to avoid water damage in the future.
Along with taking care of your gutter system and basement foundation leaking, it would be wise to actually waterproof your basement. Waterproofing includes controlling the dust, fixing the floors, and even installing a drain to catch the water when it leaks through. You should also consider removing any trees or shrubbery that is close to the foundation of your house since the roots can create a channel of water very close to your foundation and basement. If you do so, make sure to check the slope and create a new fill.
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