Waterproofing Contractors: When And Why To Call One

As a responsible homeowner, maintaining the structural integrity of your house should always be a priority. One way of doing this is to detect water problems early on and have them resolved.

If you're looking to repair a faulty basement or want to prevent a water problem, you need to hire a waterproofing contractor. Waterproofing contractors' primary role is to identify threats in your basement and other areas and correct them before they get out of control. These experts help prevent future water problems, keeping the foundation strong and your home permanently dry. 

How Do You Know if Your Building Needs Waterproofing?

There are four main signs your house has a leak:

• Discoloration of the wall, ceiling, and items stored in the basement
• Mysterious standing water in different places when you don't have a plumbing problem
• A lingering musty smell
• Patches of growing mold

It can be trickier to tell when water seeps through your walls and roof. You should look for signs of a leak around the transitions between brick courses, where brick meets other materials, and near the corners. You can also check for signs of cracking on your caulk.

Why Should You Hire a Waterproofing Contractor?

The principal duty of waterproofing contractors is to waterproof residential basements and other areas to protect your home's foundation and safeguard the safety of its occupants. In other words, they will help keep your home dry by preventing water leakage problems and resolving them when they find a problem.

Some of the problems that may emerge if your house is not waterproofed include:

• Damaged wood flooring and warping of paneling
• Mildew and mold growth.
• Excessive moisture buildup, leading to termite problems
• Risk of fire and electrical shock when sockets and wiring are exposed to moisture
• Breakdown and rusting of your water heater, furnace, and other essential home components
• Unpleasant, musty basement odors that may find their way into your living area
• Significant structural damage since water intrusion can trigger concrete breakdown

One thing is obvious –– if you don't fix water problems, they won't go away and will only get worse over time. Ultimately, there will be severe deterioration of your house's foundation, which leads to costly repairs.

Once you've hired a waterproofing contractor, they will first perform an extensive inspection to discover the presence and extent of water leak problems in your home. They will then give you a written proposal of recommended solutions and estimated costs.

Waterproofing contractors can help protect your home's air quality and foundation structure by identifying and correcting water problems on your roof, wall, and basement. Apart from fixing the water leakage problem, they will remove standing water, fungus, mold, and foul odors, leaving your home safe and smelling fresh.