Waterproofing, as the name suggests, refers to a series of steps you can take to reduce the risk of flooding and water damage in your home. This is in fact the number one reason why most people waterproof their basement.
It’s estimated that 20% of all home insurance claims come from water damages. This tells you that a lot of homeowners have faced this issue and as the saying goes, prevention is always better than cure.
Other than reducing the risk of water damage, there are of course other benefits that come with basement waterproofing. Here are some of them:
Creates a Healthy Living Environment at Home
There’s no doubt that every homeowner wants to live in a healthy and clean environment. Even small contamination in indoor air can lead to allergic reactions, irritations, and other medical issues.
When your basement is damp with water, it creates the perfect conditions for mold and mildew to grow. The mold is then released into the air, where it’s transported by your air conditioning unit to all parts of the room. Soon, you start to breathe mold filled air, something that will easily irritate your respiratory system. But you can work with waterproofing companies to deal with this.
Decreases Heating Costs
Ever noticed that a dump basement or room always feels colder than most parts of the house? Well, this often means that your heating system has to work harder to heat up that room. This then leads to high energy bills.
Additionally, a damp basement will create high humidity inside the house. The humid condition will then put a strain on your HVAC system, something that leads to high energy costs.
But with proper waterproofing, you can avoid all these things and make sure that your heating and cooling system is working at optimal capacity.
Protects Your Foundation
There’s nothing more expensive to fix for a homeowner than the foundation. Cracks on foundation walls may appear for several reasons.
But in most cases, they are caused by poor drainage. A poor foundation also poses a lot of safety risks to your family since the structural integrity of your house is affected massively.
Let’s not forget that damages in the foundation can lead to additional damages to the rest of the house including roof slanting, damaged walls, and slanting floors. The good news is that foundation waterproofing can help address this risk and keep your basement and your entire home safe.
Reduces the Risk of Flooding
As we have said above, the main reason why many people waterproof is to reduce the possible risk of flooding.
The last thing you want is to walk into your basement only to find it filled with water. It means your furniture and other precious items are lost forever. Besides, it’s against building safety codes to live in a flooded home.
In essence, you’ll need to find an alternative place to leave as the flooding is cleared and the water damage repaired. This can be so stressful and costly for anyone.
Increases the Value of Your Home
It’s also possible to enhance the value of your home by making it waterproof.
Even if you pay a basement waterproofing cost, you’ll make this back in no time. In addition to this, you’ll also save a lot of money on homeowner insurance premiums.
Don’t forget that water damage accounts for a huge percentage of insurance claims. If indeed you’re waterproofing the house, it means you’re reducing the risk of water damage massively.
Insurance companies won’t ignore that and eventually, you’ll pay relatively less in insurance premiums.
Makes Your Basement Livable
There are many ideas you can explore to make your basement a fun and cozy living space. But you cannot live there if it’s always damp.
This is why you have to do everything you can to get that dry basement and then turn it into the perfect retreat.
Ready to waterproof your basement and avoid any future headaches? Contact a local pro and request a free quote!
